Description
Book SynopsisA philosophical study of the sublime from the height of its popularity to its renewed importance as a form of appreciating and valuing nature.
Trade Review'… an ambitious, erudite, and impressive study of the history of the aesthetic category of the sublime that makes a strong case for the ongoing relevance of the sublime as an important aesthetic category in environmental aesthetics. It should be read by anyone seriously interested in the connections between aesthetics, ethics and nature.' Sandra Shapshay, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
'For those interested in an in-depth examination of the sublime over an extended period of time, pairing this volume with Timothy Costelloe's edited The Sublime would provide a nice overarching analysis. Summing up: recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' Choice
'Owing to the quality of its scholarship, Brady's book is sure to be a standard reference. Those looking for a trustworthy one-stop shop on the sublime as historically conceived need look no farther. [The] concluding chapter is a welcome and edifying contribution to the literature that seeks to keep the past firmly alive for the present.' Christopher Williams, Journal of the History of Philosophy
'In this detailed, scholarly work Emily Brady seeks to renew the aesthetic concept of the sublime by clarifying its heritage and demonstrating its relevance to contemporary, environmental sensibilities.' Isis Brook, Environmental Values
'The book is a considerable achievement and an important one for those working in aesthetics or environmental philosophy. There is great insight here about a significant aesthetic experience and the light it sheds on the human relation to nature. Those interested in the historical development of the notion of the sublime should also pay attention to this book. Brady has made her case that the sublime deserves a prominent place in contemporary aesthetics and environmental thought.' Ned Hettinger, Environmental Ethics Journal
Table of ContentsPart I. The Historical Sublime: 1. The eighteenth-century sublime; 2. The Kantian sublime I: pre-critical and critical work; 3. The Kantian sublime II: nature and morality; 4. The Romantic sublime; Part II. The Contemporary Sublime: 5. Art and the sublime; 6. Tragedy and the sublime; 7. The sublime, terrible beauty, and ugliness; 8. The environmental sublime.
