Beauty by Roger Flashcards
Q1: What is the definition of aesthetic judgment?
A: Aesthetic judgment is a claim about beauty that invites agreement and is not just a personal preference.
Q2: What is a metaphor, according to Scruton?
A: Metaphors create connections not found in reality but made through associative powers.
Q3: How does Kant define ‘subjective universality’ in beauty?
A: It means that while beauty is perceived personally, it carries an expectation of agreement from others.
Q4: What are the six platitudes of beauty?
1) Beauty pleases us.
2) One thing can be more beautiful than another.
3) Beauty gives reason to attend to the thing that possesses it.
4) Beauty is a matter of judgment.
5) Aesthetic judgment is about the object, not the subject’s state of mind.
6) There are no second-hand judgments of beauty.
Q5: What is the paradox between ‘enjoyable’ and ‘beautiful’?
A: Enjoyment is about the subject who judges, while beauty is about the object itself.
Q6: What does it mean to ‘get things right’ in beauty?
A: It refers to achieving aesthetic success in harmony, proportion, and suitability in design.
Q7: What is the distinction between fine arts and useful arts?
A: Fine arts are meant for contemplation, whereas useful arts serve practical purposes.
Q8: How does Scruton critique ‘Form follows function’?
A: He argues that in architecture, function should follow form, emphasizing aesthetic values over pure utility.
Q9: How does urban design relate to beauty?
A: Urban design should ensure that buildings ‘fit in’ aesthetically rather than being purely functional.
Q10: What does ‘disinterested interest’ mean?
A: Appreciating something for its beauty alone, not for practical or personal gain.
Q11: How does Scruton justify the objectivity of beauty?
A: Aesthetic judgments make claims that others can recognize and agree with, implying beauty has universal aspects.
Q12: How does reason relate to beauty?
A: Beauty involves rational engagement beyond emotion, helping form deeper understanding.
Q13: How does the 18th-century distinction of beauty relate to function and form?
A: It wrongly separates function and form, failing to acknowledge how aesthetics shape practical design.
