Kant's Critique of Taste: The Feeling of Life

Immanuel Kant's Critique of Judgment is a founding document of modern aesthetics, but its legacy has fallen into disrepute. Katalin Makkai calls for its rediscovery, showing that its investigation of the judgment of taste paints a compelling portrait of our relationships with works of art that we love.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 217 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Immanuel Kant's Critique of Judgment is widely acknowledged as a seminal text in the field of modern aesthetics, yet its reputation has endured scrutiny. In her book, Katalin Makkai endeavors to reclaim Kant's aesthetics, demonstrating that its central focus, namely, the examination of taste judgment, offers a captivating portrayal of our connections with the works of art that we cherish. At the core of this exploration lies a profound aesthetic encounter, wherein one experiences a sense of animation and vitality, as an object ignites a profound resonance within them. Within this encounter, one discovers a realm of experience that extends beyond the confines of mere knowledge, prompting a longing to delve deeper and articulate the essence of what is encountered. Makkai traces Kant's profound insight that judgment entails an expression of one's sense of what deserves judgment, thereby revealing what holds significance in one's mental landscape. By situating Kant's aesthetics within the broader framework of his examination of judgment's fundamental role in the life of the mind, Makkai establishes a profound connection between the two domains. This reclamation of Kant's aesthetics serves as a valuable reminder of the enduring relevance and significance of his philosophical ideas in the realm of art and aesthetics.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 151 x 226 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108708777