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Art Matters

A Critical Commentary on Heidegger’s “The Origin of the Work of Art”

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  • © 2009

Overview

  • The first critical commentary on this important essay
  • Anyone interested in the currently much discussed end of art should read this book
  • Does art still matter? This book makes a convincing case that it does.
  • The origin of the Work of Art is shadowed by Heidegger’s embrace of National Socialism. Just because of this it demands a thoughtful response
  • Provides a much needed critical confrontation

Part of the book series: Contributions to Phenomenology (CTPH, volume 57)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

Keywords

About this book

In recent years there has been a great deal of talk about a possible death of art. As the title of Heidegger’s “The Origin of the Work of Art” suggests, the essay challenges such talk, just as it in turn is challenged by such talk, talk that is supported by the current state of the art-world. It was Hegel, who most profoundly argued that the shape of our modern world no longer permits us to grant art the significance it once possessed. Hegel’s proclamation of the end of art in its highest sense shadows this commentary, as it shadows Heidegger’s essay. Heidegger’s problematic turn from the philosopher Hegel to the poet Hölderlin is born of the conviction that we must not allow Hegel to here have the last word. At stake is the future of art. But more importantly, if we are to accept Heidegger’s argument, at stake is the future of humanity. But all who are eager to find in Heidegger’s essay pointers concerning where not just art, but we should be heading, should be made wary by Heidegger’s politicizing of art and aestheticizing of politics. Both remain temptations that demand a critical response. This commentary demonstrates the continued relevance of Heidegger’s reflections.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dept. Philosophy, Yale University, New Haven, USA

    K. Harries

About the author

Karsten Harries is Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Philosophy at Yale University and is author of The Meaning of Modern Art (Evanston, Northwestern,1968), The Bavarian Rococo Church: Between Faith and Aestheticism (New Haven: Yale, 1983), The Broken Frame: Three Lectures (Washington, D.C.: CUA Press,1990), The Ethical Function of Architecture (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT, 1997), winner of the American Institute of Architects 8th Annual International Architecture Book Award for Criticism, and Infinity and Perspective(Cambridge, Mass.: MIT, 2001), among many other publications.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Art Matters

  • Book Subtitle: A Critical Commentary on Heidegger’s “The Origin of the Work of Art”

  • Authors: K. Harries

  • Series Title: Contributions to Phenomenology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9989-2

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4020-9988-5Published: 08 July 2009

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-007-2602-4Published: 29 November 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4020-9989-2Published: 10 May 2009

  • Series ISSN: 0923-9545

  • Series E-ISSN: 2215-1915

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 201

  • Topics: Aesthetics, Phenomenology, Political Philosophy

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