Review
"Aesthetics as an independent academic discipline may have faded with the 19th century, but in Roger Scruton's vigorous, decidedly unfashionable little book, Beauty, it's as timeless as ever."--Amelia Atlas, Barnes and Noble Review
"There is much to be learned and pondered on from Scruton's splendid treatment of beauty in its different forms. Scruton reminds us of the vital importance of aesthetic education for the re-shaping of our culture and world for human happiness." --Quaestiones Disputatae
"[H]is characteristically lucid and penetrating style.... Scruton's Beauty is a thoughtful and challenging exploration not only of some central issues in aesthetics but also the place of the experience of beauty in our lives."--Donald W. Crawford, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
"Highly accessible and offers readers a unique and well-argued approach to the concept of beauty."--Scott Duimstra, Library Journal
"Roger Scruton has moments of great insight and clarity in this attractively slim volume...."--The Observer
Book Description
Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane; it can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling. It can affect us in an unlimited variety of ways. Yet it is never viewed with indifference. Here, the renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explores the concept of beauty, asking what makes an object - either in art, in nature, or the human form - beautiful, and examining how we can compare differing judgements of beauty when it is evident all around us that our tastes vary so widely. Is there a right judgement to be made about beauty? Is it right to say there is more beauty in a classical temple than a concrete office block, more in a Rembrandt than in last year's Turner Prize winner? Forthright and thought-provoking, and as accessible as it is intellectually rigorous, this introduction to the philosophy of beauty draws conclusions that some may find controversial, but, as Scruton shows, help us to find greater sense of meaning in the beautiful objects that fill our lives.
About the Author
Roger Scruton is research Professor at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences based in Arlington, Virginia. His previous academic affiliations have been Professor of Aesthetics at Birkbeck College, London, and subsequently Professor of Philosophy and University Professor at Boston University. His published works range from academic philosophy, specialising in aesthetics, to fiction, and political and cultural commentary.
