problems in aesthetics
DESCRIPTION
A lecture presented at the DLSU Thoughts on Taste: Arts and Aesthetics ConferenceTRANSCRIPT
Problems in Aesthetics Mark Anthony DacelaPhilosophy Department DLSU
Problems in Aesthetics
Problems in Aesthetics
What is ART?
Problems in Aesthetics
D1:
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
A
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
A B
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.
Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!
Q2. How do we evaluate B?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!
Q2. How do we evaluate B? Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
Problems in Aesthetics
Problems in Aesthetics
Problems in Aesthetics
X
Problems in Aesthetics
X Y
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Problems in Aesthetics
X
Y
Problems in Aesthetics
X
Y
Problems in Aesthetics
X
Y
Pastoral Symphony No. 6. 4th Movement , Beethoven
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
Q2*. When do we say that B is good?
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
C1: B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Monastery Graveyard in the Snow, Caspar David Friedrich
Snail, Henri Matisse. 1953
Snail, Henri Matisse. 1953
Woman I, Willem de Kooning
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
C1. B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
C1. B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
C1. B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Number 1, Jackon Pollock
Filipino handicrafts
Jose Garcia Villa, The Emperor’s New Sonnet
4’33, John Cage
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).
Problems in Aesthetics
D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality). Some artworks do not imitate anything.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experience aesthetically.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experienced aesthetically.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experienced aesthetically.
D2a: X is experienced aesthetically only if X pleases the senses.
Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David Friedrich
Sunflower, Vincent Van Gogh
Tree of Life, Gustav Klimt
Snail, Henri Matisse. 1953
Canon D, Johann Pachelbel
Number 1, Jackon Pollock
Indeterminacy, John Cage
Shin Triad , Squarepusher
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experienced aesthetically.
D2a: X is experienced aesthetically only if X pleases the senses.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experienced aesthetically.
D2a: X is experienced aesthetically only if X pleases the senses.
D2 collapses into a form of relativism.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2: X is art only if X is experienced aesthetically.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2*: X is art only if X is made to experienced aesthetically.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2*: X is art only if X is made to experienced aesthetically.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2*: X is art only if X is made to experienced aesthetically.
D2* sidesteps the problem of relativism.
Problems in Aesthetics
D2*: X is art only if X is made to experienced aesthetically.
D2* sidesteps the problem of relativism.
The Fountain, Marcel Duchamp
Campbell’s Soup Cans, Andy Warhol
Problems in Aesthetics
D2*: X is art only if X is made to experienced aesthetically.
Given D2* anything can be art.
Problems in Aesthetics
D3: X is art only if Y (where Y is the art community) says its art.
The Fountain, Marcel Duchamp
Campbell’s Soup Cans, Andy Warhol
Problems in Aesthetics
D3: X is art only if Y (where Y is the art community) says its art.
Q1: What is Y’s aesthetic criterion?
Problems in Aesthetics
D3: X is art only if Y (where Y is the art community) says its art.
Q1: What is Y’s aesthetic criterion? Q1*: What makes Y say that X is art?
Problems in Aesthetics
D3: X is art only if Y (where Y is the art community) says its art.
Q1: What is Y’s aesthetic criterion? Q2:
Problems in Aesthetics
D3: X is art only if Y (where Y is the art community) says its art.
Q1: What is Y’s aesthetic criterion? Q2: Who is Y?
Problems in Aesthetics
What is Art?
The Generality Problem:
Problems in Aesthetics
What is Art?
The Generality Problem:
i. the aesthetic criterion is too broad.
ii. the aesthetic criterion is too narrow.
Problems in Aesthetics Mark Anthony DacelaPhilosophy Department DLSU
Special thanks to for helping me prepare this presentation:
Noelle Leslie dela CruzSidney DiamanteBeverly SarzaRJ BoylesPaulyn Villafuerte
Problems in Aesthetics Mark Anthony DacelaPhilosophy Department DLSU