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Culture and Anarchy (1869). Concepts from Matthew Arnold’s Social Criticism. Matthew arnold. Conditions to which arnold responded. Industrial Revolution Isolation, the fragmentation of the populace Political turmoil (working class riots)
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Culture and Anarchy (1869) Concepts from Matthew Arnold’s Social Criticism
Conditions to which arnold responded • Industrial Revolution • Isolation, the fragmentation of the populace • Political turmoil (working class riots) • An incurious (uncultured) middle class that was rapidly gaining political power • Failing public education system
Culture = an inward perfection and A common good (1596) • Hellenism • Intellectual curiosity for its own sake (1595) • Spontaneity of consciousness • Appreciation of Sweetness & Light (Beauty and Understanding) (1596) • Humanism with a civic (NATIONAL) focus (1596) • Motivated to elevate the populace (1596) • Re-unify our fragmented Nation (1600)
Machinery = the modern mindset that devalues culture (1597, 1598) • Hebraism • Strictness of conscience • Right conduct – Emphasis on Action without Self-Reflection • “The one thing necessary” • “Doing As One Likes” (1597) • Utilitarianism with a narrow self-interest (1597) • No sense of Duty or Discipline (1598)
Hebraism & Hellenism • Must be joined (wholeness and unity) (1601-02) • For sake of Prosperity (“Progress”) (1604)