It is remarkably appropriate that this work on aesthetics should have been written by George Santayana; who is probably the most brilliant philosophic writer and the philosopher with the strongest sense of beauty since Plato. It is not a dry metaphysical treatise; as works on aesthetics so often are; but is itself a fascinating document: as much a revelation of the beauty of language as of the concept of beauty.This unabridged reproduction of the 1896 edition of lectures delivered at Harvard College is a study of "why; when; and how beauty appears; what conditions an object must fulfill to be beautiful; what elements of our nature make us sensible of beauty; and what the relation is between the constitution of the object and the excitement of our susceptibility."Santayana first analyzes the nature of beauty; finding it irrational; "pleasure regarded as the quality of a thing." He then proceeds to the materials of beauty; showing what all human functions can contribute: love; social instincts; senses; etc. Beauty of form is then analyzed; and finally the author discusses the expression of beauty. Literature; religion; values; evil; wit; humor; and the possibility of finite perfection are all examined. Presentation throughout the work is concrete and easy to follow; with examples drawn from art; history; anthropology; psychology; and similar areas.
#859895 in eBooks 2012-08-31 2012-08-31File Name: B00A3Y45FE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. good though the third drama is named Eumnides according to ...By Customergood though the third drama is named Eumnides according to professor one. It is called the furies in this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great playBy EmilyI really enjoyed reading this play. A lot of action and different ways to think about justice. What is justice? Who gets to decide?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy TonyExactly as described!