
audiobook
ÆSTHETIC - As science of expression and general linguistic - BY - BENEDETTO CROCE - translated, from the Italian by DOUGLAS AINSLIE - THE NOONDAY PRESS - A division of - FARRAR, STRAUS, AND COMPANY - 1920
EXTRACT FROM INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, 1909
NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR - TO THE SECOND ENGLISH EDITION
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
A fresh, thoughtful investigation into the nature of art, this volume treats aesthetics not as a set of decorative rules but as a science of expression rooted in the human spirit. It argues that the true value of a work lies in the creator’s inner intuition, a claim that pushes back against the materialist currents of the nineteenth century and the dominance of empirical science.
The author’s method is unmistakably historical: every piece of art is examined on its own terms, asking what makes it singular and how faithfully it preserves the purity of its expressive intent. Along the way, he engages with the giants of philosophy—Schopenhauer, Hegel, Kant—showing both respect for their insights and a willingness to depart from their doctrines. Listeners will find a clear, rigorous framework for understanding how art communicates the deepest currents of thought and feeling.
Language
en
Duration
~18 hours (1040K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (online soon in an extended version, also linking to free sources for education worldwide ... MOOC's, educational materials,...) Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.
Release date
2017-04-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1866–1952
A major voice in modern Italian thought, he wrote influential books on history, art, and philosophy while also taking a public stand against Fascism. His work helped shape 20th-century debates about culture, liberty, and how people understand the past.
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