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Oscar Wilde, Hedonism and Aestheticism

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• Wrote mostly plays with satirical themes, but also created poems and other works.

• He was born in Dublin in 1854 and died in 1900 due to bad health.

• Attended Trinity College in Dublin and a Magdalen College, in Oxford.

• Put on trial about his play, "The Importance of Being Earnest", where Oscar was accused of being a sodomite.

• He was found guilty and sent to prison which was the beginning of his downfall.

• He died poor, and alone in a hotel room in Paris.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

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There can be Faustian elements seen in this story. For eternal youth, he gave his soul to the painting,

and slowly became morally corrupt and evil.

It also points out the evils of society, that looks are more important that anything else.

Foreign influences also corrupt a once pure Dorian.

Hedonism and Aestheticism

The Picture of Dorian GrayLiterary Elements

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HEDONISMHEDONISM

To a HEDONIST, To a HEDONIST, happiness is having all happiness is having all the pleasure one can the pleasure one can obtain.obtain.

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Assumptions of hedonism:• Everyone deserves as much pleasure as Everyone deserves as much pleasure as

possible.possible.

• Pleasure is automatically good.Pleasure is automatically good.

• No amount of pleasure is ever too much.No amount of pleasure is ever too much.

• The absence of pleasure is a misfortune The absence of pleasure is a misfortune for which compensation is due.for which compensation is due.

• Nothing but pleasure is intrinsically good. Nothing but pleasure is intrinsically good.

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•The Hedonist will claim that all pleasure is intrinsically good. Of course, other things are good, too – liberty, for example. However, liberty is only good instrumentally, as a means towards greater happiness.

•Pain as a means to pleasure. Pain is intrinsically bad. However, it is sometimes good as a means.

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Hedonism Reconsidered:

1.1. Is this philosophy based on an Is this philosophy based on an accurate view of human nature?accurate view of human nature?

2.2. Is it accurate to assume that people Is it accurate to assume that people are pleasure-loving at all times and in are pleasure-loving at all times and in all places?all places?

3.3. Is it self defeating to assume that Is it self defeating to assume that happiness is the sum total of all happiness is the sum total of all possible pleasures?possible pleasures?

4.4. What is the difference between What is the difference between happiness and pleasure? happiness and pleasure?

Hedonism has inspired critical questions:Hedonism has inspired critical questions:

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AESTHETICIAESTHETICISM SM

emphasized the importance of Art and importance of Art and BeautyBeauty as a means progress; worshipped worshipped beauty above everything.beauty above everything.

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“Art for Art’s sakeArt for Art’s sake” meant:art for the pleasure and sensations art for the pleasure and sensations

that it could producethat it could produce, without any without any regard to standards of morality or regard to standards of morality or utility.utility.

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The fundamental principles of this movement were the following:

1. The cult of beautycult of beauty.2. The choice for a life beyond choice for a life beyond

common moralitycommon morality.3. The solution of the dichotomy solution of the dichotomy

between senses and spirit through between senses and spirit through the theory of the spiritualization of the theory of the spiritualization of the sensesthe senses.

4. The reversal of the principle of art reversal of the principle of art imitating life into that of life imitating life into that of life imitating art.imitating art.

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• Pater was the defender of hedonismhedonism, a doctrine according to which pleasure is the chief good to be pleasure is the chief good to be pursued by manpursued by man

• In his opinion , lifelife should be treatedtreated as a work of art. as a work of art. • In his “Studies in the history of Renaissance”(1873) he

stated that:1.“the secret of happinesshappiness lieslies in the enjoyment of in the enjoyment of

beautybeauty”;2.“the finest sensationsfinest sensations areare to be found in artin art”; 3.“the deepest and noblest emotionsdeepest and noblest emotions can be

experiencedexperienced in a life meant as a work of art.” in a life meant as a work of art.” • Through our senses we can enjoy any form of artistic Through our senses we can enjoy any form of artistic

beauty and thus live a deep spiritual experiencebeauty and thus live a deep spiritual experience.

Walter Pater (1839-1894)

Concept Map DirectionsConcept Map Directions

1. Create a concept map that illustrates all of the elements of either Hedonism OR Aestheticism

2. Create off-shoots to clarify each aspect of the movement by giving several examples.

3. You must have at least five main “off-shoots” and they must each have at least 5 other “off-shoots” or “branches”. Connect your thinking.

4. Be creative! Add pictures, captions, and other notes to enhance your presentation.