A Kantian Sense of Aesthetic Methodology: ‘Manner’ Instead of ‘Method’

This paper aims to explore a potential avenue for applying ‘aesthetic methodology’ through an examination of Kant’s distinction between method (modus logicus) and aesthetic manner (modus aestheticus). In the Critique of the Power of Judgement, Kant refers to this distinction explicitly in two contexts: regarding the creation of the genius artist and the possibility of teaching this creation. I will discuss these two contexts as two dimensions of aesthetic judgement, arguing that the genius artist’s creative process provides valuable insights into the aesthetic judgement process for the viewer. I conclude by asserting a direct link between the idea of humanity and our aesthetic commitment: the way we practise our humanity is through ‘aesthetic methodology’, as manifested in concrete judgements of beauty.