The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – PREMIUM-Ep. 320: Friedrich Schlegel on Romanticism (Part Three)

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts continue their exploration of Friedrich Schlegel’s philosophy of Romanticism. They delve into the relationship between art and morality, the nature of consciousness, and the role of wit in social life. Join them as they uncover the fascinating insights of Schlegel and their relevance in today’s world.

Main Takeaways

Romantic View of Art

• The romantic view of art is different from the classical view, as it values the artist’s expression and creativity above formal rules of symmetry.
• Enjoying beauty in a work of art is about being plugged into the psyche of the creator.
• The creative process is about identifying with the psyche of the creator.
• A poem is a thing of nature that wants to become a work of art.

Aesthetic and Moral

• The relationship between the aesthetic and the moral is relevant in Nietzschean virtue ethics.
• Subjectivity is a work of nature and is natural.
• Poetic language in everyday life supports sociability and social interaction.

Consciousness and Nature

• Consciousness is not derived from matter, but rather produced by nature.
• Subjectivity is a work of nature and is natural.

Wit and Social Life

• Wit is an important element in social life, allowing for the expression of aggression in a socially acceptable way.
• Wit is fundamentally sociable and in good faith, not meant to offend people.
• Irony is an important part of wit as it allows for the expression of controversial ideas in a playful way.
• Wit can be used to challenge societal norms and standards.

Artifacts and Technique

• Pagel wants us to think of things in terms of the organic and development.
• There is no strict division between nature and technique in the production of artifacts.

Truth in Wit

• Political opinions may not matter in wit, but the use of metaphor to create connections between things is its own truth.
• There is ironic truth and literal truth in wit.

Additional Insights

• Jervais uses his own narcissism and societal narcissism as material in his stand-up.
• Visit partiallyexaminelife.com/support for more insights on this topic.

Summary

Romantic View of Art

The hosts discuss how the romantic view of art differs from the classical view. Romanticism values the artist’s expression and creativity above formal rules of symmetry. They emphasize the importance of understanding the psyche of the creator to truly appreciate the beauty in a work of art.

Aesthetic and Moral

The relationship between the aesthetic and the moral is explored through Nietzschean virtue ethics. The hosts highlight the naturalness of subjectivity and how poetic language in everyday life promotes sociability and social interaction.

Consciousness and Nature

The concept that consciousness is not derived from matter but produced by nature is discussed. The hosts delve into the idea that subjectivity is a natural phenomenon and examine its implications.

Wit and Social Life

The role of wit in social life is examined, emphasizing its function as a socially acceptable outlet for expressing aggression. The hosts emphasize that wit is meant to be sociable, in good faith, and not intended to offend. They explore the use of irony in wit to playfully express controversial ideas and challenge societal norms.

Artifacts and Technique

Pagel’s perspective on the production of artifacts is discussed, highlighting the importance of considering organic development. The hosts argue that there is no strict division between nature and technique in the creation of artifacts.

Truth in Wit

The hosts explore the idea that wit can convey its own truth through the use of metaphor and connections between things. They distinguish between ironic truth and literal truth in wit, emphasizing its ability to convey deeper meanings.

Additional Insights

The hosts mention Ricky Gervais’ use of his own narcissism and societal narcissism as material in his stand-up comedy. They also encourage listeners to visit partiallyexaminelife.com/support for further insights on the discussed topics.

Conclusion

This episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast” delves into Friedrich Schlegel’s philosophy of Romanticism, exploring the relationship between art and morality, the nature of consciousness, and the role of wit in social life. The hosts provide thought-provoking insights that encourage listeners to reconsider their understanding of these topics and their relevance in contemporary society.