Weil and Hegel: A Eucharistic “Ante-/Anti-aesthetic” Aesthetics?
Publication Type |
Book Chapter |
Year of Publication |
2006 |
Author |
|
Book |
Eating Beauty: The Eucharist and the Spiritual Arts of the Middle Ages |
Pages |
227-53 |
Publisher |
Cornell University Press |
Place Published |
Ithaca |
Language |
English |
Keywords |
aesthetics |
Annotation |
Astell looks at the understanding of the Eucharist in Weil and in the early theological works of Hegel. She begins with an examination of the symbolism of the ‘host’ in Weil’s thought paying particular attention to her understanding of the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, especially in its “manifold aesthetic expressions” (p. 232). She then turns to what she argues are opposing views of the Eucharist in Hegel’s work before going on to explore the implications of Weil’s and Hegel’s views of the Eucharist for their aesthetics, Here she draws substantially on the work of Adorno. Ultimately she argues, Weil’s views support the possibility of a continual renewal of art whereas Hegel’s tend to lead him to see art as in demise. |