Friedrich Schiller's treatise on the role of art in society is one of the most profound works of German philosophy. First published in 1795, the book remains relevant today. Beginning with a political analysis of modern society—specifically the French Revolution and its failure to realize universal freedom—Schiller observes that people cannot overcome their circumstances without education. He views art as a means of education that can liberate people from the limitations and excesses of both pure nature and pure mind. Through aesthetic experience, he argues, people can reconcile the inner antagonism between feeling and intellect, nature and reason. Schiller's proposal of art as fundamental to the development of society and the individual is a long-lasting influential concept, and this volume provides the clearest, most vital expression of his philosophy.