An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of our Ideas of Beauty, etc.

An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of our Ideas… by Frances Reynolds is a scientific publication concerning aesthetics, exploring taste, beauty, and moral excellence. Set in the late 1700s, Reynolds examines aesthetic principles and analyzes the origin of taste. She introduces mental constructs, including common sense, grace, and sublimity, while highlighting the connection they share, as well as the moral implications of aesthetic appreciation. Beauty and moral virtue are inherently related, according to her reasoning, suggesting true taste originates from an impulse toward good. Her original thoughts consider prevailing philosophical ideas and lead to an examination of personal and cultural perceptions, shaping our understanding of beauty and taste in art and nature.