essay

1. Minerva 1 <Human Being and Civilization>
Final Essay Exam
유경한
Maria Lissette Plaza Aguilar 201503750
Throughout life, human being acts without thinking, we talk without interpreting and we
assume without knowing. By this essay, first of all, I try to point out the relationship
between new sense perception and participation in politics in the era of mechanical
reproduction of art. Afterwards, I discuss the role of art in making alternatives or better
democracy by connecting with Aristotle and Plato’s approach toward democracy. Lastly,
I talk about how the democratic political change (or makeover) is associated with the
alternative capitalism in the present society by synthesizing the response to the question 2.
1. Summarize the relationship between new sense perception and participation in
politics in the era of mechanical reproduction of art.
Our senses are our main approach to interact with the world. Before learning how to use
language, or reason, or be anything like in control of our emotions, we are able to use our
senses. So what does new sense perception stand for? Basically, sense perception is the
ability which through sound, touch, sight, taste and smell allows us to communicate with
the outside world. It seems like your senses passively perceive the world as it is, but it is
not the case. Nevertheless, human being do not know what is important, why things
happen, and what to do. On the other hand, the world is composed of physics and devoid
of meaning. The brain is the organ that takes care of all the information provided and
makes it useful to us. Then, what is useful the changes given at any moment, why the
meaning created by the brain is grounded in history? This includes human history
together with personal history, as well as the memories and assumptions that shape the
way we perceive. Hence, perception is not a passive transmission of reality, but is instead
an active process of interpretation, categorization, and prioritization.
In "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" Benjamin mainly argues
art is being changed by technology as our perceptions are changing significantly. He
emphasizes all art is replicable, which leads us to wonder whether art is considered as

2. original or not. Moreover, he mentions copies do not duplicate that original aura.
However, this on-going reproduction has an effect on apperception and brings forth a
decline of not only the aura but also our understandings of space and time. For instance,
photographing a mountains provides us a secondary experience of the aura while the
natural “distance” is gone. Furthermore, fascism allows for expression; capitalism creates
only class structure and does not value aesthetics in political life. In fact, fascism is
capitalism without votes; it tries to organize the proletarian whereas capitalism creates the
proletarian.
Politics basically changes due to the traditional art having a ritual value.
In the part IV of Benjamin’s work, he holds that not only though true art ritual value may
be replicable, but it is also inseparable from tradition. As soon as the authenticity is lost,
art’s function is transformed.
Art is changeable whenever, one see a work of art as disturbing or whenever one see it as
a beautiful, religious idol. Actually, art was originally “used” for ritual and religious
purposes, but is now designed solely on its ability to be reproduced for example,
politicians has changed the work of art specially in the era we are living in, during
political campaigns politicians intend to win the election by portraying unrealistic
promises they make, even though these seem impossible to be accomplished citizens
believe it. How? You may ask, well it is simple explained in Benjamin’s work, according
to Benjamin “Film only takes away from our supposed “realities” and constructs alternate
ones”.
2. By connecting with Aristotle and Plato’s approach toward democracy, discuss the
role of art in making alternatives or better democracy
The question of the best government is at the political thinking of the two philosophers.
Plato’s as well as Aristotle’s Politics work address the issue in depth.
* What is man? What is the essence of humanity?
* What is a fair system? What should be the organization? Who should govern? What is
knowledge? Who has the competence, the political art?
What is humanity?

3. The first fundamental difference between Plato and Aristotle when it comes to the
concept of humanity is the following: the first thinks the difference as inherent to
humanity, the second thinks equality as a consubstantial features of the humanity.
What is a fair system?
Plato distinguishes 3 parts in man (needs, heart, knowledge) corresponding to three
classes in society.
 The first are the peasants, artisans, traders who excel in the conduct of domestic
life.
 The second are the warrior class, responsible for ensuring the defense and who
want to distinguish themselves by their bravery.
 The latter are the holders of knowledge, namely philosophers.
The separation of roles leads in Plato to a hierarchy of social classes. According to him,
the philosophers must lead the city. Warriors defend the people.
Aristotle, however, says society is made up of two classes, rich and poor. We said,
Aristotle assigns everyone the same ability to reason. Although it does not deny that we
should be very rational to lead a city, he replied that it is adding the individual rationality
that rationality can be achieved collectively. It is for this reason that the poor necessarily
more numerous, must govern: Aristotle and decides in favor of democracy. This equality
in the exercise of reason is an obvious consequence: equal political rights.
So if we put these ideas together both Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophies, the role of art
is such an important factor when it comes to democracy. The usefulness of the media in
the democratic societies has a wide range within it. We might say that media mainly
informs the public on what is going on:
 Inform democratic choices through the clarification of intricate issues, specially
in this era when information is a driving force of economic as well as
international events which impact on people's daily lives.
 Provoke public debates triggering to public participation in vital decisions.
 Uncover abuses, pressure for their rectification
 Alert public opinion to injustices
 Allow political pluralism to express itself by advertising different views/
ideological approaches to certain issues.

