Chapter 6 6. The Physiology of Art

Nietzsche wrote in the book "Nietzsche Against Wagner": "Of course, aesthetics is nothing but applied physiology." He also drew up an eighteen-point outline entitled "Physiology of Art", which he planned to publish in "Will to Power" "in a dedicated chapter on this issue.This plan failed to materialize.However, the idea of ​​"Art Physiology" can still be seen scattered in his later works and "The Will to Power" compiled by his sister.It is worth noting the following points: First, the vitality of the body is the driving force of art, and the aesthetic state depends on the vitality of the body.

Second, among the vigor of the body, the power of sexual desire takes the first place.Drunkenness is strongest during the estrous period of the sexes.On the one hand, sex makes the lover more powerful, and on the other hand, it beautifies and idealizes the loved one.The biological purpose of beauty is to stimulate reproduction.A great artist must be a man of great libido.Historically, the era of artistic prosperity was rooted in the soil of sexual interest.A person expends the same force in artistic creation as in sexual behavior, so an artist should maintain relative chastity to save energy.

Third, aesthetic value is based on biological value.Out of the deepest instinct of the race, people make "beautiful" judgments on the objects that enhance the vitality of the race, and make "ugly" judgments on the objects that suppress the vitality of the race.Therefore, aesthetic judgment is a generalized biological value judgment. Fourth, art pathology issues. "Genius = neurosis." Artists are neurotics.But there are two cases: one is a "healthy neurosis" caused by an excess of power, such as the Greek tragedies; the other is a morbid neurosis caused by a failure of power, such as the German romantic pessimism Activists.