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The Significance of Beauty

Kant on Feeling and the System of the Mind

Part of the book series: The New Synthese Historical Library (SYNL, volume 44)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages N1-ix
  2. Introduction

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 1-18
  3. Judgments of Taste

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 19-52
  4. Cognition and Feeling

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 53-80
  5. Taste and Desire

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 81-126
  6. Orienting Rational Beings in a Sensible World

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 127-136
  7. The System of the Powers of the Mind

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 137-179
  8. Conclusion

    • Patricia M. Matthews
    Pages 180-186
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 187-243

About this book

In the Critique of Judgment, Kant argues that feeling is part of the system of the mind. Judgments of taste based on feeling are a unique kind of judgment, and the feeling that is their foundation forms an independent third power of the mind. Feeling has a special role within this system in that it also provides a transition between the other two powers of the mind, cognition and desire.
Matthews argues that feeling, our experience of beauty, provides a transition because it orients humans in a sensible world. Judgments of taste help overcome the difficulties that arise when rational cognitive and moral ends must be pursued in a sensible world. Matthews demonstrates how feeling, disassociated from rational activities in Kant's earlier works, is now central in reaching rational ends and understanding humans as unified rational beings.
Audience: This book would be of interest to research libraries and university libraries, philosophers, historians and aestheticians.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA

    Patricia M. Matthews

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Significance of Beauty

  • Book Subtitle: Kant on Feeling and the System of the Mind

  • Authors: Patricia M. Matthews

  • Series Title: The New Synthese Historical Library

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8967-3

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1997

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-7923-4764-4Published: 30 November 1997

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-90-481-4921-6Published: 08 December 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-015-8967-3Published: 29 June 2013

  • Series ISSN: 1879-8578

  • Series E-ISSN: 2352-2585

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: IX, 243

  • Topics: History, general, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Science

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access