The Possibility of Culture: Pleasure and Moral Development in Kants Aesthetics

Some of the most enduring and influential contributions tophilosophical aesthetics were made by Immanuel Kant. ThePossibility of Culture: Pleasure and Moral Development inKant s Aesthetics presents an in–depth exploration anddeconstruction of Kant s depiction of the ways in whichaesthetic pursuits can promote personal moral development. Byexploring details of Kant s aesthetic theory alongside histheory of moral development, Kantian scholar Bradley Murray revealsthe surprising connections between the philosopher s thoughtson the pleasures of beauty and sublimity and his moral psychologyand anthropology. Other topics explored include current approachesto Kantian aesthetics, Kant s arguments for the pursuit ofculture over pleasure, the moral implications of pursuing thepleasure of beauty and Kant s notion of genius. Offeringinnovative perspectives on Kantian philosophy, The Possibilityof Culture sheds new light on the writings of an importantfigure whose philosophical concepts continue to shape Westernthought.

Bradley Murray is a philosopher and psychotherapist who has taught at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and Oxford University, England. He has published widely on topics relating to Kantian philosophy.