Friday, April 21, 2017

Thomas Jefferson on the Aesthetic

April 21, 2017
Outside reading: Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson


Thomas Jefferson talks about the nature of Virginia in his book Notes on the State of Virginia. He focuses on the aesthetic experience of being in nature, multiple times referencing the sublime. Jefferson seems to believe that the aesthetic is a part of the soul, drawing out the moral capacity of an individual when they see something beautiful. He also applied this to the architecture of the University of Virginia. He intentionally developed a classical and aesthetically pleasing building in order to surround the students with something beautiful. He felt that these beautiful buildings would then effect the moral capacities of the students.

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