Tillich's approach to art

This thesis examines Tillich's views on the meaning or import of the fine arts. These are understood against the background of his life experiences and especially his theology. His pronouncements on art, frequently unconnected, are scattered throughout his works. The thesis draws especially from two publications and a lecture devoted to this subject. The thesis shows that Tillich was not primarily interested in the aesthetic aspects of art but in the depth dimension of artistic creations. His views were grounded in his theological and ontological orientation, which sought to correlate the revelatory possibilities expressed in selected works of art with both man's existential condition and search for ultimate reality. The thesis concludes that, while very interesting, Tillich's conception of meaning remains highly subjective.