The eighteenth century assumptions of analytic aesthetics

Arnold Berleant

pp. 256-274

in: T. Z. Lavine, Victorino Tejera (eds), History and anti-history in philosophy, Berlin, Springer, 1989

Abstract

Although artistic activity has been a major social phenomenon in the western world, aesthetics has not always reflected the changes in techniques, processes, themes and uses through which the arts have developed and had their effect. Theory most often comes after the fact, and properly so. Yet aesthetics in its history has not only displayed an unfitting hubris, with thinkers attempting to legislate about style, suitablity and materials to the artist; aesthetics has also lagged far behind the living edge of artistic activity and discussed it in anachronistic terms.