Nature of Art Flashcards
What are the arguments in regards to how we should define art? (For, Objections, Rebuttal, Alternative, Objections, Alternative, Objections)
- Beardsley
- Too narrow/broad
- Primary intention
- Levinson
- Circular
- Gaut
- Answer the question
What is your line of argument in regards to how we should define art? (Three points)
- All the theories have valid downsides when considered alone.
- However, Gaut provides us with the framework to construct a culmination definition.
- Combining all three account of art would result in a much stronger definition.
What is Beardsley’s definition of art? (Three points)
- A functionalist definition.
- Art is something that causes a detatched exhilirating experience.
- It explains why we value art, because we value the aesthetic experience.
What are the benefits of Beardsley’s definition of art? (Two benefits)
- It appeals to the aesthetic experience which is normally neglected.
- Explains why we value art.
What are the objections to Beardsley’s definition of art? (Three points)
- Does it capture all the experiences we get from art?
- It doesn’t capture much of what we consider art.
- It captures things that we wouldnt consider art.
What things does Beardsley’s definition not capture that we would consider as art?
Certain avant-garde works
What does Beardsley’s definition capture that we wouldn’t normally consider as art?
Clothes or cars.
What is a potential response to the objections for Beardsley in regards to the definition of art?
Perhaps aesthetic experinece is not all the definition but a primary intention of the work.
What is the issue with making aesthetic experience the primary intention of a work?
What about overly political art?
What is Levinson’s defintion of art? (Two points)
- A relational account of art.
- An object is art if its intention is to be regarded as art.
How do revelutionary works fit into Levinson’s definition of art?
They are made to be in contrast with previous works.
What are the benefits of Levinson’s definition of art?
It makes sense of why we seem to view art in the art-historical context.
What is the objection to Levinson’s defintion? (Two points)
- It seems circular to define art in terms of art.
- What about the first pieces of art?
What is Gaut’s definition of art? (Three points)
- He does not provide a definitive defintion, but rather a formula to do so.
- He provides the cluster concept.
- It does justice to the varieties of art.
What is the cluster concept? (Three points)
- A set of criteria which are jointly sufficient.
- A certain subset would fulfilled would be considered art.
- They are disjunctively necessary, you cannot lack all conditions.