9/13/2013 Upon the Moral Use of Aesthetic Manners

by Melanie Muller

In “Upon the Moral Use of Aesthetic Manners,” Friedrich Schiller discusses his theory of the intersection between Aesthetics and Morality. Schiller postulates that morality is the course of action that proceeds purely from human reason.  He assumes humans don’t have “an evil will, which must be changed, but only a good one, which is weak.” He examines what he believes to be the intersections between the “sensuous impulse,” the “will,” morality and “taste.”

We will discuss the manner in which Schiller uses these terms, and how they relate to Enlightenment ideas. We will then examine the philosophical system underlying Schiller’s essay and discuss his claims. 

A free copy of the essay can be found here:

http://www.colchestercollection.com/titles/chunk/A/aesthetical-and-philosophical-essays/manners.html