Criticism and Beauty: A Lecture Rewritten (Classic Reprint)

Arthur James Balfour

ISBN 10: 1330356969 / ISBN 13: 9781330356968

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the complex world of Aesthetics, situating the reader within an engrossing historical narrative of philosophies and theories that have shaped our understanding of beauty. The author takes a deep dive into the nature of beauty, expertly exploring its elusive qualities and examining the relationship between aesthetic experiences and human emotions. The book delves into profound insights on the nature of beauty, its seemingly objective presence in the world and the inevitable influence of our subjective experiences on our perception of it. The author challenges the notion of a universal standard of beauty, arguing that our valuations stem from a combination of personal preferences and cultural contexts. Yet, despite the absence of objective criteria, the author emphasizes the intrinsic value of beauty and the powerful influence it wields over our lives. Drawing parallels between aesthetic emotions and the transformative power of love, the author highlights the self-contained and inherently fulfilling nature of both, defying the traditional link between beauty and practical value. This book offers a thought-provoking analysis of beauty, its subjective nature, and its profound significance in human experience. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781330356968_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Criticism and Beauty: A Lecture Rewritten (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1330356969
• ISBN 13: 9781330356968
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Essays

About this title

Synopsis

In Criticism and Beauty, Balfour asks how and why we value art, beyond rules or polls.

This collection examines the limits of expert opinion in aesthetics and explores how admiration, love, and emotion shape our sense of beauty. It argues that aesthetic experience often resists simple measurements and that critics may illuminate or obscure what we feel.

Across music, painting, literature, and architecture, the text probes why people disagree about what counts as great art. It weighs the pull of immediate pleasure against lasting, subtle refinement, and asks how values shift across generations.

The work also distinguishes contemplative pleasures from active ones, showing how some joys can be deeply moving without leading to action. It invites readers to consider what makes art meaningful, even when judgment remains open-ended.

• Clear exploration of why expert taste often diverges in aesthetic judgments
• Discussion of how emotion, not just theory, shapes our experience of beauty
• Contrast between popular delight and enduring, reflective appreciation
• Reflection on the limits and purposes of criticism in art

Ideal for readers curious about philosophy of art, aesthetics, and how beauty moves us.