Kant's eidos as "empathy"

Hi Everyone!!

I was hoping there would be lots of posts by now since I didn't want to be the first blogger. But since this is the only day I can do this, allow me to take a stab. Testing 1-2-3. If I am off the mark, please let me know. Thanks.

I read Vischer's essay prior to Mundt's and realized that Mundt's article sets the context for Vischer's writing. According to Mundt, there are three camps derived from Kantian notion of eidos (form): idealism, formalism, sensualism. Vischer stands as one of the main proponents of sensualism.

By aruging his (and his father's) case against the Herbartian school's formalist position (see p. 290 of Mundt for J F Herbart's concept of form), Vischer establishes his discourse for "empathy/Einfuhling".

According to Vischer, in order to arrive at or experience Einfuhling,(many of you who speak a second language know how some terms just refuse translations? Well, this is clearly one of them), "seeing" (p. 93 of V) begins the process. Upon closer examination, "seeing" takes on the complex process of "scanning" (p. 94 of V) leading to the visual sensation of "immediate sensation" followed by the "responsive sensation" (p.96 of V).

Vischer extends his argument by claiming the critical role of the "imagination" (p. 99 of V)which has the effect of further stimulating the two sensations (immediate and responsive) to "empathetic sensation" (p. 102 of V). The heightened aspect of empathetic sensation then intensifies "attentive feelings" of "immediate" and "responsive" feelings.

Obviously sensualist position wasn't new; we have precedence by the Romanticists (and even beyond). What made Vischer's contribution significant is that he was able to put his finger on the pulse by articulating a doctrine of empathy which lies at the center of sensualism in German aesthetics. He had codified Kant's eidos as empathy.

Perhaps by examining some of the artworks categorized by Mundt and Vischer, we can test the strictures of formalism and sensualism.

Hans von Marees' "Hesperides":




Farnese Hercules:




See you on Thursday,
Julie