Rousseau’s Criticism On The Art From Moral View

Whether the "Art" has moral function is always the focus of debate by philosophers at all times and in all countries. In the age of Enlightenment, Jacques Rousseau had his own unique deliberation and insight on the popularity of Modern art. From the moral point of view, he had animadverted on Modern Art, which formed their unique artistic view. In the Enlightenment era of French, "Voltaire and Diderot", Led by the enlightenment’s Ideologists had strongly advocated the progress of the concept of the art of enlightenment, and they had considered the development of art could bring about the progress of society; However, Rousseau, who pointed out that due to social customs of the secular and utilitarian, People’s attitude stays at the aesthetic level on art and for the purpose of pleasing in each other. But, the moral function of art is gradually weakened until it disappears. Therefore, when the Enlightenment’s thinkers has shouted the reason is first, However, Rousseau had acutely aware of the negative impact of art progress on human social morality, In theory, he also made a huge blow to them.Rousseau believed civilization of human society can not purify customs,on the contrary,it will ruin the most primitive and purest human nature.He stood in classical moral position to critique the modern art,aimed at human’s society can return to sincere moral life. Therefore,we must conduct a rigorous review of Art,to ensure that it can guide people to improve their own moral virtue,so that individuals can truly express themselves in public and private spheres.This paper takes Rousseau’s text of art "on Sciences and Arts" and "on Drama" as its foundation, and has deeply interpreted "Rousseau’s criticism of art". The contents of this paper are composed of three parts. The first chapter discusses the background and theoretical base of question of Rousseau’s art and the historical reason of the formation of Rousseau’s artistic conception. The second chapter is the body of context, is mainly based on the texts about "on Sciences and Arts" and "on Drama", and has expounded Rousseau’s critical art of moral connotation. Also, we should point out the function of art is different from modern French and in the Classical city-states, and for the Human’s being, we should return moral arts. The third chapter is the sublime part in this paper. here, we should expound the essence of Rousseau’s criticism of art morality. At the same time, we should focuses on the possible problem of "authenticity"and "sincerity". The essence of Rousseau’s moral criticism of art is that it hopes to return to the identity of the individual’s sincerity in the social state and the identity of ego. Finally, this paper points out that Rousseau’s criticism of art morality has great influence on the aesthetics of Kant’s and its theoretical or practical significance.