Single Idea 6606

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 2. Aesthetic Attitude]

Full Idea

Suppose someone were to say: "Imagine this butterfly exactly as it is, but ugly instead of beautiful"?!

Gist of Idea

Consider: "Imagine this butterfly exactly as it is, but ugly instead of beautiful"

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Grammar [1932], §127), quoted by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason

Book Reference

Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.152


A Reaction

This reminds us that the concept of supervenience was originally introduced in aesthetics. Beauty is supervenient on physical form. But "Imagine how someone else might look at this butterfly and think it was ugly".