A relevância ética da contemplação estética
Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy July 7, 2014 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.5007/1677-2954.2012v11nesp1p263 via DOAJ
Summary
Schopenhauer's philosophy divides the world into will and representation across four books. Aesthetic contemplation, discussed in book 3, involves a mental state called 'Besonnenheit' that enables ideal cognition freed from the will. This state is both a condition for knowledge and a basis for human morality, suggesting that the capacity for moral action is present during aesthetic contemplation.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The mental attitude of 'Besonnenheit' in aesthetic contemplation is both a condition of knowledge and a characteristic of human morality, legitimizing the central importance of the third book in Schopenhauer's system. |
Abstract
Schopenhauer organized his philosophy of the world as will and representationsystematically, dividing the work into four sections. The unity of the essence of the worldarises in different ways, according to the four books of the main work, by means of ournatural volitional and purposive cognition (book 1), the recognition of the “objectity” of thewill, experienced on the own body (book 2), the possibility of ideal cognition, freed fromthe will, in aesthetic contemplation (book 3) up to the understanding (“Durchschauung”)of the principium individuationis: the self-knowledge of the will (book 4). In this article,the theory of aesthetic contemplation is regarded as a philosophy of consciousness, whichlegitimizes the central importance of the third Book for Schopenhauer’s philosophical systemas a whole. Our central reflections refer to the specific mental attitude of “Besonnenheit”insofar as it is both a condition of knowledge and a characteristic of human morality. Hencethe human capacity for morality is present in actual aesthetic contemplation – as a conditionof the possibility of acting morally.