The Transformation of Aesthetics in Hegel's Philosophy of Art

In his philosophical system, Hegel changes the subjective and reductionist aesthetic project that is related to the philosophy of the Enlightenment age and redirects it so that the new paradigm of "taste" is substituted with thinking about the revelation of art and truth. Revising the legacy of Enlightenment thought, alongside underlining art in the area of aesthetics, he specifies art as an appearance of truth. Along with philosophy and religion, art, in the overall system of Hegel's philosophy, is the great manifestation of the truth, but in a sensible form. Hegel's dialectical approach to aesthetics, without willing to going back to the pre-criticism period, followed by opening new horizons for the philosophy of art in a historic way. In this new paradigm, art transcends to the truth realm, and is shared with philosophy. Through the transition from mere aesthetics, the philosophy of art could possible. Thus, his central distinction in aesthetics, led to several developments that radically changed its approach. Pursuant to art, instead of addressing natural beauty in aesthetics, concepts of art and beauty correlated to human history, and thus came in line with knowledge and freedom. Hence, art and philosophy belong to one realm, even if Hegel claims that philosophy is superior.