Research Article

DIDEROT'S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS

Volume: 11 Number: 1 April 22, 2024
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DIDEROT'S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS

Abstract

The 18th century witnessed the transformation of aesthetics into an independent philosophical discipline. In this period, two main traditions emerged, based on which we can categorize aesthetic theorists. The first of these is classical or rationalist aesthetics, and the other is empiricist or subjective aesthetics. Because classical/rational aesthetic theories were largely based on Cartesian metaphysics, they also inherited the difficulties faced by Cartesian metaphysics. For Descartes, senseperception is not a reliable mode of cognition and truth only comes out of the ideas of pure understanding. Where Descartes' philosophy came to a dead end was that it could not convincingly explain how the concepts in our minds represent reality that is independent of us. This problem also manifested itself in the rationalist aesthetics. Similarly, the empiricist theory inherited the weaknesses of the empiricist epistemology. The main problem of empiricism was to overcome subjectivism and reach universal principles that make sense of the world surrounding us. To overcome the relativism of the empiricist epistemology, empiricist theoreticians claimed that there is an intuition, a common feeling shared by all human beings. However, this common feeling could not be proven empirically. Diderot created a new aesthetic theory that aimed to reconcile rationalist and empiricist aesthetics by redefining the term perception. This article discusses Diderot's innovative effort to create a new aesthetics free from the limits of rationalism and empiricism.

Keywords

References

  1. Cameron, M., & Young, J.O. (2021). Introduction. In Critical Reflections on Poetry and Painting (J.O. Young, & M. Cameron, Trans.), (pp. 1-89). Brill.
  2. Cassirer, E. (1951) Philosophy of Enlightenment. (C. Frizz, A. Koelln & J. P. Pettergrove, Trans.), Princeton University Press.
  3. Crousaz, J. P. (1714) Traité du Beau. F. L. Honoré.
  4. Descartes, R. (1982) Principles of Philosophy. (V. R. Miller, R. P. Miller, Trans.), Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  5. Descartes, R. (1996) Meditations on First Philosophy. (J. Cottingham, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.
  6. Despréaux, N. B. (1857). Oeuvres complètes de Boileau-Despréaux. Firmin-Didot Frères.
  7. Diderot, D. (1875a). OEuvres complètes de Diderot (Vol. I). J. Seznec, & J. Adhémar (Ed.). Garnier Frères.
  8. Diderot, D. (1875b). OEuvres complètes de Diderot (Vol. II). J. Seznec, & J. Adhémar (Ed.). Garnier Frères.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Aesthetics, Modern Philosophy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 22, 2024

Submission Date

February 15, 2024

Acceptance Date

April 2, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Volume: 11 Number: 1

APA
Tural, A. C. (2024). DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 11(1), 271-286. https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX
AMA
1.Tural AC. DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 2024;11(1):271-286. https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX
Chicago
Tural, Ali Can. 2024. “DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 11 (1): 271-86. https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX.
EndNote
Tural AC (April 1, 2024) DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 11 1 271–286.
IEEE
[1]A. C. Tural, “DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS”, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 271–286, Apr. 2024, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX
ISNAD
Tural, Ali Can. “DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 11/1 (April 1, 2024): 271-286. https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX.
JAMA
1.Tural AC. DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 2024;11:271–286.
MLA
Tural, Ali Can. “DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 11, no. 1, Apr. 2024, pp. 271-86, https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX.
Vancouver
1.Ali Can Tural. DIDEROT’S ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION IN THE 18TH CENTURY AESTHETICS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 1;11(1):271-86. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA79NF46EX