Taste

Taste is defined as the faculty that allows us to form judgments about "works of imagination and the elegant arts." Taste is universal among all rational human beings; apparent differences in taste are really differences in knowledge or impairments in judgment.

Pain and Pleasure

Pain and Pleasure, along with the absence of either, Indifference, are given as the three essential passions, or states of being. Pain and pleasure are defined as "positive" qualities; that is, pain is not defined as the absence of pleasure or vice versa. Both exist.

The Sublime

The Sublime is the quality found in an object which inspires horror, but not so much horror that the viewer feels their life is threatened or that they are in great pain. It is based on pain rather than pleasure.

Fear and Terror

Fear, the apprehension of pain and death, and its closely-related cousin terror, the...