Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. xvii, 191 pages : illustrations; 24 cm

Summary

1. "The Ugliness of Moses Mendelssohn examines the idea of ugliness through four angles: philosophical aesthetics, early anthropology, physiognomy and portraiture in the eighteenth-century. Highlighting a theory that describes the benefit of encountering ugly objects in art and nature, eighteenth-century German Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn tries to recast ugliness as a positive force for education and social progress. According to this theory, ugly objects cause us to think more and thus exercise our mental abilities. Known as ugly himself, he was nevertheless portrayed in portraits and in physiognomy as an image of wisdom, gentility, and tolerance. That seeming contradiction--an ugly object (Mendelssohn) made beautiful--illustrates the possibility of his theory that ugliness itself is a positive, even redeeming characteristic of great opportunity. Presenting a novel approach to eighteenth century aesthetics, this book will be of interest to students and scholars in the fields of Jewish Studies, Philosophy and History"--

Series statement

1. Routledge Jewish studies series

Uniform title

1. Routledge Jewish studies series.

Subject

1. Mendelsohn, Moses, 1782-1861 > Portraits
2. Mendelssohn, Moses, 1729-1786
3. Mendelsohn, Moses, 1782-1861
4. 1700-1799
5. Ugliness > History > 18th century
6. Aesthetics, European > 18th century
7. Aesthetics > Religious aspects
8. Arts and religion
9. PHILOSOPHY / General
10. SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies
11. Philosophie
12. Ethik
13. Ästhetik
14. Das Hässliche
15. Das Gute
16. Schönheit
17. Aesthetics, European
18. Portraits
19. Ugliness

Genre/Form

1. History.

Contents

1. Moral aesthetics: what is the ugly? -- Comeliness, glamour, ugliness: physical descriptions and moral implications -- Reading faces, reading souls: Johann Caspar Lavater's new physiognomy -- The ugly made beautiful: the meaning and appearance of Mendelssohn.

Call number

1. JFE 16-6901

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Author

1. Hochman, Leah, author.

Title

1. The ugliness of Moses Mendelssohn : aesthetics, religion and morality in the eighteenth century / Leah Hochman.

Publisher

1. London ; New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014.

Type of content

1. text

Type of medium

1. unmediated

Type of carrier

1. volume

Series

1. Routledge Jewish studies series
2. Routledge Jewish studies series.

Bibliography

1. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Chronological term

1. 1700-1799

LCCN

1. 2014015018

ISBN

1. 9781138781771 (hardback)
2. 1138781770 (hardback)
3. 9781315769615 (e-book)
4. 1315769611

Research call number

1. JFE 16-6901