Adam Smith's ‘Sympathetic Imagination’ and the Aesthetic Appreciation of Environment

Abstract

This paper explores the significance of Adam Smith's ideas for defending non-cognitivist theories of aesthetic appreciation of nature. Objections to noncognitivism argue that the exercise of emotion and imagination in aesthetic judgement potentially sentimentalizes and trivializes nature. I argue that although directed at moral judgement, Smith's views also find a place in addressing this problem. First, sympathetic imagination may afford a deeper and more sensitive type of aesthetic engagement. Second, in taking up the position of the impartial spectator, aesthetic judgements may originate in a type of self-regulated response where we stand outside ourselves to check those overly humanizing tendencies which might lead to a failure in appreciating nature as nature.

Philosophy and science in Adam Smith’s ‘History of Astronomy’

“… 8 Harrison (1995) and Brady (2011) have addressed the intimate connection between imagination, aesthetics and science in Smith’s system of social science. …”