Schiller, Hume, and Aesthetic Semblance Page 3

Distinguishing becomes important because Schiller claims semblance is aesthetic only if it "expressly renounces all claims to reality" and "dispenses with all support from reality" (197). This being said, Schiller does not think that this difference maintains that aesthetic semblance is devoid of reality. He insists that we just must not take into account this reality; we must have a completely subjective view to attain the aesthetic judgment. Schiller makes his best point regarding this when he says that aesthetic semblance is, "semblance which neither seeks to represent reality nor needs to be represented by it" (199). Reality and semblance are approached as separate entities that can and should coexist.

The main point to note is that Schiller leaves with a positive portrayal of aesthetic semblance. It helps unify the feeling and thought behind the aesthetic judgment. He does not think that it illigitimizes art or will be mistaken for the truth. He thinks that we actually "do not attach nearly enough" value to aesthetic semblance (201). Aesthetic semblance points to its creator, which is an extremely high form of reality. While Schiller's convictions about aesthetic semblance are strong, he is careful to note that aesthetic semblance, "will not become universal as long as man is still uncultivated enough to be in a position to misuse it" (205). In Schiller's eyes, aesthetic semblance can maintain the truth.

Hegel does not attempt to fully establish a notion for aesthetic semblance in the manner that Schiller did. In fact, it is evident that Hegel is responding to the likes of Schiller and his acceptance of aesthetic semblance. While Hegel does acknowledge the importance of semblance, he also feels as if it is less real in comparison to the appearance of art.

Hegel's stress of the appearance of art is in fact where he stray's from Schiller's notion. His main claim is that, "the appearances of art, therefore, far from being mere semblances, have the higher reality and the more genuine existence in comparison with the realities of common life" (11). This is a departure because unlike Schiller, Hegel is claiming that the main component of art is appearance. Appearance gives art the reality that one needs to not be deceived.

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