The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – Ep. 321: August Schlegel on Beauty (Part Two)

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts continue their discussion on August Schlegel’s views on beauty. They explore Schlegel’s critique of Kant’s concept of purposeless beauty and delve into the relationship between art, aesthetics, and human nature. Join them as they unravel the complexities of artistic creation and the role of genius in art.

Main Takeaways

Kant’s Concept of Beauty

• Kant distinguishes between free beauty and accessory beauty.
• Free beauty presupposes no purpose.
• Purposeless beauty is the higher form of beauty according to Kant.

Schlegel’s Critique of Kant

• Schlegel disputes Kant’s example of flowers as purposeless beauty due to their teleology.
• Physiognomy is the idea that outward form reveals inner character, which Schlegel applies metaphorically to understanding a flower as a natural kind.
• Our ability to understand a flower as a natural kind is hardwired into us.
• We recognize morphological categories and quintessential features of a flower as a natural kind.
• We assume that there is an essence to natural kinds and use stereotypes to fix it, but we can make mistakes.

Artistic Creation and Aesthetic Experience

• All art has intention and implicates purpose.
• Natural beauty is only appreciated because we already have an idea of art.
• Aesthetic experiences are uniquely human and reflect the fusion of diverse elements in human nature.
• Successful creative acts fuse these diverse elements and lead to aesthetic experiences that help us understand our own human nature.
• The interpretation of an artwork is influenced by the artist’s intentions and subconscious instincts.

Romanticism and Artistic Genius

• Romanticism emphasizes the unity of form and matter and the harmony of human nature before the split.
• Artistic genius is praised in Romanticism as a fusion of skill, technique, and inspiration.
• Creating a beautiful work of art takes years of honing skills and techniques.
• The innate disposition through which nature gives the rule to art is what Kant thinks genius is.
• There is an organic unity in the ideas of Romanticism, including the discussion of Kant on the aesthetic idea and its relation to purposeiveness, and which culminates within appeal to Schelling.

Summary

Kant’s Concept of Beauty

Kant distinguishes between two types of beauty: free beauty and accessory beauty. Free beauty is beauty that presupposes no purpose, while accessory beauty is beauty that is related to a purpose. According to Kant, purposeless beauty is the higher form of beauty.

Schlegel’s Critique of Kant

Schlegel challenges Kant’s example of flowers as purposeless beauty, arguing that their teleological nature contradicts the notion of purposelessness. Schlegel introduces the concept of physiognomy, which suggests that the outward form of an object reveals its inner character. He applies this metaphorically to understanding a flower as a natural kind, emphasizing our innate ability to recognize morphological categories and quintessential features of a flower.

Artistic Creation and Aesthetic Experience

All art is intentional and implicates some form of purpose. Natural beauty is appreciated because we already have an idea of art. Aesthetic experiences are unique to humans and reflect the fusion of diverse elements in human nature. Successful creative acts fuse these diverse elements and lead to aesthetic experiences that provide insights into our own human nature. The interpretation of an artwork is influenced by the artist’s intentions and subconscious instincts.

Romanticism and Artistic Genius

Romanticism emphasizes the unity of form and matter and the harmony of human nature before the split. Artistic genius is praised as a fusion of skill, technique, and inspiration. Creating a beautiful work of art requires years of honing skills and techniques. Kant believes that genius is the innate disposition through which nature gives the rule to art. Romanticism incorporates Kant’s ideas on aesthetics and purposeiveness, culminating in an appeal to Schelling.

Conclusion

August Schlegel’s exploration of beauty, artistic creation, and the role of genius in art challenges Kant’s concept of purposeless beauty. By delving into the relationship between art and human nature, Schlegel highlights the intricate fusion of diverse elements that lead to aesthetic experiences. The discussion on Romanticism further emphasizes the unity of form and matter and the significance of artistic genius. Through these philosophical perspectives, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of art and aesthetics.