Kant's Aesthetics

Immanuel Kant's aesthetics focuses on the nature of beauty and taste. He argued that aesthetic judgments are subjective, based on feelings of pleasure or displeasure, but they can be universally shared. Kant believed that we judge art and beauty through a 'disinterested' appreciation, meaning we appreciate an object for its own sake, not for any personal benefit. He also introduced the idea of the "sublime," relating to experiences that inspire awe or wonder. For Kant, true beauty connects us to a sense of moral and cognitive harmony, reflecting our ability to appreciate the world beyond mere utility.