The Early Postmoderns on Art and Social Media

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel lived from 1770 to 1831. He was a German philosopher who used a historical perspective, coupled with idealism, to bring about paradigms that would help shape the world. His thought would lead to most of the great philosophical ideas of the last century: Marx and Nietzsche, phenomenology, German existentialism, and psychoanalysis, to name a few. One of his best known concepts is his idea that mind or spirit manifests itself in a set of contradictions or polar opposites that are ultimately integrated without losing the core concepts of either side. This can be summarized as a process that goes from a thesis and an antithesis to a synthesis.

With Descartes, there was a split between mind and body. Hegel tried to integrate those two back together. He was interested in the spirit, which we can think of as God, as embodied in the world, in all matter. But this spirit can evolve; it doesn’t stay at the lowest form of matter. Gradually, spirit can become more conscious, more aware, more articulate. For example, consider a rock. That’s physical matter, but there’s not really spirit in there. Spirit is conscious, aware, free, rational; pretty much everything a rock isn’t. Hegel says that the ultimate embodiment of this spirit is human consciousness. Human beings, for Hegel, are not just accidents of nature; they are reason itself—the reason inherent in nature—that has come to life and self-consciousness. Beyond human beings – or the hypothetical idea of other finite rational beings that might exist on other planets – there is no self-conscious reason in Hegel's universe. And he thought of the overall spirit, which is moving along and evolving, as being like God. God, to Hegel, is not completely separate from the human spirit. God develops through the creation of a thesis, which has an antithesis inherent within it, and the two form a synthesis, which becomes a new thesis. And spirit, or God, has to be embodied in the world. It’s not separate from it, as Descartes thought.

Hegel’s philosophy of aesthetics portrayed art as having one particular purpose: to allow us to contemplate and enjoy images of our own spiritual freedom—which images are beautiful precisely because they give expression to our freedom. In other words, art’s purpose is to enable us to bring to mind the truth about ourselves, to enable us to become aware of who we truly are as free human beings. Art is there not just for art's sake, but for beauty's sake, that is, for the sake of a distinctively sensuous form of free human self-expression and self-understanding. Furthermore, art is not only just a matter of form, but of content. Art must contain within itself the freedom and richness of spirit embodied and living in the world. Since the spirit is understood as “God,” the content of truly beautiful art is in one respect the divine. Yet, it's not separate from human life. As we have just seen, Hegel argues that the Idea – or  “God” – comes to consciousness of itself only in and through finite human beings. The content of beautiful art must thus be the divine in human form or the divine within humanity itself – as purely human freedom.

So what does this mean for social media? Well, it presents a surprisingly optimistic viewpoint. Due to the theme of progression through the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, the only way for a website - or any work that is to be judged – to be considered “bad” is if it fails to be inspired and to, in turn, inspire. And the best social media websites should somehow allow us to contemplate our own spiritual freedom, and inspire us to discuss that freedom with each other. Perhaps the idea of a social media website devoted solely to discussing human freedom sounds a bit pretentious. And it is. This isn’t an explicit goal, but rather, a by-product of a marriage of form and content into beauty. That beauty will, in turn, inspire each viewer to privately ponder their own freedom and their place in the divine.

Moderns 2nd Draft

 Who are the "Moderns"

The ancient worldview was that the meaning or beauty of a thing was in the thing itself. The modern philosophers, however, abandoned this view and said that beauty or meaning was not in the thing itself, but in the eyes of the beholder.

Hume
 
Values of things should be decided by not just anybody: those unimpaired, with discernment, and with taste.

Kant
 
Non-aesthetic values should be agreed upon by everyone.  Aesthetic values should be created by those that enjoy creating them. The struggle to enjoy a work of art is what we enjoy about it.

Hume, Kant and Social Websites 
 
Hume's view of beauty might come in to play when the website is being created.  Experts including graphic designers, programmers and user experience designers should be the people that first judge how a site should be created and designed.
Kant's view of beauty would come into play more once the website has been designed.  This is when users can interact and find value and beauty in the site themselves.  Because the whole purpose of the social website was for users to use it and value it,  this is when the site achieves the most important form of beauty.  Because of this, even as the experts are designing it and trying to make it beautiful in their eyes, they should keep in mind the next step for the sites beautification: the users engaging on it.

What would these folks have to say about your Social Website? - The Moderns

There was a class of intellectuals from about 1500 -1800AD that people who like to philosophize and sound smart call “the moderns.” Which, maybe isn’t the smartest name because it was only modern to them then… But regardless of the name, they do actually have some good suggestions on our more modern world today in regards to social media and what makes a good social website.

 Check out below to find out what they have to say:

Second Draft

(I went through and tried to consolidate the main points)

History

Aristotle was a pupil of Plato.  So, like Plato, Aristotle wrote on a wide variety of subjects, from aesthetics to zoology.  He had a huge impact on education and philosophy and it took hundreds of years for people to stop thinking of him as "THE philosopher". 
 
Dallin

Aristotle talked a lot about potentialities.  Every situation has a lot of potentialities,  or different possibilities to bring to life, and one must select which potentialities to actualize.  On a social website, potentialities are endless.  When creating a website, think to yourself: "Which potentialities will help with the purpose of this website?"

Isaac

The perspective Aristotle is coming from is one that says that no one knows nor has created a perfect social media website.  We all have an idea, or glimpse, of what the ideal form is, but none envelope the complete form.

Our goal while creating social websites is to move them closer and closer to that ideal form.

Topher  

The first page should be general information, and as they go throughout the website they should get more in depth information. 

Lisa

Aristotle talked about child vs. adult education.  Child education was the type that just taught the students without much opportunity for them to participate and create during the learning process.  Adult education put a lot more power into the student's hands.  The students helped to dictate their learning process.  This second type of education is how a social website should be. It should be so interactive that it molds to the users needs.  It should not be some static thing that can't bend and move and grow.

Greg

The idea of potentialities should apply to the users and not just the builders of the website. The users should be part of the process of the site moving toward it's ideal form.

Aristotle and Social Media

History

As a former pupil of Plato, many of the ideas Aristotle brought to the table were deeply influenced by Plato's philosophies. Similar to Plato, Aristotle spoke and taught on a wide variety of subjects, from aesthetics to zoology. However, Aristotle did add to his former professor's philosophies through his use of dialogues - more than just stating his points, he provided a discussion on points and counter-points, solidifying his arguments. [this is deceptive, his dialogues were all lost]

Teachings

In each moment, the potentialities of a thing are determined by its current situation. When we act, we are actualizing certain potentialities and closing off others. According to Aristotle, "mind" is what comes into play when we actualize these potentialities. [ideas that modern philosophers speak on about "mindfulness" probably draws on Aristotle]

Given how we act and how other things respond, we find ourselves with a new set of potentialities to act from--a new character. Character is the set of potentialities we have to choose from; therefore, our character is developed through our actions. Aristotle teaches that through this actualization of potentialities, we can find happiness.

Aristotle believed that these ideas could form general principles, but that one must also be aware of the potentialities of the moment in order to know how to act. Aristotle was all about action, phronesis, or practical wisdom. Action is necessary to actualize potential. 

Aristotle developed the ideas of ethos, pathos, and logos. While each adds value to a presentation, all must be present in order to convey the highest argument.

• Ethos: author credibility
• Pathos: passionate argument
• Logos: logical reasoning

Aristotle believed repetition was an appropriate form of education for children while adults should be taught through opportunities to interpret and interact. 

Aristotle taught that our communication should develop in stages as the reader and the presenter also develop and come closer to their potential.

