Artistic and aesthetic need of man

According to the results of archaeological excavations, it can be concluded that even primitive people had a peculiar aesthetic need. The researchers found samples of rock art, which were made approximately 30 thousand years ago. Even then, a person dreamed of being surrounded by harmonious, beautiful objects.

Approaches to the source of aesthetic need

What is an aesthetic need? There are three main approaches to understanding this term.

Hedonism

The theory of aesthetic pleasure (hedonism) involves the perception of nature as the main source of pleasure. J. Locke said that such terms as "beauty", "beautiful", in the understanding of man designate those objects that "cause sensations of pleasure and joy." It was the hedonistic approach that contributed to the emergence of artistic and aesthetic needs, led to the emergence of experimental aesthetics.

The founder of this trend is the psychophysicist G. Fechner. Aesthetic need is considered in the need to create conditions for obtaining aesthetic pleasure. Ferchner conducted experiments with a group of volunteers, offering them sounds, colors. The results he systematized, as a result of which he was able to establish the "laws" of aesthetic pleasure:

• threshold;
• gain;
• harmony;
• clarity;
• Absence of contradictions;
• Aesthetic associations.

In the case of coincidence of the parameters of stimulation with natural qualities, a person could experience the real pleasure from the seen natural objects. The theory has found its application in mass culture and industrial design. For example, many people enjoy the appearance of expensive cars, but not all are characterized by an aesthetic need to consider the works of German expressionists.

The theory of empathy

This approach consists in transferring experiences to certain works of art, a person compares himself with them. F. Schiller considers art as the possibility of "making other people's feelings into their experiences". The process of empathy is of an intuitive nature. This theory presupposes satisfaction of aesthetic needs with the help of pictures "created according to the rules."

Cognitive approach

In this case, the aesthetic need of the individual is seen as an option to comprehend wisdom. This view was held by Aristotle. Supporters of this approach view art as figurative thinking. They believe that a person's aesthetic needs help him to know the world around him.

"Psychology of Art"

LS Vygotsky in his work analyzed this problem. He believed that aesthetic needs, human capabilities are a special form of socialization of his sensory world. According to the theory stated in the work "Psychology of Art", the author is convinced that with the help of works of art it is possible to transform passions, emotions, individual feelings, turn ignorance into good manners. At the same time a person has a state of catharsis, characterized by enlightenment, elimination of contradictions in feelings, awareness of a new life situation. Thanks to the relaxation of internal tension with the help of works of art, genuine motivation arises for the subsequent aesthetic activity. In the process of forming a certain artistic taste, according to Vygotsky, there is a need for aesthetic education. A person is ready to study theory in order to once again experience the pleasure of visual study of artistic objects.

As the empirical development of the human personality, the changes in society, the attitude to beauty, the desire to create changed. As a result of progress in various areas of human life, various achievements of world culture arose. As a result of progress, the artist's artistic and aesthetic needs were modernized, and the spiritual image of the individual was adjusted. They affect the creative direction, intelligence, creative direction of activities and aspirations, attitude towards other people. In the absence of a formed capacity for aesthetic perception, mankind will not be able to realize itself in a beautiful and multifaceted world. In this case, one can not talk about culture. The formation of this quality is possible on the basis of purposeful aesthetic education.

Importance of cultural development

Let's analyze the basic aesthetic needs. Examples of the importance of full-fledged aesthetic education are confirmed by historical facts. The needs of the aesthetic plan are a source for the development of the world. Man is a social being, therefore, for self-realization he must feel his need, necessity. Dissatisfaction breeds aggression, negatively affects a person's mental state.

What is the need?

Any living being exists by consuming the benefits necessary for life. The basis of this process is the need or need. Let's try to find a definition for this concept. MP Ershov in his work "The Need of Man" argues that the need is the root cause of life, and this quality is characteristic of all living beings. He considers need to be a specific property of living matter, which distinguishes it from an inanimate world.

Philosophers of the Ancient World

The thinkers of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece seriously studied the problem of the needs of other people, and even managed to achieve certain positive results. Democritus demand was defined as the main driving force that changed the mind of a person, helped him to master speech, language, gain the habit of active work. If people did not have such needs, it would remain wild, could not create a developed social society, exist in it. Heraclitus was convinced that they arose depending on the conditions of life. But the philosopher noted that desires should be reasonable so that a person could improve his intellectual abilities. Plato divided all the needs into several groups:

• Primary, which form the "lower soul";
• Secondary, capable of forming a reasonable personality.

Modernity

The French materials of the late 17th century attached importance to these qualities. Thus, P. Holbach said that with the help of needs a person can control his passions, will, mental abilities, independently develop. NG Chernyshevsky linked the needs with the cognitive activity of any person. He was confident that throughout his life a person's interests and needs change, which is the main factor for constant development and creative activity. Despite the serious differences in views, we can say that the opinions expressed by scientists have much in common. All of them recognized the relationship between needs and human activities. The disadvantage is the desire to change the situation for the better, find a way to solve the problem. The need can be considered a component of the internal state of a person, a structural element of active activity, which is aimed at obtaining the desired result. In his writings, Carl Max devoted enough attention to this problem, realizing the importance of explaining the nature of this concept. He noted that it is the needs that are the cause of all activities that allow a particular individual to find his place in society. Such a naturalistic approach is based on the connection between the natural nature of man and the specific historical type of social relations that act as a link between the needs and nature of man. Only then can we talk about personality, K. Marx considered, when a person does not limit himself to his needs, but also interacts with other people.

The possibility of self-expression

Currently, a variety of options are used to classify human needs. Epicurus (the ancient Greek philosopher) divided them into natural and necessary. In case of their dissatisfaction, people suffer. Needs he called communication with other people. For a person to realize himself, he needs to make serious efforts. As for the brilliance, wealth, luxury, it is very problematic to get them, it is possible to only units. Dostoevsky showed special interest in this topic. He came up with his classification, identify the material benefits, without which a normal human life is impossible. A special place was given to the needs of consciousness, association of people, social needs. Dostoevsky was convinced that his desires, aspirations, behavior in society directly depend on the level of spiritual development.

Culture of personality

Aesthetic consciousness is part of the public consciousness, its structural element. Together with morality, it forms the basis of modern society, helps humanity to develop, positively reflects on the spirituality of people. In its activity it manifests itself in the form of a spiritual need expressing an attitude toward external factors. It is not opposed to aesthetic development, but stimulates a person to active activity, helps him to implement theoretical knowledge in practice.

Conclusion

Such a concept, as needs, throughout the existence of human society attracted the attention of many great thinkers and bright personalities. Depending on the level of development, intellectual characteristics, each person forms for himself his own system of needs, without which he considers his existence to be limited, inferior. Intellectually developed people first pay attention to aesthetic needs, and only then they think about material goods. Such people are single, they at all times of the existence of human society were considered a model for imitation, their example was followed by other people. It is the need for communication, the desire to do something for other people, developed by political and public figures, helps them in self-realization and self-development.