Philosophical Writings

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

Page 92

The Role of Beauty as a Value in Everyday Life
2.5.5. Marxian concept of Art & Beauty :
Though Karl Marx's main concern was human freedom freedom from exploitation and proverty, he believe that like all the higer activities, art is determined by socio-historical conditions. According to Marx, Society is constituted not by human individuals but by human relations. Art is determind and derived from human relations. It is from this human relations that we get the concept of art and beauty. If there is attraction in human relation there is Beauty, if I go away from human relations, I go away from Beauty.
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Since the consciousness of artists is determined by the society, in order to understand Art we have to understand the society in which he lived, the historical background, the time, and the economic conditions. To Karl Marx beauty is an aesthetetic value. Marxist aesthetics goes against the theories of Kant and Hegel. According to Marx beautiful and useful are not incompatible. He does not belive in pure beauty.
2.6. Beauty in Indian Philosophy :
It is indeed a sad story to observe that Indians have neglected pure beauty in art. There is not much variety, compared to evolution of the concept of Beauty in West, because in Indian Philosophy all went in terms of Religion and Moksha - (Liberation).
The common aesthetic principle in Indian Philoshophy, amongst different branches of art, is called "Rasa" - believed to be an aesthetic beauty an aesthetic delight. It depends upon "Bhava" or the emotional complex. The corresponding term for "Rasa" could be empathy in western aesthetics. There is a long tradition of saints, seers and scholars who contributed to Indian Aesthetics. The tradition, starts with the 'Rasa' (empathy) theory of Bharat. All later theories and system have sprung from the Rasa-Sutra of Natyasastra of Bharat.
The Atharva Veda (one of the four vedas) discusses theory of art and beauty. This was further elaborated during the Upanished period. Then comes Sanskrit Scholars who advanced the concept