Moses Mendelssohn: Philosophical WritingsMendelssohn's Philosophical Writings, published in 1761, bring the metaphysical tradition to bear on the topic of "sentiments" (defined as knowledge or awareness by way of the senses). They include a nuanced defense of Leibniz's theodicy and conception of freedom, and examination of the ethics of suicide, an account of the "mixed sentiments" so central to the tragic genre, an hypothesis about weakness of will, an elaboration of the main principles and types of art, and a brief tract on probability theory, aimed at rebutting Hume's skepticism. |
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Page xiv
... some one thing , they agree ( übereinstimmen [ = harmonize ] ) ; this agreement is the perfection ( Vollkommenheit [ = perfection or completeness ] ) and that one thing , in which there is this agreement is the determining reason for ...
... some one thing , they agree ( übereinstimmen [ = harmonize ] ) ; this agreement is the perfection ( Vollkommenheit [ = perfection or completeness ] ) and that one thing , in which there is this agreement is the determining reason for ...
Page xvi
... someone's skill , and , in the latter , we feel affection for 8 While all arts draw in one way or another upon these three sources according to Theocles , he claims that music alone draws on all three at once ; see the Eleventh letter ...
... someone's skill , and , in the latter , we feel affection for 8 While all arts draw in one way or another upon these three sources according to Theocles , he claims that music alone draws on all three at once ; see the Eleventh letter ...
Page xvii
... someone with whom we genuinely identify , then the distinction collapses and , with it , the pleasure . The peculiar advantage of the artistic medium lies precisely in its ability to sustain this distinction . Art is able to render the ...
... someone with whom we genuinely identify , then the distinction collapses and , with it , the pleasure . The peculiar advantage of the artistic medium lies precisely in its ability to sustain this distinction . Art is able to render the ...
Page xxxix
... someone encountering something sublime . The term " amazement " is reserved for Verwun- derung ( which Mendelssohn explicitly distinguishes from Bewunderung ) ( p . 198 ) . All translations of Latin and French quotations in the notes ...
... someone encountering something sublime . The term " amazement " is reserved for Verwun- derung ( which Mendelssohn explicitly distinguishes from Bewunderung ) ( p . 198 ) . All translations of Latin and French quotations in the notes ...
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Contents
Preface | 1 |
On sentiments | 5 |
Dialogues | 94 |
Rhapsody or additions to the Letters on sentiments | 129 |
On the main principles of the fine arts and sciences | 167 |
On the sublime and naive in the fine sciences | 190 |
On probability | 231 |
On evidence in metaphysical sciences | 249 |
On the ability to know the ability to feel and the ability to desire | 305 |
what does to enlighten mean? | 309 |
Index | 316 |
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Common terms and phrases
able actually Alexander Altmann Alexander Baumgarten appear artist basis beauty become body C. J. Gerhardt capacity to desire certainty Christian Wolff compelling reasons completely concepts constitution contingent contradiction creatures definition degree Descartes determined distinct divine doctrine effect entity essay ethics Eudoxus Euphranor everything evil example existence expression feel final purpose Fritz Bamberger geometry harmony Hence human imitation immense imperfection inference infinite insofar intellect intuitive knowledge KALLISTHEN knowledge Leibniz Leibnizian Letters on sentiments magnitude mathematics matter means Mendelssohn Mendelssohn's Philosophische Schriften merely metaphysics mind minor premise mixed sentiments moral Moses Mendelssohn movements naive nature NEOPHIL NUMESIAN object passions perceive perfection PHILOPON Philosophical Writings pleasant sentiment pleasure possible present presuppose principles probability proportion proposition rational regard representation Rorarius sciences senses signs someone sort soul Spinoza sublime suicide supposed sympathy Theocles things thinking thoughts tion translation truth unpleasant virtue Voltaire