The Department of Philosophy at the College of Arts at the University of Basrah organized a panel discussion on (Ethical Aspects of the Philosophy of Beauty at Tolstoy)
The panel, in which Assistant Lecturer Zahraa Abdel Baqi Abdel Wahed lectured, addressed the introduction to Tolstoy’s personality, his most important works on the philosophy of beauty, the most prominent events that influenced Tolstoy thinking, clarification of Tolstoy concept of beauty, the functions and purpose of art, and the criticism he directed at modern art.
The panel touched on the fact that a good artistic work, from Tolstoy’s point of view, must be understood even by the common man who lacks artistic culture, and that if artistic works are not understood by everyone, they cannot perform their effective role in moral influence, even if they involve Moral values, and the goal of art is for some people to convey their emotions and sublime feelings to others. If art does not achieve this goal, then it can be viewed as a failed art. As Tolstoy insists, art should not aim to achieve aesthetic pleasure because this pleasure distances us from goodness. That is, the goal of art is good.
The episode aims to study the moral aspect of Tolstoy philosophy of beauty by stating Tolstoy's point of view on beauty and linking it to morality.
