The Political And Social Criticism In The Arnold’s Cultural Perspective

Arnold (Matthew Arnold,1822-1888) was a famous poet, educationist, andpolitician in the Victorian era. On the one hand, in England, Capitalist industry wasdeveloping rapidly, science as a new force suddenly rise and society was highlydeveloped material civilization in the late19th century; but on the other people’sspiritual belief and social moral was corrupted step by step, humanistic space wasincreasingly been encroached, social anarchy was becoming more and more serious.In the face of malpractices, Arnold, as British intellectuals, advised positively to savethe social crisis. Based on his cultural view, in the perspective of culture, Arnoldbegan his criticism to the field of politics, economy, ethics, religion and science.Arnold has deep introspection of the social phenomena: the abuse ofindustrialism, liberalism as well as science which were brought by the modernindustry civilization. He seriously criticized the phenomena that aristocrat becamematerial, middle-class became vulgaris, working-class became rough and thepervasion of “the spirit of the Populace” in whole society.In Arnold’ view, thearistocrat was elegant but lack of thought and reason; It was true that Middle class hasaccumulated huge wealth and created amazing achievement but then they fallen intothe mud puddle of utilitarianism and culprit of tools, they lack of wisdom; Workingclass were immature, acted quickly and very energetic but they easily got out ofcontrol. The three Classes all lack of "Culture"(sweet and light), they can’t becamethe spreader of culture. Arnold, therefore, expects the “remnants” who have the rightreason. The State is the collection of "the best self". Based on his middle-classposition, Arnold thinks: culture is seeks to develop a cultivated middle class througheducation, so as to achieve perfection.Arnold, as a educational inspector who has work for more than30years,suggests that the State must intervene in education positively. Only in this way, canwe solve mental and social anarchy in England. In fact, National authority mustintervene in the field of education is the Essential characteristics of Arnold’ Culturalcriticism. But, what we must pay attention to is the Arnold’ notion of state: the statewhich culture expected, first, is the represents of "the best self", and then is the coreof "light and authority". But, how to avoid falling into the trap of cultural despotismafter the state has mastered cultural authority? Arnold didn’t solve this problem, this is not only the dilemma of Arnold’ cultural critique, but also a problem faced in theprocess of modernization.Now China is in the transformation period——transferring to modern industrialcivilization. Arnold provides us a new perspective--cultural perspective to analyzethe problems in the process of social modernization. We should understand Arnold’sidea contradictions correctly, it is far-reaching significance for us to keep a clear headto make the right decisions.