The Social Impact of the Arts, in paperback for the first time, offers an intellectual history of claims made over time for the value, function and impact of the arts in Western societies. With chapters on corruption, catharsis, education and 'art for art's sake', as well as number of other key themes, the book examines the many different ways in which writers have attempted to articulate the social impact of the arts. It also relates contemporary policy debates to a history of ideas, making a timely contribution to public debate about the value of the arts in modern societies.