Gadamer, Truth and Method, pt. 2

PHIL 409, Kant and the twentieth century, Fall 2026

1 Background

• Artistic truth
• Aesthetic differentiation
• Aesthetic consciousness
• The aesthetic dimension

2 Play (102–110)

• Play in Kant
• Play in Gadamer
  • Two concepts of experience: Erlebnis, Erfahrung
  • Play as the subject of the experience of art: ¶2 p. 103
    • Objection
    • Reply
  • Play as Darstellung (presentation): ¶¶2–3 p. 108

3 Transformation (110–119)

• Play as transformative
• Art as structure
• Imitation as presentation
  • Imitation as Aufhebung

4 The “thesis”

The being of art cannot be defined as an object of an aesthetic consciousness because, on the contrary, the aesthetic attitude is more than it knows of itself. It is a part of the event of being that occurs in presentation, and belongs essentially to play as play. (115)