Critique of Judgment – Immanuel Kant

"Beauty is the form of the finality of an object, in so far as this is perceived in it without any representation of a purpose."

In his third Critique, Kant explores the nature of beauty and the sublime. He argues that aesthetic judgments are subjective but claim universal validity. He also examines the teleology of nature, asking whether the natural world shows evidence of purpose or design.

This book is the foundation of modern aesthetics. It bridges the gap between Kant's epistemology and his ethics, suggesting that the experience of beauty connects the realms of nature and freedom. It has profoundly influenced art theory and romantic philosophy.