Is art the best response
to human suffering, and
is Nietzsche’s account of
this consistent?
Throughout Nietzsche’s work, art (and in particular music) is praised for its effectiveness in
countering suffering. In The Birth of Tragedy and The Genealogy of Morals we have what at first
may seem like two entirely separate accounts of the utility of art, but in his dissertation, graduating
BA Philosophy student George Wilson argues that the accounts are linked and support each other in
making a broad case for the utility of art against suffering. The below is an excerpt.
Nietzsche’s later work, The Genealogy of Morals (1887), focuses on
the progression of morality from its early beginnings to the dominant
moralities of the present and accompanying concepts that explain
such a dramatic progression such as master and slave morality , bad
conscience and ascetic ideals. Considering the discussion of such
themes in The Genealogy of Morals, it is reasonable to question how it
links to The Birth of Tragedy, since The Birth of Tragedy is concerned
primarily with aesthetics whilst The Genealogy of Morals focuses on
an ethical concern. As discussed in the previous section, The Birth of
Tragedy argues for the utility of art in dealing with our suffering and how
tragic art is the perfect encapsulation of opposing forces that deals with
suffering in the correct and best manner. How can the ethical discourse
in The Genealogy of Morals appropriately continue and expand upon the
arguments for the effectiveness of art In the face of suffering? What adds
weight to this sceptical view is that even when art is mentioned in the
third essay of The Genealogy of Morals, “What do ascetic ideals mean?”
(p.68), it seems that at first glance art is only discussed in its utility
with dealing with ascetic ideals and in comparison with other methods.
Seemingly the function of art is mentioned in passing. However, I argue
that there is a clear link on the function of art between The Genealogy
of Morals and The Birth of Tragedy, and that the account offered in The
Genealogy of Morals is integral for making an argument highlighting the
utility of art as an antidote to suffering.
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