Hume on Aesthetics

Question 1

Where does Hume believe our knowledge comes from?

Answer 1

Sense-experiences

Reason plays a limited role

Question 2

Describe the puzzle of taste?

Answer 2

Common sense pulls us in 2 directions:

1) Taste is subjective and personal
2) Can be right/wrong about taste

Question 3

What is Hume’s response to the puzzle of taste?

Answer 3

While beauty/aesthetic judgement are subjective, there can nonetheless be universal principles of taste and a standard of taste

Question 4

How does Hume define beauty?

Answer 4

A feeling/emotion one undergoes in response to viewing an object

Focus on the viewer’s feelings - an internal experiance

Question 5

Does beauty come from past experience?

Answer 5

No

It is spontaneous/automatic and happens to you

Question 6

What are the 2 stages of approbation?

Answer 6

1. Perception of shape and colour (Perception)

2. Feeling in response to the perception (Affection)

Question 7

What is approbation?

Answer 7

The pleasant feeling that comes from experiencing beauty

Comes in degrees

Question 8

What does Hume mean when he says, “sentiment has a reference to nothing beyond itself”?

Answer 8

Beauty cannot go wrong cos nothing but itself

Sentiment is a psychological experience, but doesn’t represent any properties within the object
Not measured against objects

Question 9

What does Hume say regarding enduring works?

Answer 9

“The same Homer, was pleased at Athens and Rome two thousand years ago, is still admired at Paris and at London.”

Question 10

How may humans be flawed in aesthetic judgement and provide an example

Answer 10

Change in input at perceptive stage = change in input at affection stage in a law-like way

eg Someone who has a cold may not be qualified to critique food as taste perception affected by the cold

Question 11

What commonality do humans share and how does this (supposedly) affect our appreciation of beauty?

Answer 11

Humans all set up the same way so should respond to the laws of pleasure the same (quasi-objective aesthetic value/judgement)

Question 12

What is important to note about certain objects? give an analogy

Answer 12

Some objects are disposed to give us (dis)approbation of beauty

eg A lemon with cause a sour taste

Question 13

Who does Hume think should determine the standard of taste?

Answer 13

True judges

Question 14

What are three key things that define the TJ’s?

Answer 14

1. Have no defects at either stage
2. The ‘joint verdicts’ of TJs is the standard
3. TJs are our better selves (eg cleared of all prejudice) - We may have defects affecting our judgement

Question 15

What is Hume trying to determine with his standard of taste?

Answer 15

Determine a principle which passes judgements of beauty as correct or incorrect
To settle disagreement

Question 16

What are some concerns with Hume’s standard of taste?

Answer 16

• Promotes ultra-conservatism (works become masterpieces through test of time)
• Tyranny of the majority (how do you add diversity? eg finger painting)
• How comparable is art/aesthetic value (eg music to paintings)
• Whats to stop people staying with their own preferences or switch to judges that aren’t the TJ’s (eg Izeal)
• Might be too much effort for not enough reward

Question 17

How does Levison address the test of time objection?

Answer 17

Test of time is an indicator, not a criterion

It failing a weak indicator of it not having aesthetic value
Failing not necessarily the fault of the work

Question 18

Give a disanalogy + Levison’s point about motivation to rebuttal the izeal objection

Answer 18

Levison - Cognitive motivation to see things correctly

If you eat meal deals but want to be healthier; can listen to TJ’s (salad, well-balanced etc.) or Izeals (McDonalds)
For someone wanting to be healthier, even if try McDonalds first or sticking with meal deals, will ultimately gain most benefit from listening to TJs.

Question 19

How might the diet disanology come into the objection of too much effort for no reward?

Answer 19

Again, if motivation is there you will benefit most from it

Levison agrees and points out it will be a gradual process (like a diet)

Question 20

What defines a masterpiece?

Answer 20

1. Durable (across periods)
2. Wide (across cultures)
3. Broad (most who come across it)

Question 21

How is circular arguing involved in the standard of taste?

Answer 21

• TJs determine what are masterpieces are

- Masterpieces are how we identify TJs

Question 22

How does Levison describe TJs?

Answer 22

As “truffle pigs” - indicators of beauty