An Introduction to Kant’s Aesthetics

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.

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.

Foreword by Henry E. Allison viiiAcknowledgments xiAbout This Book xiiNote on the Translation xivIntroduction 1The Aesthetic Dimension Between Subject and Object 1The Meaning of "Aesthetic" 4Categories as a Guide 8The "Moments" of a Judgment of Taste 131 Disinterestedness: First Moment 19Disinterestedness as a Subjective Criterion 19Three Kinds of Satisfaction: Agreeable, Beautiful, Good 232 Universality: Second Moment 27The Argument from Self-Reflection: Private, Public, Universal 27Subjective Universality 31A Case of Transcendental Logic 35Singular "but" Universal 39How to Read Section 9 463 Purposiveness: Third Moment 54Purpose without Will, Purposiveness without Purpose 54Purposiveness and Form: Charm versus Euler 60Of "Greatest Importance": Beauty and Perfection 65Beauty: Free, Dependent, and Ideal 694 Necessity: Fourth Moment 77Exemplary Necessity 77Kant's Interpretation of the sensus communis 81The Deduction 865 Fine Art, Nature, and Genius 94Fine Art and Why It Must Seem like Nature 94Genius and Taste 98Genius and Aesthetic Ideas 1016 Beyond Beauty 106The Sublime 106Beauty as the Symbol of Morality 113The Analytic, the Dialectic, and the Supersensible 1207 Two Challenges 128Can Kant's Aesthetics Account for the Ugly? 128Can there be Beauty and Genius in Mathematics? 133Summary and Overview 141Before Kant 141Kant's Aesthetics 142After Kant 146Glossary 149Bibliography 157Index 171