4.  Keep politicians attuned to public opinion while offering politicians a bridge
between public and them so they can explain policies/decisions to society.
3. Discuss how the democratic political change (or makeover) is associated with the
alternative capitalism in the present society by synthesizing the response to the
question 2.
It's clear to us: our economic system is broken; our political system is broken.
Over the last several years we have watched and experienced the extensive, painful loss
of jobs, homes, savings, opportunities, thriving communities. Capitalism is
unquestionably the dominant socio-economic model in the world today. But since the
financial crisis of 2008-2009 it has become clear that for decades we may have enjoyed a
false sense of growth and prosperity that’s why we’re hearing and reading today about
new terms such as social capitalism. inclusive capitalism sustainable capitalism,
regenerative capitalism and so on. There are so many people trying to change the socio-
economic model (capitalism) nowadays in a way better form which leads a global wealth.
According to Capital Institute founder John Fullerton to articulate new models of
capitalism we should consider ideas that include capitalism in the service of social goals;
capitalism that balances growth with stability; capitalism that improves our collective
well being as measured by metrics other than GDP. Some clear-cut example of a not-well
practice of capitalism are: the Iraq war that cost 50-60 times more than predicted; the
banking crisis ignited by mortgage failures; obscenely high salaries of corporate CEOs;
incompetent regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission; corruption, theft
and greed in high places etc. Therefore, Nobody but Marxists criticize capitalism, which
is not based on meeting human needs. Its only purpose is to accumulate profit, regardless
of how many people are homeless or hungry or sick.
The great economist and political activist Karl Marx studied young capitalism 150 years
ago. He showed that periodic crashes are built into the system. According to Marx in The
German Ideology, material historical dialectics takes on the form of constant class
conflict. Marx argues that human history is the history of the development of means of
production and the relations of production afterwards formed. History progresses
according to Marx through class conflict, contradictions and clashes which have a

5. dialectical shape. This dialectics dictates human progression to the present time of
capitalism.
According to Marx in The German Ideology capitalism is different from any period that
preceded. In capitalism, for the first time in history, salaried employs are the central form
of relation of production and the worker is no longer the property of the ruling class.
Capitalism according to Marx is also new in being global, a fact that will help it in
developing new ways of production which will intensify the contradictions that are at the
base of capitalism. These contradictions between the new means of production and the
old relations of production will eventually bring about a revolution which will abolish
classes and private property. It should be noted that although Marx's philosophy in The
German Ideology is highly "social", what in fact he is talking about is individual
liberation which according to Marx is only possible is a classless society.
REFERENCES:
Marx, The German Ideology part 1
Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Ziarek, Krzysztof. “The Work of Art in the Age of its Electronic Mutability.”
Walter Benjamin and Art. Ed. Andrew Benjamin. New York: Continuum
2005
Melberg, Arne. “The Work of Art in the Age of Ontological Speculation:
Walter Benjamin Revisited.” Walter Benjamin and Art. Ed. Andrew
Benjamin. New York: Continuum 2005
Moceri Alana , Spain's Democracy Needs a Makeover 2014. Redeem:
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/spains-democracy-needs-makeover-
10704
Clark, Dorie Political Makeovers Carry Risks redeem:
http://dorieclark.com/political-makeovers-carry-risks/

6. Taft, John A Makeover for Capitalism, 2015 redeem:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-g-taft/a-makeover-for-
capitalism_b_6736570.html