“Letters Upon The Aesthetics Education Of Man" by J. C. Friedrich Von Schiller is a series of letter that was written by Schiller discussing about aesthetics and beauty, in a sort it is a research on aesthetics. There are many interesting issues that was raised in his letter, some of these issues are timeless and still ring true to this day.
In his first letter Schiller would elaborate on the importance of his research on beauty and aesthetics but there is an interesting point that Schiller wrote at the last part of his first letter in which he said that moral experience can be applied in greater truth in a manifestation of what is “beautiful”. Why does moral ‘experience’ could contribute and applied on what is beautiful ? What is the connection between moral experience and what is beautiful ? To answer this question first we have to know what is ‘moral experience’ ? In my understanding ‘moral experience’ is an ethical code that a man has made in his mind or set it in his mind to think that way through experience that he has encounter throughout his life, either from reading, thinking or something that has happened to him, it could be from his upbringing or from his religious view. So why does through ‘moral experience’ that one could applied on what they would think is ’beautiful’, in my opinion it is because through this ‘moral experience’ that one could connect to something they find beautiful, their emotion and way of thinking would connect them what they may find beautiful. For example something that is ‘beautiful’ from the point of view of a Muslim man doesn’t necessarily mean it is ‘beautiful’ to a Christian man. I think the connection between a man’s ‘moral experience’ and what he find is beautiful is a strong one because the experience and moral value is something that he has gone through his whole life and something that he is very familiar with.
Another issue that Schiller raises on the second letter is the relationship and connection between beauty and freedom. In the final paragraph of this letter Schiller wrote that “it is through beauty that we arrive at freedom”. This implies that beauty is an essential part of freedom but beauty also needs freedom’s prescription and rules, both of them are well connected to each other. Why is this so ? One might asked, I believe that true beauty or the sense of beauty is something that is not bind by something, it comes from the individuality and has not been tempered by narrow-minded hands, this in a way makes beauty unique and have value. Then what does he means with “it is through beauty that we arrive at freedom”, I think that freedom should be obtain through beauty, in a sense that it is something sacred and is something from the upmost of moral value and experience. Freedom should not be obtained by worldly possession or brute force as it will only devalue the true meaning of freedom. In a way both beauty and freedom complement each other with their existence.
On the first paragraph of third letter, Schiller also raises an interesting point in which he says that men are never satisfied with what nature has given them and they will also find a way to get what he desires (which subsequently is what nature anticipated him to do). This is an interesting point because with the dissatisfaction of men, they would explore beyond things that are in front of them or given to them, often times this could lead to a unique idea or something revolutionary. But why is it that man are never satisfied with what they are given ? One could say it is human nature or rather human instinct; it is how man survives in this harsh world, a defence mechanism in a way, a very unique and admirable trait in my humble opinion. But it is not without its flaws, because of man dissatisfaction he could easily do harm to others and destroy the very nature that he aims to preserve, because they do not take consideration the consequences of their action, men who does not apply the beauty in aesthetic would easily abolish the world with their ambition. With that said man should never rely or satisfied with what nature has bring to them, if man are easily satisfied they would not push them self into a higher level rather they would be too dependable and they would be unable to think outside the box, there would be no innovation and no civilization.
There is also another interesting issue that Schiller raises, this time on the fourth letter. In which he compared a mechanical artist, a fine artist and; a political and educating artist in how they view and treat their formless block in which they will use to create their masterpiece. He wrote that a mechanical artist would not hesitate to do any violence to the formless block as he does not respect it, while the fine artist he also doesn’t hesitates to do any violence to the formless block but avoid showing it, if anything the fine artist has less respect on the formless block than the mechanical artist. Now the political and educating artist, he treats his formless block with a different kind of respect, what is his motive in doing so ? You might ask. In the letter Schiller elaborate the reason in which he says that the whole formless block serves a purpose, each part is unique and he does not want to produce a deceptive effect on his masterpiece and also for his inner being; spiritual and moral values. This issue is also interesting because it can also apply to our society or country. I think true beauty also comes from unity, each peculiar and unique parts serve a purpose.
In the fifth letter Schiller discuss the importance of moral and egotism in a man. In which he says the man of the world is proud while the man of nature often beats with sympathy. Why the does such a difference exist in how each these man thinks ? In my opinion the man of the world are too caught up in their so called perfect world that they do not considered how others might feels but they are easily rewarded in terms of accomplishment, so to them they could not do such harm. While the man of nature he values each and every being, he understand that each individual or being serves a purpose, he connects with them and values them. So it is very important for them to not fall from the grace of moral and succumb to egotism because that is not what true beauty is.
In conclusion I think that true beauty in the eyes of aesthetics is something sacred, it is something natural and does not feel forced, it is sincere as it is unique. In other words true aesthetics beauty depends on the individual and how they think, their culture, upbringing, emotion, moral standings and experience all become an important factors on why a person find something or someone beautiful.
by Muhammad Syauqi Bin Muhammad Sophie (D20111050110)
