The Quest for Certainty in the Age of Aesthetics

Stefan Niklas

doi:10.58519/aesthinv.v1i2.11992

The Quest for Certainty in the Age of Aesthetics

Authors

Stefan Niklas University of Cologne

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58519/aesthinv.v1i2.11992

Keywords:

aesthetic certainty, cassical aesthetics, intuitive understanding, Eckart Förster, Ernst Cassirer, Quest for Certainty, Age of Aesthetics

Abstract

In this paper I suggest conceiving the "Age of Aesthetics" and its theoretic attempts form Baumgarten to Hegel and from Lessing to Schiller as a quest for certainty within the utterly uncertain field of the sensuous. Though this quest may not be an exclusive trait of that age, I claim it is essential for understanding the driving forces of classical aesthetics. Drawing largely from Ernst Cassirer's reconstructions, I also try to link my conseption of the Age of Aesthetics to the recently discussed problem of intuitve understanding as articulated by Eckart Förster. Finally, I am giving a speculative outlook on the notion of "aesthetic certainty".

Author Biography

Stefan Niklas, University of Cologne

Postdoctoral researcher at the a.r.t.e.s. Research Lab, University of Cologne

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Published

2016-12-20

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2

Section

Articles

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