Culture And Anarchy

Culture and Anarchy is a book written by Matthew Arnold, a British poet and cultural critic, in 1869. The book is a collection of essays that explore the relationship between culture, society, and politics in Victorian England. Arnold argues that the purpose of culture is to promote the development of individuality and social harmony, and that this can only be achieved through a process of ""sweetness and light"" ������� a combination of moral discipline and intellectual enlightenment. Arnold critiques the prevailing culture of his time, which he sees as dominated by materialism, utilitarianism, and the pursuit of self-interest. He argues that this culture is detrimental to the development of individuality and social harmony, and that it leads to a state of ""anarchy"" ������� a lack of order and coherence in society. To counter this, Arnold proposes a vision of culture that is based on the pursuit of excellence, the cultivation of the intellect and the imagination, and the development of a sense of social responsibility. He argues that this vision of culture can only be achieved through a process of education, which should be aimed at promoting the development of the whole person, rather than just their practical skills. Overall, Culture and Anarchy is a seminal work in the history of cultural criticism, and it continues to be widely read and studied today. Its insights into the relationship between culture and society remain relevant and thought-provoking, and its call for a more enlightened and responsible culture continues to inspire readers.From a man without a philosophy no one can expect philosophical completeness. Therefore I may observe without shame, that in trying to get a distinct notion of our aristocratic, our middle, and our working class, with a view of testing the claims of each of these classes to become a centre of authority, I have omitted, I find, to complete the old-fashioned analysis which I had the fancy of applying, and have not shown in these classes, as well as the virtuous mean and the excess, the defect also.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.