Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809–1865)

Not a book I'd recommend as an introduction to anarchism or something like that but still a fascinating and fiery text. Most notable on the "very bad" side is that women are referred to approximately twice, where they're called as different to men as men are to goats and it's said they should probably be "excluded from society"! Christ. This is symptomatic of a wider problem, where he doesn't really seem to consider the full implications of what he says past the abstract - for example he seems to still believe in nations and the structure of French society post-revolution, although he's not really explicit. In addition, his reasoning is based to a very large extent on the ideas of external non-human "justice", "liberty" and "reason," which is hard to accept now, especially as he says a lot of things are "just" or whatever with no reasoning, which makes his uncritical acceptance of his own society's ideals even more obvious and awkward.

Despite this, I still enjoyed it and found his arguments interesting. His demolition of the concept of property based on the arguments used in defence of it at the time is incredibly effective and not really diminished by changing defences since. His style is passionate and, even though antiquated, inspiring. His vision of society isn't really detailed and is pretty utopian but still good reading. As a historical document, his adherence to the ideals of and regular references to the French Revolution as well as his clear rooting in that tradition is interesting.

overall pretty decent but very varied and what you get out of it depends on what you're expecting… (plus d'informations)

CUPRINS

Studiu introductiv - pag. 5

CAPITOLUL I
Problema generala ridicata de incercarile domnului Courbet - pag. 29
Contradictia dintre scoli: necesitatea unei solutii - pag. 29

CAPITOLUL II
Despre principiul artei, sau despre facultatea estetica a omului - pag. 41

CAPITOLUL III
Despre ideal – Scopul si definitia artei - pag. 51

CAPITOLUL IV
Evolutie istorica. EGIPT: Arta tipica, simbolica, alegorica; libertatea si forta colectivitatii in arta - pag. 64

CAPITOLUL V
GRECIA: Cult al formei, idealism idolatru – Coruptie a societatii prin arta; reactie iconoclasta - pag. 72

CAPITOLUL VI
EVUL MEDIU: Idealismul ascetic - pag. 79

CAPITOLUL VII
RENASTEREA: Reabilitarea frumusetii, idealism ambiguu. Noua coruptie - pag. 86

CAPITOLUL VIII
REFORMA: Arta de umanizeaza; preludiu al unei renovari estetice - pag. 93

CAPITOLUL IX
REVOLUTIA FRANCEZA: Clasicii si romanticii - pag. 102

CAPITOLUL X
Confuzia de irationalitatea artei in cursul primei jumatati a secolului al XIX-lea. David, E. Delacroix, Ingres, David (d’Angers), Rude, L. Robert, H. Vernet - pag. 112
David - pag. 114
Eugene Delacroix - pag. 124
Domnul Ingres - pag.130
David (d’Angers) si Rude - pag. 134
Leopold Robert - pag. 142
Horace Vernet - pag. 148

CAPITOLUL XI
Opinia domnului Chenavard asupra degenerarii artei si asupra sfarsitului apropiat al omenirii – Dificultatile pe care le infrunta arta in seculul al XIX-lea. Scoala numita REALISTA se naste din irationalitatea generala - pag. 158

CAPITOLUL XII
In ce termeni s-a afirmat noua scoala – Examinarea catorva tablouri de G. Courbet: “Taranii din Flagey” sau “Intoarcerea de la targ” - pag. 175

CAPITOLUL XIII
Continuarea aceluiasi subiect: “Femeie cu fusul”; “Inmormantare de Ornans”; “Femeie scaldandu-se” - pag. 188
“Femeie cu fusul” - pag.189
“Inmormantare de Ornans” - pag. 192
“Femeie scaldandu-se” - pag.196

CAPITOLUL XIV
Caracteristica artei in perioada care incepe: definitia noii scoli - pag. 201

CAPITOLUL XV
Confirmarea teoriei criticiste – “Spargatorii de piatra”; “Domnisoarele de pe malul Senei” - pag. 214
“Spargatorii de piatra” - pag. 215
“Domnisoarele de pe malul Senei” - pag. 220

CAPITOLUL XVI
Despre prostituarea artei – Severitatea scolii critice. “Venus si Psyche” - pag. 225

CAPITOLUL XVII
“Preotii” sau “Intorcerea de la conferinta” - pag. 237

CAPITOLUL XVIII
COURBET: Personalitatea sa – Rezervele mele - pag. 249

CAPITOLUL XIX
Scolile: conservare si progres - pag. 258

CAPITOLUL XX
Frumusete divina si frumusete umana - pag. 266

CAPITOLUL XXI
Afirmarea scolii critice – Obiectii – Incident personal - pag. 274

CAPITOLUL XXII
Despre arta in raporturile ei cu constiinta - pag. 285

CAPITOLUL XXIII
Marturii estetice ale constiintei nationale – Monumente si infrumusetari modern ale Parisului - pag. 295

CAPITOLUL XXIV
Moravuri artistice – Simple sfaturi - pag. 309

CAPITOLUL XXV
Concluzie - pag. 319… (plus d'informations)