Did Aristotle Recognise Aesthetic Emotion?

Lecture by David Konstan (Paris IAS fellow) for the Institute of Greece, Rome, and the Classical Tradition, University of Bristol's Faculty of Arts.

Abstract

Aristotle famously affirms, in the Poetics, that the emotions proper to tragedy are pity and fear. But are these aesthetic emotions, that is, responses to a work of art as such? In this lecture Professor Konstan suggests that they are, and that properly understood Aristotle’s view offers an important insight into the nature of art and emotion.

More informations (University of Bristol)