On wonder, appreciation, and the tremendous in Wittgenstein’s aesthetics

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

British Journal of Aesthetics

Publication Date

7-1-2002

Volume

42

Issue

3

First Page

310

Last Page

322

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

Wittgenstein's elliptical remark on ‘the tremendous things in art’ in his 1938 ‘Lectures on Aesthetics’ has given rise to different interpretations as to the place this idea has in his aesthetics. This paper examines the views of Peter Lewis and Benjamin Tilghman on this issue. Both of them build their interpretations on the assumption that Wittgenstein contrasts the response to the tremendous with appreciation. Such an assumption, however, leads to results inconsistent with Wittgenstein's basic conception of aesthetics. For Wittgenstein, aesthetic appreciation is not a formalistic activity, and one clear aspect of it is indeed well illustrated by the response to the tremendous.

DOI

10.1093/bjaesthetics/42.3.310

Print ISSN

00070904

E-ISSN

14682842

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2002 British Society of Aesthetics Press

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Tam, K. H. T. (2002). On wonder, appreciation, and the tremendous in Wittgenstein’s aesthetics. British Journal of Aesthetics, 42(3), 310-322. doi: 10.1093/bjaesthetics/42.3.310

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