Velocidade e Acordo

Abstract

In section 49 of his Critique of Judgement, Kant uses the expression “in Schwung verstezt” in order to classify the free play of the faculties when they get involved with aesthetic ideas. “Schwung” shares the same etymological root of “swing” and suggests, literally, a shuttle-like movement for the non-stop exchange of data between the faculties. This text aims at demonstrating that an interpretation closer to the German original text throws a new light upon the nature of the cognitive play driven by aesthetic ideas. Such interpretation may help to understand, for instance, the reason why Kant uses metaphors as examples of aesthetic ideas. Etymologically, “metaphor” also means “transportation” or “to carry over”. Rather than the notion of a juxtaposition of distant semantic domains, this text wishes to employ the sheer dynamics inherent to the concept of metaphor. This dynamic character is useful in order to reinforce the plausibility of a more cinematic reading, so to speak, of Kant’s conception of aesthetic experience.