Reflections on Poetry by Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten

Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten’s Reflections on Poetry is a foundational work in aesthetics, where he first introduced the concept of “aesthetics” as a distinct philosophical discipline. In this influential text, Baumgarten explores the nature of poetry, beauty, and artistic expression, laying the groundwork for later thinkers such as Kant. Both a literary and philosophical classic, it marks the beginning of modern aesthetic theory.