An Appraisal of the Concept of Beauty in Immanuel Kant’s Philosophy

An Appraisal of the Concept of Beauty in Immanuel Kant’s Philosophy

Vol. 2(2) (2019) | Michael Sunday Sasa
This paper examines Immanuel Kant's concept of beauty in his philosophy. Kant argues that beauty is a universal phenomenon that transcends personal interest and is based on disinterested interest, subjective universality, purposiveness without purpose, and common sense. He defines beauty in terms of four moments: quality, quantity, relation, and modality. Kant's theory of beauty is seen as a symbol of morality, where the beautiful leads to moral goodness. The paper discusses the implications of Kant's theory, particularly in the context of moral decay in Nigeria, suggesting that his ideas could be therapeutic for societal issues. Despite some flaws in Kant's theory, such as the challenge of disinterested judgment and the difficulty in defining beauty universally, the paper concludes that Kant's concept of beauty remains relevant and can help address moral decadence.This paper examines Immanuel Kant's concept of beauty in his philosophy. Kant argues that beauty is a universal phenomenon that transcends personal interest and is based on disinterested interest, subjective universality, purposiveness without purpose, and common sense. He defines beauty in terms of four moments: quality, quantity, relation, and modality. Kant's theory of beauty is seen as a symbol of morality, where the beautiful leads to moral goodness. The paper discusses the implications of Kant's theory, particularly in the context of moral decay in Nigeria, suggesting that his ideas could be therapeutic for societal issues. Despite some flaws in Kant's theory, such as the challenge of disinterested judgment and the difficulty in defining beauty universally, the paper concludes that Kant's concept of beauty remains relevant and can help address moral decadence.
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