Applications

First impressions

• The most important part of a social media website, according to Aristotle, would be the first thing a viewer sees. Just as a good movie should start with action, a good website should immediately make its purpose apparent. 
• It should tell a viewer what it is good for, what it can help them do, and begin to tell a theme. 
• The website should quickly earn the viewer's trust that it is a credible source. 
• The website should somehow show that it is coming from experts or people that are similar to the viewer. 
• It should influence the reader to feel emotions while providing logical information that persuade the reader to be a part of the community. 
• Ethos shows that you are trustworthy.
• While many expect or want the most convincing part of a speech to be pathos or logos, according to Aristotle, it is actually ethos.

Interaction and shareability

• His ideas of adult education vs. kid education can be translated to social websites.  An advanced site is one that the users can dictate and manipulate for their purposes.  It grows as their ideas and wants grow.
• A good website encourages discussion; a marketplace of ideas, in essence. Therefore, it must also be easily shareable. 
• The site should engage the viewer, providing him or her with the opportunity to interact and interpret (and ACT!). The purpose of this discussion is so that the website can continue to better itself to empower its users.

Development

• The website should provide different levels of information. As one first lands on the page, there should be high-level information but as one continues to search the page the information should become more granular. 
• A good social website would actualize its potential by helping users to actualize their potential. It would seek to understand its potential market by understanding its market’s potential. [hugh nibley, "zeal w/o knowledge"?]
• It would allow users to contribute to the potentialities of the website. This is what makes it a good social website and not just a good website in general. The users, by their participating in the social aspects of the site, are the dynamic that makes the site able to actualize its potential. 
• There is an interdependence between the website itself and the users, in that the users help to make it (the website) what it is and it (the website) helps to make them (the users) what they are.

The Ultimate Website

• In order to be as influential as possible, the website must incorporate ethos, logos, AND pathos. 
• Aristotle would argue that while we know the principles that make a good social website, that is not all of what makes a good social website.
• Is it simply impossible to create a good (and profitable) social media website?  NO. Through discussion and contribution, while focusing a great deal on the other facets, the site will grow to the interests of all while moving toward that ideal form. [idea of eternal progression?]

For professional website critiquers:

Ethos, logos, pathos : What is the ethos? What is the logos? What is the pathos?
Unified action / character development / theme : Can we tell right away what we can do on the site? How we might develop along the way? Something of the theme of that development?
Developed and sharable in stages : Can send intriguing little parts of talks/articles? 
Invitation to open discussion and change of character and contribution : Can users send in posts for development?
Possible to understand but not obvious : Does the purpose requires enjoyable effort to completely grasp?

Aristotle, second draft.

Hey guys, here is maybe a good place to start. I did a little biography and then transitioned into one of Isaac's points. Feel free to add to it or take away from it and/or continue where I left off. #tryingtocollaborate (This isn't a real hashtag).  #gotchya

What would Aristotle say about your Website?

 

Aristotle was the grandson of Socrates, the son of Plato, and the father of Alexander the Great. Not biologically of course, but in thought. He was their mental prodigies. He was tutored by Plato, who was tutored by Socrates, and then even had a protege prodigy of his own, Alexander the Great. Though he was way back then, in 3rd century BC, and way over there, in Greece (assuming your reading this from far away), he still has a lot to say about what a good social website would look like. How it would interact with its users. How it would invite them to ACT!! (possibly buy your product/service).

Aristotle tried to provide a more systematic approach to what his forefather’s had brought forth, along with his own unique spin on things. Unlike Plato’s conception of what an ideal form of a social media website would look like, Aristotle would say that no one knows nor has created a perfect social media website.  We all have an idea or glimpse of what the ideal form is, but none envelope the complete form.

So, are we saying that it is simply impossible to create a good (and profitable) social media website? Give up, stop reading, we tricked you, there is no hope? On the contrary, Aristotle would say that through discussion and contribution to the site, while focusing a great deal on the other facets, the site will grow to the needs of all while moving toward that ideal form.