Edmund Burk - Summary of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful

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 it's 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.