An Introduction to Kant's Aesthetics
Core Concepts and Problems
1. Edition November 2005
200 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
In An Introduction to Kant's Aesthetics, Christian Wenzel discusses and demystifies Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment, guiding the reader each step of the way and placing key points of discussion in the context of Kant's other work.
* Explains difficult concepts in plain language, using numerous examples and a helpful glossary.
* Proceeds in the same order as Kant's text for ease of reference and comprehension.
* Includes an illuminating foreword by Henry E. Allison.
* Offers twenty-six further-reading sections, commenting briefly on books and articles from the English, German, and French, that are relevant for each topic
* Provides an extensive bibliography and a chapter summarizing Kant's main points.
Acknowledgments xi
About This Book xii
Note on the Translation xiv
Introduction 1
The Aesthetic Dimension Between Subject and Object 1
The Meaning of "Aesthetic" 4
Categories as a Guide 8
The "Moments" of a Judgment of Taste 13
1 Disinterestedness: First Moment 19
Disinterestedness as a Subjective Criterion 19
Three Kinds of Satisfaction: Agreeable, Beautiful, Good 23
2 Universality: Second Moment 27
The Argument from Self-Reflection: Private, Public, Universal 27
Subjective Universality 31
A Case of Transcendental Logic 35
Singular "but" Universal 39
How to Read Section 9 46
3 Purposiveness: Third Moment 54
Purpose without Will, Purposiveness without Purpose 54
Purposiveness and Form: Charm versus Euler 60
Of "Greatest Importance": Beauty and Perfection 65
Beauty: Free, Dependent, and Ideal 69
4 Necessity: Fourth Moment 77
Exemplary Necessity 77
Kant's Interpretation of the sensus communis 81
The Deduction 86
5 Fine Art, Nature, and Genius 94
Fine Art and Why It Must Seem like Nature 94
Genius and Taste 98
Genius and Aesthetic Ideas 101
6 Beyond Beauty 106
The Sublime 106
Beauty as the Symbol of Morality 113
The Analytic, the Dialectic, and the Supersensible 120
7 Two Challenges 128
Can Kant's Aesthetics Account for the Ugly? 128
Can there be Beauty and Genius in Mathematics? 133
Summary and Overview 141
Before Kant 141
Kant's Aesthetics 142
After Kant 146
Glossary 149
Bibliography 157
Index 171
most interesting and meticulous "guides" to Kant's aesthetic
theory. Even though Wenzel clearly adopts a slightly different
approach to Kant's aesthetic theory than this reviewer, this book
is probably the best introductory volume currently available."
Elisabeth Shellekens, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art
Criticism
"In sum, I highly recommend this book to students and scholars
with some familiarity with Kant and the "Critique of
Aesthetic Judgment." This book will surely deepen their
understanding of Kant." Kenneth F. Rogerson, Notre Dame
Philosophical Reviews
"Wenzel's book is an invaluable aid for all serious
students of Kant's third Critique. The reconstruction of
arguments is clear and concise; the annotated bibliography is
remarkably knowledgeable and helpful." Karl Ameriks,
University of Notre Dame
"This volume will be indispensable to any new reader of
Kant's third Critique who seeks illumination of its key concepts,
insights into its philosophical context, and guidance for further
study." Eckart Förster, Johns Hopkins
University
