The Possibility of Culture: Pleasure and Moral Development in Kant's Aesthetics

Some of the most enduring and influential contributions to philosophical aesthetics were made by Immanuel Kant. The Possibility of Culture: Pleasure and Moral Development in Kant’s Aesthetics presents an in-depth exploration and deconstruction of Kant’s depiction of the ways in which aesthetic pursuits can promote personal moral development. By exploring details of Kant’s aesthetic theory alongside his theory of moral development, Kantian scholar Bradley Murray reveals the surprising connections between the philosopher’s thoughts on the pleasures of beauty and sublimity and his moral psychology and anthropology. Other topics explored include current approaches to Kantian aesthetics, Kant’s arguments for the pursuit of culture over pleasure, the moral implications of pursuing the pleasure of beauty and Kant’s notion of genius. Offering innovative perspectives on Kantian philosophy, The Possibility of Culture sheds new light on the writings of an important figure whose philosophical concepts continue to shape Western thought.