IS CROCE'S PHILOSOPHY ANTI-ESSENTIALIST AND AGAINST METAPHYSICS?

Abstract

This essay might be considered an attempt to analyze Croce’s philosophical discourse in general, where he points out his thoughts as a “humanistic alternative to the consolations of religion and metaphysics”; and, to argue whether his aimed task was successful, especially in setting a strict distinction between his philosophical perspective and his claimed anti-metaphysical position. The first major step to take, is to focus on his essentialist philosophy of art, namely, “art as expression”; and second, his division of knowledge between theoretical and practical, which he claimed as products of the main directions of the human mind or human consciousness which Croce called “spirit”, or, of that which “really” exists. Initially, we could argue that even this presupposition could be considered as highly metaphysical.

Keywords

• Croce
• aesthetics
• essentialism
• metaphysics
• art

CROCE'NİN FELSEFESİ ÖZCÜLÜK VE METAFİZİK KARŞITI MI?

Öz

Bu çalışma genel olarak Croce’nin felsefi konumunu analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Croce felsefi konumunu – özellikle tin felsefesine ilişkin bakışını – tanımlarken, düşüncelerini “din ve metafiziğin tesellilerine hümanist bir alternatif” olarak ifade etmiştir. Bu çalışmada Croce’nin felsefi tutumunun başarısı, felsefi bakış açısı ile iddia ettiği metafizik karşıtı konumu arasındaki farklılıklar bağlamında değerlendirilecektir. Sözkonusu değerlendirme sürecinde öncelikle Croce’nin “ifade olarak sanat” olarak bilinen özcü sanat felsefesine odaklanılacaktır. Sonraki aşamada ise Croce’nin “tin” ya da “gerçekten” var olan şey olarak tanımladığı ve insan zihni ya da insan bilincinin temel yönelimlerinin ürünleri olan teorik ve pratik bilgi ayrımı ele alınacaktır. Başlangıç olarak, bu iddianın bile oldukça metafizik bir ifade olduğunu söylemek mümkündür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Croce
• estetik
• özcülük
• metafizik
• sanat

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