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Laurel Weber

Professor Rogacs

Philosophy 25

25 January 2017

Homework Assignment 2: Aesthetic Reasoning

According to aesthetic functionalism, arts aesthetic value is completely determined by its

practical function (Hansson, Aesthetic Functionalism). Functionalists therefore believe aesthetic

value is entirely reducible to functionality. In contrast, proponents of pure formalism argue that

function and aesthetic value are completely independent of each other. In practice, however,

some art may be best categorized with respect to a sort of aesthetic dualism, in which both the

formal and functional aspects of art are evaluated. In other words, some aesthetic judgments that

can be made about an object refer to it under descriptions of its practical function, whereas others

refer to it, for instance, under descriptions of its physical appearance. Since evaluations of the

former type, analyzing an object in terms of its functionality, are the most useful in the case of

discussion in this paper. In this paper the object Im going to discuss is the Catherine J. Robbins

building of Pasadena City College, hereafter referred to as the R building.

I would not consider the R building aesthetically pleasing or aesthetically valuable for a myriad

of reasons. Since I am a math major, I spend ninety percent of my time on campus in the R

building. In that time Ive seen graffiti-ridden bathroom walls, cockroaches crawling their way

through the computer labs, stained carpets, and flooded classrooms. Many of the classrooms

have bright orange and green walls that will give me a headache if I look at them for too long.

The cement and brick on the building is aging, and the walls that dont have a new coat of
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highlighter-colored paint are peeling. In architecture, functionalism is a well-established

principle, though in this context the R building doesnt necessarily live up to architecturally

functionalist principles, since many of the rooms are designed without function in mind. Simply

put, the building is the farthest thing from aesthetically valuable.

When the R building is viewed with respect to its ability to fulfill a cultural and social function,

however, it can be considered aesthetically valuable. The first floor on the R building is where

economics and business classes are held. The second floor of the R building is where computer

science classes and clubs meet. The third and fourth floor of the R building is where math classes

are held and where the math center is. Finally, the fifth floor is the home of nursing program. To

start, the simple diversity of the R building holds beauty. People of all backgrounds have taken

classes in the R building and people of all disciplines have been developed within the R building.

Additionally, the cultural and societal function of the R building fulfills leads to many social

changes. For many people--including people who changed the face of biochemistry and the study

of calculus, like William D. McElroy and Jaime Escalante--their introduction to math and

science took place in the R building. The greater social implication of creating more economists,

mathematicians, computer scientists, nurses, doctors, medical assistants, and so forth reflects on

the aesthetic value of the R building with respect to functionalist principles. This principle

identifies value in arts ability to fulfill cultural or social roles.

The R building can be seen as a reflection of the values of our culture as well. Though its clear

that the R building needs quite a bit of money put into it in order to be something formally

considered beautiful, it demonstrates the community college ideal of excellent education with

minimal expense. Though the paint is peeling, the R building houses state-of-the-art robotics
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teams. Moreover, the R building and its facilities provide a place entirely dedicated to study.

Consider the math center inside of the building for instance. Objectively, it is not the most

aesthetically pleasing place, as its painted neon green with fluorescent lighting and signs

everywhere aggressively remind students that it is a Quiet Study Area. The math center,

however, provides a location for people to study, to fully immerse themselves in mathematics.

This center represents the greater values of Pasadena City College and society as a whole;

learning something--a new trade, a subject--to do well in it, and to provide resources to those

who might've not had an equal opportunity. This is one of the eight aesthetic principles, showing

that this is a valid way to consider the R building using aesthetic reasoning (Moore, Critical

Thinking). And though the general appearance of the art building is not formally appealing, the

cultural values that the environment of learning represents demonstrates its aesthetic value and

therefore its classification as art. This particular case demonstrates that although something that

is not necessarily beautiful or pleasing to the eye can be valued by and because of a society as a

whole. This means that art is art simply because of what it represents within society. This

demonstrates functionality as an aesthetic value showing something can be art based on its value

within the context of the greater world and within the values of that society.

Broadening th

is idea to emotion, philosophy, and theory of mind, representing the general value of things based

on their functionality can be useful. In summary, aesthetic value, though not entirely reducible to

practical function nor entirely independent from it, can be seen in objects such as the R building;

the R building does not hold inherent beauty, but because of its place in society and the

evaluation of it considering functionalist aesthetic values. This leads to a denial that the material

composition of a work of art is essential to it. This aesthetic functionalism, as opposed to

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aesthetic formalism, then asserts a way of understanding the fact that particular works of art may

have many non-aesthetic functions that are essential to them, as well as their essential aesthetic

functions. This leads to an entirely new way to view the world, one in which beauty can be seen

in utility and implication to the world as a whole.

Works Cited

Hansson, Sven Ove. "Aesthetic Functionalism." Aesthetic Functionalism. Contemporary

Aesthetics, 17 Oct. 2005. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

Moore, Brook and Parker, Richard. Critical Thinking . 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012.

Print.
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