Edmund Burk
1.
Our Ideas
of the Sublime and the Beautiful
a.
Section 1 - Novelty.
i. The
first and simplest emotion is curiosity.
1.
It means whatever we have desire for and is the most
superficial of the emotions.
2.
When curiosity returns to an object its met with
less value.
3.
There must be some idea of novelty present in a
thing that works on the mind; otherwise we’d get bored of everything.
ii. Pain
and Pleasure are positive in nature and are not dependent on the other for
existence.
b.
Section II – Pain and Pleasure.
i. The
mind is in a state in indifference with the absence of pain and pleasure.
ii. We
can perceive pain, pleasure, or indifference without relation to anything else.
c.
Section III - The Difference Between the Removal
of Pain and Positive Pleasure.
i. The
removal of pleasure does not act like pain.
ii. The
removal (diminution) of pain does not act like pleasure.
iii. After
escaping imminent danger, or released form a cruel pain, our minds tend to be
sober, impressed with a sense of awe, and tends to keep going until the
emotions subside.
d.
Section IV – Delight and Pleasure, as Opposed to
Each Other.
i. The
removal of pain may be agreeable, but not like pleasure.
1.
Two Distinction of Pleasure:
a.
Pleasure – That which has no relation to pain.
b.
Delight – The sensation that accompanies the
removal of pain or danger.
e.
Section V – Joy and Greif.
i. Cessation
of the pleasure affects the mind in three ways.
1.
Indifference – if it stops after an appropriate
time.
2.
Disappointment – If it’s abruptly broken off.
3.
Grief – If the object is totally lost, never to
be enjoyed again.
ii. None
of these resemble pain.
1.
It is the nature of grief to keep the object
perpetually in its eye.
2.
Pleasure is the utmost aspect of grief.
f.
Section VI – Of the Passions which Belong to
Self-Preservation.
i. Self-preservation
turns mostly on pain and danger.
g.
Section VII – the Sublime.
i. Pain
is a greater power than pleasure and death is more powerful than pain.
ii. Sublime
– anything that is analogous to terror is a source.
iii. Pain
is an emissary of death and when it presses to closely, we are incapable of
delight.
iv. We
are capable of delight if we can distance ourselves or modify them.
h.
Section VIII – Society.
i. Two
parts to society.
1.
One of the sexes that answer the purpose of
propagation.
2.
That of general society.
a.
Gratification and pleasures with lively
character.
b.
People tend to discuss the horrors and pain they
feel over good health and stability.
c.
When people talk about love, it’s usually in the
form of loss.
d.
Love can cause extraordinary effects, but none
are connect to pain.
Works Cited
Burk, Edmund. Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful.
1757.
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