Kierkegaard's theory and critique of art : its theological significance
The thesis starts by arguing that Kierkegaard's emphasis on the tension between the aesthetic imagination and religious experience deserves attention in the context of contemporary discussions of religion, imagination and art. After discussing some of the main relevant aspects of the literary and philosophical background the thesis presents an exposition of Kierkegaard's own philosophy of art. This provides a theoretical account of aesthetic experience, establishes principles of aesthetic criticism and offers a critique of aesthetic experience. A comprehensive account of the first form of this philosophy of art in the early Papirer is given. Kierkegaard describes art as developing through a sequence of dialectical stages ' until it touches upon themes and questions which require a religious or existential, not an aesthetic, approach. The use to which Kierkegaard put this understanding of art in his mature work is examined with particular reference to his works of aesthetic criticism and to his 'novels'. His work as a critic shows how art approximates to religious and existential concerns, without being able to give adequate expression to them, but it is in his 'novels' that he delineates most finely the boundary
Pattison, George Linsley
Philosophy
Kierkegaard's theory and critique of art : its theological significance. The thesis starts by arguing that Kierkegaard's emphasis on the tension between the aesthetic imagination and religious experience deserves attention in the context of contemporary discussions of religion, imagination and art. After discussing some of the main relevant aspects of the literary and philosophical background the thesis presents an exposition of Kierkegaard's own philosophy of art. This provides a theoretical account of aesthetic experience, establishes principles of aesthetic criticism and offers a critique of aesthetic experience. A comprehensive account of the first form of this philosophy of art in the early Papirer is given. Kierkegaard describes art as developing through a sequence of dialectical stages ' until it touches upon themes and questions which require a religious or existential, not an aesthetic, approach. The use to which Kierkegaard put this understanding of art in his mature work is examined with particular reference to his works of aesthetic criticism and to his 'novels'. His work as a critic shows how art approximates to religious and existential concerns, without being able to give adequate expression to them, but it is in his 'novels' that he delineates most finely the boundary
kierkegaard theory critique art theological_significance start argue kierkegaard emphasis tension aesthetic imagination religious_experience deserve attention context_contemporary discussion religion imagination art discuss main relevant_aspect literary_philosophical background present exposition kierkegaard philosophy_art provide theoretical_account aesthetic_experience establish principle aesthetic criticism offer_critique aesthetic_experience comprehensive_account first form philosophy_art early give kierkegaard describe art develop sequence dialectical stage touch_upon theme question require religious existential aesthetic approach use kierkegaard put art mature work examine particular_reference work aesthetic criticism work critic show art approximate religious existential concern without able give_adequate expression delineates finely boundary