Sublime
- “what does sublime mean”
- “sublime vs beautiful”
- “who wrote on the sublime”
- “kant sublime explained”
:: COMPARE ::
SublimevsBeauty
The short answer
Opposites by construction in the Burkean tradition. Beauty is smooth, small and pleasing; the sublime is vast, obscure and terrifying at a safe distance. Kant then relocated the whole thing — sublimity 'is not contained in anything in nature, but only in our mind.'
Side by side
| Aspect | Sublime | Beauty |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Vast | Contained |
| Feeling | Awe and dread | Pleasure |
| Requires safety | Yes | No |
| Located in | You (per Kant) | Contested |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Sublime rather than Beauty are usually searching for phrases like “what does sublime mean”, “sublime vs beautiful”, “who wrote on the sublime”.
Read either one in full