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The Introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of Fine Arts

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel · c. 1820s

passage 61 of 132 · Part II.,[1] Mr. Kedney's short analysis of the entire work,[2] and > CHAPTER IV. (1/11)

in brief
Hegel explains the historical transition toward a true idea of art by treating artistic beauty as reconciling the opposition between abstract self-conscious mind and actual nature, whether external or inner emotion.

HISTORICAL DEDUCTION OF THE TRUE IDEA OF ART IN MODERN PHILOSOPHY.

I Shall touch briefly upon the historical side of the transition above alluded to, partly for its historical interest, partly because, in doing so, we shall more closely indicate the critical points which are important, and on the foundation of which we mean to continue our structure. In its most general formulation, this basis consists in recognizing artistic beauty as one of the means which resolve and reduce to unity the above antithesis and contradiction between the abstract self-concentrated mind and actual nature, whether that of external phenomena, or the inner subjective feelings and emotions.

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topics: beauty and taste · fate, destiny, and necessity

The Introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of Fine Arts · Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel · 1820–1829