Problems in Aesthetics

Mark Anthony Dacela Philosophy 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.

Problems in Aesthetics

D1: X is art only if X imitates reality.

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. D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality). Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!

Problems in Aesthetics

D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality). Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!

Q2. How do we evaluate B?

Problems in Aesthetics

D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality). Q1. Is A identical to B? NO!

Q2. How do we evaluate B? Q2*. When do we say that B is good?

Problems in Aesthetics

Q2*. When do we say that B is good?

Problems in Aesthetics

Problems in Aesthetics

Problems in Aesthetics

Problems in Aesthetics

Problems in Aesthetics

Q2*. When do we say that B is good? B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.

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? B is good only if B faithfully imitates A.

D1: A is art only if A imitates B (where B is reality).

Problems in Aesthetics

Y X

Problems in Aesthetics

Y X

Problems in Aesthetics

Y X

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 Dacela Philosophy Department DLSU

Special thanks to for helping me prepare this presentation: Noelle Leslie dela Cruz Sidney Diamante Beverly Sarza RJ Boyles Paulyn Villafuerte

Problems in Aesthetics
Mark Anthony Dacela Philosophy Department DLSU