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