The Introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of Fine Arts / Translated from the German with Notes and Prefatory Essay

THE INTRODUCTION TO HEGEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF FINE ART
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
WITH NOTES AND PREFATORY ESSAY
BY BERNARD BOSANQUET, M.A. LATE FELLOW AND TUTOR OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD
LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1886
( The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved. )
I wholly disapprove of analyses (among which may be reckoned Michelet's summary above mentioned) as representations of Hegel's writing, which is attractive chiefly by the force and freshness of its detail. I am convinced that Hegel should be allowed to speak for himself, and that failing the translation of the whole Æsthetik , or of very copious selections, the best course is that which I have adopted in the present volume, viz. to translate the entire Introduction, including the chapter entitled, Division of the Subject. This Introduction is in Hegel's best manner—so far as he can be said to have literary manner at all, especially in a work which has been produced by editors from lecture-notes,—and is tolerably complete in itself. It is not contained as a whole in any of the above-mentioned works. I ought to say, however, that Mr. Hastie's translation is excellent in style; but after the first thirty-four pages it also becomes an analysis. Nor is it wholly free from serious mistakes. I have hoped that the present volume may be of interest to many who, without being students of philosophy, are intelligent lovers of art. I have therefore done my best to interpret philosophical expressions, instead of merely furnishing their technical equivalents. I have also added a few short notes, either to explain literary allusions, or to complete the interpretation of technical terms. The prefatory essay was written with a similar intention, not as original speculation, but as an assistance to general readers in apprehending the point of view from which Fine Art is regarded by Hegel and kindred writers.
My literary notes are entirely borrowed from the late Mrs. F. C. Conybeare's translation of Scherer's History of German Literature; a work invaluable to the English student, whose gratitude must for long be saddened by the untimely death of the translator.