Question 1

What is the role of art in a liberal arts education?

Accepted Answer

Art is essential in a liberal arts education as it fosters the fundamental freedom and skills that a liberal arts education aims to develop. Art enables us to see the world as it is and as it can be, to act intelligently guided by imagination, and to creatively remake ourselves and our world.

Question 2

How does art develop the skills necessary for a free person?

Accepted Answer

Art develops the skills to see what matters, to focus our creative powers, and to present the fundamental lessons of the world in ways that make sense. Art refashions the world to allow its beauty and value to shine forth, fostering the free play of the imagination that allows the mind to see outside of convention, make new meanings, and create under the guidance of self-imposed and discovered constraints.

Question 3

Why is art necessary for a free society?

Accepted Answer

No free society can be without art, as art is the engine through which a culture transforms itself. Art is the techne, or craft, of self-creation, and it is essential for a free person to actively participate in the creation of their community and themselves.

Question 4

How does art relate to the traditional definition of beauty?

Accepted Answer

Traditionally, art has been defined as a making that produces beauty. However, for the philosopher Tolstoy, art became the means by which a culture communicates its felt solutions to the problems of life, going beyond the production of beauty.

Question 5

What is the relationship between art and the material world?

Accepted Answer

In the Neoplatonic tradition, art was seen as a means of accessing the realm of forms, with the material world being considered only as copies of these forms. This suggests a complex relationship between art and the material world, where art can both reflect and transform our understanding of the real world.

Saint Anselm College

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Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Anselm College

What is the role of art in a liberal arts education?

How does art develop the skills necessary for a free person?

Why is art necessary for a free society?

How does art relate to the traditional definition of beauty?

What is the relationship between art and the material world?