Philosophy

Do philosophers have an aesthetic appreciation or their work? Do they find certain philosophical works or arguments, not just interesting, but beautiful (as GH Hardy or Einstein did)?

Comments

Yes; and I would distinguish two kinds of such aesthetic appreciation. Some philosophers are very good writers, and it is simply wonderful to read them -- some of my favorites are Plato, Hobbes, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and Bernard Williams. And in some cases the problem posed or argument presented is stunning in the unity, elegance, or sublimity it attains. I would once more list Plato and Hobbes as examples here, but also some of the less appealing writers such as Kant (e.g., the second analogy of experience) or Rawls (the thought experiment of the original position). This latter kind of aesthetic appreciation is closely related to recognizing a work as philosophically powerful.

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