First published in 1995, this book aims at rehabilitating systematic aesthetics. To this end, it attempts to show how metaphysical, transcendental, and systematic aesthetics comprise the fundamental options for the philosophy of art, how metaphysical and transcendental aesthetics internally undermine themselves, and, finally, how their dilemmas are overcome by systematic aesthetics

It discusses themes like critique of metaphysical aesthetics; impasse of transcendental aesthetics; individuality of beauty; the existence of beauty in the work of art; the extreme reality of the work of art and the reception of art. This is a must read for scholars and researchers of philosophy of art and philosophy in general.