This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/69012
Description
Title
Art and Social Ethics
Author(s)
Amburgy, Patricia Marie
Issue Date
1985
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Fine Arts
Abstract
Three major theses are argued in this study. One is that conceptions of art have radically altered during the past hundred years. Before the end of the nineteenth century, works of art were conceived as moral phenomena; i.e., as objects which reflected the moral character of their makers, and required virtue on the part of viewers for proper appreciation. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, this perspective was abandoned by many theorists. Art came to be understood as a nonmoral, "aesthetic" object.
A second major thesis is that the change in conceptions of art was a product of two historical factors. One was the rise of modern, technological society; the other was a change in metaphysical perspective, or general world-view. Before the end of the nineteenth century, the "real," most significant features of art were taken to be moral characteristics. With the rise of technological society, however, its "real" features came to be conceived as affective and/or "objective" in character.
A third major thesis in the study is that art was trivialized when it came to be understood from a nonmoral, scientific world-view. In a technological society, art became less meaningful than it had been in the past. It fell from being understood as a central, highly important part of life, to a leisure-time, extraneous "frill."
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
