Arts and the Man

by Irwin Edman

Hardcover book

Genres: Philosophy

145 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1949

Reviews

[Michael David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I scanned through this book before giving it away to one of my friends. I was largely intrigued by it because of its cover. Edman does provide copious examples when he speaks of the art medium he is discussing, and his defense of the (dark) arts against moralism made much sense. Among his many points, one theme stuck with me: art is the realization of unforced discipline within its proponents, and this is largely in contrast with the forced, external discipline of morality. True artists, in their unwavering focus towards the completion of their work, often manifest more discipline than externally-imposed rigor created by moralism.

(Another minor theme that echoed within me was Edman's notion that the art in philosophy is with the creation of insight it inspires.)

[Josh Sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The syntax of the arts, if it is not the syntax of nature, is at least a more adequate grammar for saying what men feel and see and hear than any of the generalized periphrasis of analytic diction. The truth of things rather than the truth about them finds its articulateness in the varied languages of the arts.”