The German philosopher Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten (1714-1762) introduced "aesthetics" as a new science in his Reflections on Poetry (1735) and developed this new part of philosophy in a series of later works, culminating in his unfinished Aesthetics (1750/1758). This volume is the first collection of essays in the English language devoted to Baumgarten's aesthetics. The essays highlight the distinguishing features of Baumgarten's aesthetics, situate it in its historical context, document its reception, and examine its contributions to contemporary philosophy.

The German philosopher Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten (1714-1762) is known as the founder of modern aesthetics because he introduced the term "aesthetics" into philosophy in his Reflections on Poetry (1736), Metaphysics (1739), and in his unfinished Aesthetics (1750/1758). This volume is the first collection of essays in the English language devoted to Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten's aesthetics. The essays collected in this volume explain the distinguishing features of Baumgarten's aesthetics; situate it in its historical context; document its reception; and examine its contributions to contemporary philosophy.

Early Modern Aesthetics is a concise and accessible guide to the history of aesthetics in the early modern period. J. Colin McQuillan shows how philosophers concerned with art and beauty positioned themselves with respect to the ancients and the moderns, how they thought the arts were to be distinguished and classified, the principles they proposed for art and literary criticism, and how they made aesthetics a part of philosophy in the eighteenth century. The book explores the controversies that arose among philosophers with different views on these issues, their relation to the philosophy, science, and art, and their legacy for contemporary aesthetics.

Early Modern Aesthetics is a concise and accessible guide to the history of aesthetics in the early modern period. J. Colin McQuillan shows how philosophers concerned with art and beauty positioned themselves with respect to the ancients and the moderns, how they thought the arts were to be distinguished and classified, the principles they proposed for art and literary criticism, and how they made aesthetics a part of philosophy in the eighteenth century. The book explores the controversies that arose among philosophers with different views on these issues, their relation to the philosophy, science, and art, and their legacy for contemporary aesthetics.