A Philosophical Enquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

Written four years after Edmund Burke finished A Philosophical Enquiry into the Sublime and Beautiful, Burke’s preface to the work by emphasizes that this is an investigation of the concepts of beauty, aesthetics, and the sublime, rather than a comprehensive theory. Burke was frustrated with the philosophers’ tendency to conflate ideas of beauty and the sublime, and he hoped to provide a clear distinction between the two.

In the Preface, Burke sets forth his method for examining the topic: (1) he carefully explores his own experiences with aesthetics, (2) he makes a detailed record of art which inspires his passion, and (3) considers this art within the laws of nature.

Burke’s second edition seeks to respond to certain criticisms of his first edition. Although he does not change his stance, the second edition includes more detailed explanations of his ideas. Burke acknowledges that the study of aesthetics is elusive, and he encourages his readers to carry the torch of research and study beyond what he has prepared.