Is an Artistic Life a Virtuous Life? Morality and Romanticism

Romanticism puts personal experience above rigid moral rules, aligning with Kant’s idea that people should be treated as ends, not means. Novalis’s Blue Flower echoes this—life isn’t a transaction, it’s a journey of growth.

Isn’t that self-centered?

Not according to the Romantics. They saw everything as connected. By following your inner voice and embracing nature, you come to recognize your place in the world—and with it, your responsibility to others. And that’s where a moral life begins..

Here are some thoughts on morality and Romanticisim:

William Wordsworth:

Caspar David Friedrich – The Evening Star (c. 1830)

"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

Morality is not just about grand gestures. It's about consistently making ethical choices in everyday life, and treating others with kindness and compassion.

Takeaway: Small acts matter

Percy Bysshe Shelley:

"Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only adds the infamy of servitude to the crime of murder."

Morality is not dictated by "context" or external forces, and the inherent value of human life should always be protected.

Takeaway: There are no excuses for immoral behavior.

John Keats:

Man with a Hoe by Jean‑François Millet (1860‑62)

"Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?"

Moral growth and self-understanding means overcoming challenges.

Takeaway: Morality isn't easy.

Mary Shelley:

Théodore Géricault Raft of the Medusa 1818

"Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos."

Don't seek simplistic or absolute solutions. Engage in the nuance and messiness of ethical dilemmas and work to find a creative solution.

Takeaway: Moral decisions can be complicated.

Lord Byron:

Jules Bastien-Lepage – Joan of Arc (1879)

"The dew of compassion is a tear."

Compassion and empathy for others is paramount, and by connecting with the emotions of those around us, we cultivate a sense of moral responsibility.

Takeaway: Feel the pain of others.

Immanuel Kant:

Honoré Daumier – The Third-Class Carriage 1862

"Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end."

By recognizing the worth and dignity of each individual, we can uphold their right to self-realization and promote a more just society.

Takeaway: Treat others with respect and dignity.

Jean-François Millet – The Sower (1850)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau:

"The first step towards morality is to turn inward and find the moral compass within oneself."

People are naturally good, but corrupted by society and its institutions. Morality is not simply a matter of following rules or principles, but of recognizing the humanity and worth of all individuals and treating them accordingly.

Takeaway: Morality comes from within.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir – Dance at Bougival (1883)

Charles Taylor:

"Our sense of worth, of well-being, even our sanity depends upon our being able to sustain important relationships."

Social context plays a big role in shaping our moral outlook, and it's therefore important to build positive relationships.

Takeaway: Our relationships define us.

Friedrich Schiller

Gustav Klimt – The Tree of Life (1905)

"Beauty is the pilot of life."

Aesthetic experiences are not just superficial pleasures, but can help you become more self-aware and compassionate. An artistic life is a virtuous life.

Takeaway: Art is the compass that guides us.

For the Romantics, a moral life is rooted in empathy, kindness, and human dignity—but it’s not something you reason your way into. It comes from living creatively - like an artist - staying awake to beauty, and recognizing that personal fulfillment can't be separated from the well-being of others.