Lesson 3

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Function &
Philosophical
Perspective of Art
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Greek Philosopher Aristotle claimed that every particular substance

in the world has an end, or telos in Greek, which translates to
“purpose”

Man, in Aristotle’s view of reality, is bound to achieve a life of

fulfillment and happiness, or in Greek, eudaimonia
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The telos and function of a thing are related to a thing’s identity.

What makes a table a table is that it performs its function and

reaches its telos. If a table does not have a surface on which we
can put our books or our plates and glasses, then it ceases to
be a table.
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Ex. Rizal monument

What is it for?

Why was it erected I Rizal Park?

Is it for pure sentimental value?

Is it for aesthetic value?

Or Does it send a message to those who witness it?

In this string of question the inquirer is hoping to get the function of the piece of art in Rizal
Park
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Functions of Art

 When one speaks of function, one is practically talking about the

use of the object whose function is in question. An inquiry into
the function of art is an inquiry into what art is for.

 Alternatively, the answer to the question What is it for” is the

function of whatever “it” in the question referred to.
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Functions of Arts

Personal Function of Art

Social Function of Art
Physical Function of Art
Other Function of Art
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Functions of Arts

Personal Function of Art – Art is varied and highly subjective.

This means that its functions depend on the persons-the artist
who created the art. An artist may create art out of the need for
self-expression. Art may also be therapeutic.

Social Function of Art – Art is considered to have a social

function if and when it addresses a particular collective interest
as opposed to personal interest, political is a very common
example of an art with a social function.
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Physical Function of Art – The physical function of art is the easiest to spot
and understand. The physical function of art can be found in artworks
that are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose.

Other Function of Art – Music as an art is also interesting to talk about, in

relation to function. Music in its original form was principally functional.
Music was used for dance and religion. The ancient world saw music only
as an instrument to facilitate worship and invocation to gods.
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Sculpture – is another functional art that has long existed, for various
purpose. Just like music sculptures have been made by man most
particularly for religion. Sculpture were also made in order to
commemorate important figures in history. Ex. Rizal’s monument in Rizal
Park.

Architecture – another art form that lends itself to multiple functions is

architecture. In fact architecture must be the most prominent functional art
form. Buildings are huge, expensive and are not easily constructed and
replaced.
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Does Art Always have to be functional?

While it has been shown that most are functional, still there are some
which are not. The value of art does not depend on function but on
the work itself.

Art demands so much more than mere efficiency. What then really comprises
beauty and art? What makes something truly beautiful? What makes a work of
art? What really art is?
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Philosophical Perspective on Art
Art as an Imitation

Plato (2000) in his masterpiece, The Republic, particularly paints a picture of artist as imitators and art
as a mere imitation. In his description of the ideal republic, Plato advices against the inclusion of art
as a subject in the curriculum and the banning of the artist in the republic. Plato was convinced that
artists merely reinforced the belief in copies and discourage men from reaching for the real entities
in the World of Forms.

Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two reasons: they appeal to emotion rather than to
the rational faculty of men and they imitate rather than lead one to reality.

Poetry rouses emotion and feelings, it can sway minds without taking in consideration the use of
proper reason.

Likewise, Socrates is worried that art objects represent only the things in this world, copy artists
themselves of reality. A painting is just an imitation of nature, which is also just an imitation of reality
in the world of forms
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For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty replacement

for the real entities that can only be attained through reason.
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Art as Representation

Aristotle, Plato’s most important student in philosophy, agreed with his teacher that
art is a form of imitation. However, in contrast to the disgust that his master
holds for art, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in revealing truth,

For example, Aristotle (1902) in the Poetics claimed that poetry is a literary
representation in general. For Aristotle, all kinds of art, including poetry, music,
dance, painting, and sculpture, do not aim to represent reality as it is. What art
endeavors to do is to provide a vision of what might be or myriad possibilities in
reality, Aristotle conceived art as representing possible versions of reality.

In the Aristotelian worldview, art serves tow particular purpose. First, art allows for
the expression of pleasure. Secondly, art also ha an ability to be instructive and
teach its audience things about life; thus, it is cognitive as well.
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Art as Disinterested Judgement

In the third critique that Immanuel Kant wrote, the “Critique of judgment,” Kant
considered the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that
can be universal despite its subjectivity.

There is something in the work of art that makes it capable of inciting the same
feeling of pleasure and satisfaction from any perceiver, regardless of his
condition, for Kant every human being, after perception and the free play of his
faculties, should recognize the beauty that is inherent in a work of art.
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Art as a Communication of Emotion

The author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy, provided another
perspective on what art is. In his book, What is Art (2016), Tolstoy defended the
production of the sometimes truly extravagant art, like operas, despite extreme
poverty in the world. For him, art plays a huge role in communicating to its
audience’s emotions that the artist previously experienced. Art then serves as a
language, a communication device that articulates feelings and emotions that are
otherwise unavailable to the audience. In the same way that language
communicates information to other people, art communicates emotion

Tolstoy is fighting for the social dimension of art. As a purveyor of man’s innermost
feelings and thoughts, art is given a unique opportunity to serve as a mechanism for
social unity.
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Answer the Following questions as
precisely yet as thoroughly as possible

1. What art form/artwork has changed something in your life? Why?

Account for the experience.

2. Does art always have a function? Why? Support your response. Provide
your own example.

3. If an artwork ceased to have a function, will it remain an art? Why?