Aesthetical and philosophical essays : $b introducing the dissertation on the "connection between the animal and spiritual man"Schiller, Friedrich
Philosophy
Aesthetical and philosophical essays : $b introducing the dissertation on the "connection between the animal and spiritual man"
Schiller, Friedrich
Aesthetics; Philosophy
Nature has granted this favor to the simple poet, to act always as an
indivisible unity, to be at all times identical and perfect, and to
represent, in the real world, humanity at its highest value. In
opposition, it has given a powerful faculty to the sentimental poet, or,
rather, it has imprinted an ardent feeling on him; this is to replace
out of himself this first unity that abstraction has destroyed in him,
to complete humanity in his person, and to pass from a limited state to
an infinite state. They both propose to represent human nature fully, or
they would not be poets; but the simple poet has always the advantage of
sensuous reality over the sentimental poet, by setting forth as a real
fact what the other aspires only to reach. Every one experiences this in
the pleasure he takes in simple poetry. We there feel that the human
faculties are brought into play; no vacuum is felt; we have the feeling
of unity, without distinguishing anything of what we experience; we
enjoy both our spiritual activity and also the fulness of physical life.
Very different is the disposition of mind elicited by the sentimental
poet. Here we feel only a vivid _aspiration_ to produce in us this
harmony of which we had in the other case the consciousness and reality;
to make of ourselves a single and same totality; to realize in ourselves
the idea of humanity as a complete expression. Hence it comes that the
mind is here all in movement, stretched, hesitating between contrary
feelings; whereas it was before calm and at rest, in harmony with
itself, and fully satisfied.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account