Let me explain Immanuel Kant’s Disinterested pleasure of Art.
To appreciate without need, to be in awe without seeking, such is the essence of Art’s truest pleasure.
Kant was a bit of a recluse, sticking to a super organized life and a strict daily routine. He was often deep in thought, lost in his complex philosophical ideas.
Even though he wasn’t really the social type, his groundbreaking work left a huge mark on the world of philosophy. His intense focus and dedication made him a major player in the cool kids intellectual circles.
So what does he mean when he argues about “Disinterested pleasure of Art” being the truest form of appreciation?
According to my man Kant, the true aesthetic appreciation involves a kind of pleasure that is “disinterested,” meaning it’s not influenced by personal desires or practical concerns. When we find something beautiful, we appreciate it for its own sake, not for any external use or benefit.
We do not seek it, we do not want it, we do not crave it, we appreciate its existence in all its might and wonder, for that makes us genuine.
According to Kant, there exists two forms of Art —
- The Beautiful: This relates to objects or experiences that are pleasing and harmonious, such as a well-composed painting or a beautiful landscape. Beauty is often characterized by its form and the way it appeals to our senses.
- The Sublime: The sublime refers to experiences that evoke a sense of awe or wonder, coupled with absolute grandiosity, often because they are vast, overwhelming, or beyond the human comprehension. This can be seen in grand natural landscapes or powerful works of art that evoke a sense of the infinite or the overwhelming.
According to Kant, there is a thing such as a Universal collective consciousness of man, that allows every individual to experience the greatness of some artform in some capacity.
Which can be seen, almost no individual can possibly look up at the starry night sky with an aurora roaring and not be fazed by it.
We really can appreciate beauty without wanting it, such is the essence of man, such is the essence of Kant
such is the essence of admiring,
without wanting.
