TY - JOUR
T1 - Du Bos' paradox
AU - LIVINGSTON, Paisley Nathan
PY - 2013/10/1
Y1 - 2013/10/1
N2 - What is now generally known as the paradox of art and negative affect was identified as a paradox by the Abbé Jean-Baptiste Du Bos in 1719. In his attempt to explain how people can admire and enjoy representational works that ‘afflict’ them, Du Bos claims that such representations give rise to ‘artificial’ emotions, provide a pleasurable relief from boredom, and offer us epistemic, artistic, and moral rewards. The paper delineates Du Bos’ proposal, considers the question of Du Bos’ originality, and discusses Hume’s brief comments on Du Bos and Fontenelle.
AB - What is now generally known as the paradox of art and negative affect was identified as a paradox by the Abbé Jean-Baptiste Du Bos in 1719. In his attempt to explain how people can admire and enjoy representational works that ‘afflict’ them, Du Bos claims that such representations give rise to ‘artificial’ emotions, provide a pleasurable relief from boredom, and offer us epistemic, artistic, and moral rewards. The paper delineates Du Bos’ proposal, considers the question of Du Bos’ originality, and discusses Hume’s brief comments on Du Bos and Fontenelle.
UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/765
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890948085&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/aesthj/ayt034
DO - 10.1093/aesthj/ayt034
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
SN - 0007-0904
VL - 53
SP - 393
EP - 406
JO - British Journal of Aesthetics
JF - British Journal of Aesthetics
IS - 4
ER -