Beauty, a seemingly simple but profound word, has always aroused endless thinking in the field of philosophy. Hegel, the German philosopher, with his unique philosophical system, offers us a unique insight into beauty. In his view, beauty is not just a subjective feeling or an objective existence, but a unity of subjectivity and objectivity.
According to Hegel, the essence of beauty lies in the sensual manifestation of its ideas. This means that beauty is not just an abstract concept or idea, it needs to be expressed through concrete images or material forms. This form of expression can be both an objectively existing artwork and an aesthetic experience of subjective feelings. Here, beauty is the intersection of subjectivity and objectivity, the interaction and dialogue between subject and object.
However, Hegel did not simply affirm the objectivity or subjectivity of beauty. He criticized purely subjective and objective theories, believing that neither of them can fully reveal the essence of beauty. Purely subjective theory may ignore the objective existence and material form of beauty, while pure objective theory may ignore people's subjective feelings and aesthetic experience. Therefore, Hegel emphasized that beauty is the unity of subjectivity and objectivity, the interaction and fusion between subject and object.
In Hegel's aesthetic thought, the work of art, as a concrete expression of beauty, is the best example of the unity of subjectivity and objectivity. On the one hand, a work of art is an expression of an artist's inner world, embodying their thoughts, emotions and concepts;On the other hand, a work of art exists in a concrete material form that can be perceived and experienced by the audience. This unity of subjectivity and objectivity makes a work of art both subjective and objective.
In short, in Hegel's view, beauty is the unity of subjectivity and objectivity. This means that beauty is neither a purely subjective feeling nor a completely objective existence, but an interaction and fusion between subject and object. This perspective provides us with a fresh perspective on beauty and aesthetic experience, and also provides a deeper theoretical basis for our appreciation and understanding of art.