Beyond Autonomy in Eighteenth-Century British and German Aesthetics

This book re-examines the rise of modern aesthetics in eighteenth-century Britain and Germany, connecting aesthetic experience with morality, science, and political society. It challenges long-standing teleological narratives and explores the heteronomy of British aesthetics, the work of German thinkers, and the interrelation of science, aesthetics, and a new model of society. The Introduction and Chapters 2, 10, and 12 are available as Open Access PDFs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume re-evaluates conventional understandings of the emergence of modern aesthetics in eighteenth-century Britain and Germany. By establishing a profound connection between aesthetic experience and morality, science, and political society, it presents a fresh perspective that challenges longstanding teleological narratives that prioritize disinterest and the segregation of aesthetics from moral, cognitive, and political concerns.

The book is organized into three thematic sections. The chapters in Part I shed light on the heteronomy of eighteenth-century British aesthetics, tracing the evolution of aesthetic concepts and delving into the ethical and political implications of the aesthetic theories of prominent figures such as the third Earl of Shaftesbury, David Hume, and Adam Smith. Part II delves into the ways in which eighteenth-century German and German-oriented thinkers explored aesthetic experience and moral concerns, engaging with the work of their British counterparts. The chapters in this section cover the contributions of Kant, Moses Mendelssohn, Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten, and Madame de Staël. Finally, Part III explores the intricate interplay between science, aesthetics, and a novel model of society in the writings of Goethe, Johann Wilhelm Ritter, Friedrich Hölderlin, and William Hazlitt, among others.

This volume offers a groundbreaking exploration of the rise of aesthetic autonomy in the eighteenth century. By bringing together renowned scholars specializing in British and German eighteenth-century aesthetics, philosophy, and literature, it appeals to scholars and advanced students across a diverse range of disciplines who are passionate about this topic. The Introduction and Chapters 2, 10, and 12 of this book are freely accessible as downloadable Open Access PDFs at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367508043