Edmund Burke's Sublime

Irish-born philosopher Edmund Burke was a pioneer on the idea of the sublime and its horror. He found it to be a stronger emotion than any other, as he believed when it is felt its fear is all we can fear. He says,”In this case the mind is so entirely filled with its object, that it cannot entertain any other, nor by consequence reason on that object which employs it. Hence arises the great power of the sublime.” Burke goes on to explain that this power of the sublime comes from obscurity and threat to life. What first scares us is an object or situation taken out of its context. The sublime perplexes us into fear. This fear develops into a threat on the individual’s life. Lastly he states that the sublime derives its power from inciting a sense in the victim that the sublime is more powerful than them. Building upon Burke’s concepts I believe the sublime can derive power from representing concepts or actions that are taboo to the individual. For example, one might find acts deemed morally unacceptable presented to them or acted out in front of them to be sublime. This could be from fearing that by witnessing immorality their reputation or spirit may be tarnished, or from fear by witnessing actions they realize what they themselves are capable of. This power being built and making the immoral to us sublime can often also be added to by fear of divine judgement.