Visit our new beta site!

The dialectics of decay: rereading the Kantian subject. (interpretation of philosopher Immanuel Kant's essay 'Critique of Judgment')

From: The Art Bulletin  |  Date: 9/1/1997  |  Author: Lang, Karen

Ruins were tremendously popular at the close of the 18th century and several philosophers and writers published essays on the dialectics of decay. However, the philosopher Immanuel Kant strangely avoided discussing the experience of ruins in his third essay 'Critique of Judgment,' though ruins were considered obvious catalysts of the Kantian dynamic sublime. Kant did not emphasize the process of decay in his writings, though he did mention the waning of 'vain wisdom' and 'false art.' His ...

Browse by alphabet: