Scruton on rightness of proportion in architecture
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
British Journal of Aesthetics
Publication Date
1-1-2009
Volume
49
Issue
4
First Page
405
Last Page
414
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Abstract
In The Aesthetics of Architecture, Roger Scruton makes at least four claims about rightness of architectural proportion. The present paper lists those claims, briefly discusses the way they are related, and, finally, selects one as the topic of discussion: the claim that there cannot be an exact, mathematical definition of rightness of proportion. Scruton's arguments for this claim are reviewed. The first is found to be substantially correct, whereas the second is found to rely on a mistaken assumption, namely the assumption that rightness of proportion is relative to a point of view. The paper ends by arguing that either the real or the apparent proportions of a building have to be definitely right, and that neither can be allowed to be definitely wrong.
DOI
10.1093/aesthj/ayp032
Print ISSN
00070904
E-ISSN
14682842
Publisher Statement
Copyright © British Society of Aesthetics 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society of Aesthetics. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
De Clercq, R. (2009). Scruton on rightness of proportion in architecture. British Journal of Aesthetics, 49(4), 405-414. doi: 10.1093/aesthj/ayp032