BRENTANO�S CLASSIFICATION OF ARTS FROM THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STANDPOINT

Abstract

This paper analyses Brentano�s aesthetical classification of arts from a psychological standpoint. Two questions are raised. First, if the established number of arts, which is five, is transparent and if one type of art does not only deflect the attention of others. That means if we have five completely different arts or maybe some of them fall in the same class altogether. The used method is an inquiry into how the arts that we percept through sight and hearing influence our psychological processes such as imagination or fantasy, and if they arouse higher emotions rather than lesser ones while standing in front of an artifact and admiring it. The results Brentano came to are that from a psychological standpoint we should only talk about three types of arts that influence each other and complete each other when it comes to the affection of the admirer. All further arts are only to be designated as subclasses.