Philosophy and EstheticsPhilosophy and Esthetics

Is beauty in the eye of the Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?beholder?Does art reflect the values of the Does art reflect the values of the artist?artist?Can a life be a work of art?Can a life be a work of art?

Esthetics DefinedEsthetics Defined

Axiology:Theory of Value

Ethics:Theory of Good

Esthetics:Theory of Beauty

The Esthetic ExperienceThe Esthetic Experience

DescriptiveDescriptiveWhat is it?What is it?

PragmaticPragmaticIs it useful?Is it useful?

EmotiveEmotiveDo I like it?Do I like it?

The Object of Esthetic The Object of Esthetic ExperienceExperience

Can Can anythinganything be within the esthetic be within the esthetic domain?domain?

Is there a line between ‘fine’ and Is there a line between ‘fine’ and ‘useful’ art?‘useful’ art?

Are there levels of art?Are there levels of art?Are natural phenomena within the Are natural phenomena within the

domain of art?domain of art?

The Esthetic ContinuumThe Esthetic Continuum

Suchness

Eternal Forms

Existential Possibilities

Feelings

Unified Experience

EstheticExperience

Esthetic Objects & Eternal Esthetic Objects & Eternal FormsForms

Plato: the Form of the Good defines Plato: the Form of the Good defines all appearances of the good in our all appearances of the good in our experience.experience.

SuchnessSuchness

AllAll things as they are are subject to things as they are are subject to esthetic experience.esthetic experience.

Unified ExperienceUnified Experience

John Dewey: the daily interaction John Dewey: the daily interaction between the ‘live creature’ and between the ‘live creature’ and ‘ethereal things.’‘ethereal things.’Objects that take on meaning in our Objects that take on meaning in our

actual experience possess the esthetic actual experience possess the esthetic dimension.dimension.

Feeling (Expressionism)Feeling (Expressionism)

Benedetto Croce: art is the expression Benedetto Croce: art is the expression of the artist’s emotion.of the artist’s emotion.Art reflects the ‘intuitive’ state of mind of Art reflects the ‘intuitive’ state of mind of

the creator.the creator.It is the ‘spontaneous overflow of It is the ‘spontaneous overflow of

powerful feelings.’powerful feelings.’Art is ‘symbolic’ of our feelings.Art is ‘symbolic’ of our feelings.

““Music is feeling, not sound.” (Stevens)Music is feeling, not sound.” (Stevens)““Beauty is objectified pleasure.” (Santayana)Beauty is objectified pleasure.” (Santayana)

Existential PossiblitiesExistential Possiblities

The art object is pure possibility.The art object is pure possibility.Art is a presentation (not Art is a presentation (not

representation).representation).Art is real, not an image of the real.Art is real, not an image of the real.

Three Controversial IssuesThree Controversial Issues

Subjectivism vs. ObjectivismSubjectivism vs. ObjectivismAre esthetic judgments subjective, Are esthetic judgments subjective,

objective, or a combination of the two?objective, or a combination of the two?Art and KnowledgeArt and Knowledge

What is the relation between art and What is the relation between art and epistemology?epistemology?

Art and MoralityArt and MoralityShould art serve a moral/ethical end?Should art serve a moral/ethical end?

SubjectivismSubjectivism

Art objects possess no esthetic Art objects possess no esthetic qualities—art is in the eye of the qualities—art is in the eye of the beholder.beholder.

Cultural values determine esthetic Cultural values determine esthetic experience.experience.

Historical conditions, and therefore Historical conditions, and therefore esthetic judgments are always in esthetic judgments are always in flux.flux.

ObjectivismObjectivism

Absolutists: The harmony of imagination Absolutists: The harmony of imagination and universal judgment prove that the and universal judgment prove that the esthetic realm is external to us.esthetic realm is external to us.

Pragmatists: The fact that art objects Pragmatists: The fact that art objects produce esthetic responses proves that produce esthetic responses proves that they themselves have esthetic quality.they themselves have esthetic quality.

Rationalists: Good art pleases everyone, Rationalists: Good art pleases everyone, which proves its objective truth. which proves its objective truth.

Art and KnowledgeArt and Knowledge

Can art teach me something of Can art teach me something of value?value?My intuitive experience with art teaches My intuitive experience with art teaches

me without need of reasonme without need of reason

Art and MoralityArt and Morality

Should art serve a social purpose?Should art serve a social purpose?Should art be a morality-producing Should art be a morality-producing

enterprise?enterprise?Should art be subject to censorship?Should art be subject to censorship?