Forms and Substances in the Arts (French Literature Series) [Paperback]

Etienne Gilson (Author), Salvator Atlanasio (Translator)

Book Description

Series: French Literature Series | Publication Date: February 2001

-- First paperback edition.
-- In this engaging companion to Arts of the Beautiful, Etienne Gilson turns his attention toward the creative process. Distinguishing the "arts of the beautiful" from the merely functional, Gilson proceeds to argue that the limits of art are imposed only by the materials which the artist uses to create.
-- A world-renowned philosopher and historian, Etienne Gilson was a Professor of Medieval Philosophy at the Sorbonne and at the College de France. He helped to found the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. He is the author of many works, including Painting and Reality, The Philosopher and Theology, and The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy.
-- First published by Charles Scribner's Sons (1966).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An extremely learned and down-to-earth historian. In the philosophy of art he is a scholastic philosopher with a difference." -- Times Literary Supplement

"Gilson probably has no contemporary peer in the lucidity of his mind and the balance of his historical judgements." -- Reinhold Niebuhr, New York Times

"Gilson's astonishing knowledge of all that artists have written about art is most valuable." -- Manchester Guardian

"Gilson's reflections on art are deserving of some serious attention." -- Choice

"This is a grand philosophical essay." -- Library Journal

About the Author

A world-renowned philosopher and historian, Etienne Gilson was a professor of Medieval Philosophy at the Sorbonne and at the College de France. He helped to found the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. He is the author of many works, including PAINTING AND REALITY, THE PHILOSOPHER AND THEOLOGY, and THE SPIRIT OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564782549
• ISBN-13: 978-1564782540
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you know Clemons is wrong..., October 10, 2010

By 

Flitcraft (Unreal City) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Forms and Substances in the Arts (French Literature Series) (Paperback)

I think Gilson is self-defensible, however, for any who didn't read the comment I made on his review, I'll reiterate it formally here.

I simply cannot comprehend (1) that anyone who has read Gilson could possibly consider him some kind of dunce nor (2) the belief that Gilson is popular in academia (!). Very few people I have encountered in academia have even heard of Gilson, and, of those who have, I could count on the knuckles of one finger how many agree with him. Clemons would have been much nearer to the truth if he had said the EXACT OPPOSITE of every single statement he made!

This is an excellent work, but it may not be completely comprehensible if you haven't read his earlier work, The Arts of the Beautiful. Both are excellent, and both show us, I think, a side of Gilson we don't always see in his more historical work, namely that aspect of him which is a very original philosopher and not solely an expositor. Nonetheless, those who have studied his major works should already be aware that, even in his historical writing, he's still very much an original philosopher. Even in his writing on St. Thomas, he is not merely commenting or reiterating -- he is appropriating.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not much intelligence in this book, August 1, 2009

By 

J. Clemons "clotblaster" (Surfdom California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Forms and Substances in the Arts (French Literature Series) (Paperback)

I have Gilson's book on Aquinas and have read it twice--many readers, some of whom must be conversant with Aquinas will recognize the lack of intelligent analysis in this book. Gilson's
t overrated and lacks the critical acumen to make cogent judgements. Compare Kenner's books on Eliot, Pound, Beckett etc. and Abrams' two critical masterpieces. I strongly recommend that the reader ignore Gilson. That he is so popular with academics is yet another index of the lunacy of today's literary/religious/ philosophical critics. If only Mark Steyn could be persuaded to write some literary criticism, we could then have critical perceptiveness and fine writing to help us understand literary works. Gilson is pathetic.