The Aesthetics of the Invisible in Hans-Georg Gadamer

In this essay I intend to explore a highly interesting aesthetic perspective of Gadamerian philosophy: the human being’s relationship with Beauty and the latter’s capacity to bring us into contact with the infinite, with the Good. Therefore, we must examine to what degree self-displaying, aesthetically exhibiting the supersensible, aids a consideration of the peculiar position adopted by Hans-Georg Gadamer toward metaphysics. Besides, Gadamer himself claimed that the most suitable theoretical arena for reflecting on metaphysics is precisely the relationship between the Good and the Beautiful. All the same, in exposing the cardinal points of the relationship between Good and Beautiful the intention is not to touch on the theme of the political horizon of art, as it emerges from the reflections on “Plato and the Poets.” This is because the true interest here lies in reflecting on the theoretical structure of the relationship between Being–Good–Beauty in order understand the eventual redeeming potential with regard to the nihilism Gadamer skillfully retraced in ideas that run from Nietzsche to Weber, on the one hand, and the mystical drifts of the poetic thinking of Heidegger, on the other. The reformulation of the concept of Being, capable of escaping nihilist or mystical siren song, is generated in Gadamer thanks to a sensitivity toward Renaissance humanism, according to which the finiteness of the human being, his/her caducity, is also the site of his/ her fullness. This is a highly delicate question, which often divides critics. On the one hand, the strong call of humanism to the relationship in the circularity between the human being and the divine appears to have left its traces in Gadamerian reflections. In affirming this, I refer to Gadamer’s relationship with a humanist philosopher who drew his constant interest: Nicholas of Cusa. I will return to his philosophy in the development of my argumentations as it constitutes a precious source of inspiration precisely to Gadamer’s reflection on the concept of Being and the relationship between Good and Beauty. On the other hand, in reflecting on the relationship between infinite and finite, Gadamer seeks an authentic autonomy from any religious appurtenance. Evidence of this twofold necessity is offered by his interpretation of Rilkean poetry. (GW 9).