From Tolstoy's Expressionism to Nietzsche's Skepticism of Philosophers' Neutrality—Constructing and Dismantling the Bridge Between Art and Philosophy

According to Tolstoy's theory of art, personal expression plays a crucial role as an essential artistic element since it is associated with originality and emotional communication. Is personal expression also significant in philosophy? We often tend to believe that in a philosophical theory, this element is, or should be, absent in the pursuit of epistemic neutrality. However, Nietzsche raises the suspicion that philosophers may tend to rationalize their passions through their theories. In this regard, philosophy and art would not be so different. To explore this connection further, I first delve into personal expression in art. Second, I outline three ways in which personal factors can influence philosophical inquiry. Third, I compare personal expression in art with that in philosophy.