Kant on Beauty of Nature and Beauty of Art: Birdsong and Music
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Wang, Yen-Hsiang
Abstract
This dissertation discusses the question “whether birdsong can be regarded as music” in terms of Kant’s aesthetic theory. There is a great amount of scientific research that deals with this question. However, there is still a dispute over the relation between birdsong and music. In part one of this dissertation, I discuss studies which affirm that birdsong can be regarded as music and those which deny this. I also pose three questions: 1. How could we respond to the debate about the relationship between birdsong and music by means of Kant’s aesthetic theory? 2. Would Kant’s aesthetic theory affirm the parallel between birdsong and music in our appreciation? 3. Would Kant’s theory allow us to regard birdsong ontologically as music? In part two, I explain Kant’s aesthetic theory. In part three, I explain the relation between beauty of nature and beauty of art in Kant’s aesthetic theory. Then I answer the three questions according to Kant’s principle of appreciation, in particular the “as-if relation” between beauty of nature and beauty of art. I argue that first, Kant’s aesthetic principle dissolves the debate because in our aesthetic response to the beauty of birdsong, both sides (birdsong is or is not music) make sense. Second, Kant’s theory of genius could support the parallels between 1) birds and artists and 2) birdsong and music under an aesthetic view. Finally, I point out that the beauty of nature is significant in Kant’s aesthetic theory because it is akin to morality. This significance cannot be replaced by artworks. Accordingly, I argue that there is no reason to regard birdsong as music ontologically in the framework of Kant’s aesthetic theory. Nevertheless, this does not imply that birdsong is less than or not does not qualify as music.
Subjects
Kant’s aesthetics
birdsong
music
beauty of nature
beauty of art
as if relation.
Type
thesis
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