At the heart of aesthetics lie fundamental questions about value in art and the objectivity of aesthetic valuation. A theory of aesthetic value must explain how the properties of artworks contribute to the values derived from contemplating and appreciating works of art. When someone passes judgment on a work of art, just what is it that is happening, and how can such judgments be criticized and defended?
In this concise survey, intended for advanced undergraduate students of aesthetics, Alan Goldman focuses on the question of aesthetic value, using many practical examples from painting, music, and literature to make his case. Although he treats a wide variety of views, he argues for a nonrealist view of aesthetic value, showing that the personal element can never be factored out of evaluative aesthetic judgments and explaining why this is so. At the same time, he argues for certain common effects of highly esteemed artworks.
Along the way Goldman considers such key topics as interpretation, representation, expression, and taste. His text will be a valuable contribution to the teaching of aesthetics as well as to the understanding of these topics on the part of students and scholars in philosophy and the arts.
By:
Alan Goldman
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Weight: 421g
ISBN: 9780367314330
ISBN 10: 0367314339
Pages: 212
Publication Date: 19 August 2019
Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Primary
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
1 INTRODUCTION, 2 EVALUATIVE AESTHETIC PROPERTIES, 3 BASE PROPERTIES, 4 INTERPRETATION A N D HISTORY, 5 EVALUATION
Alan H. Goldman is professor of philosophy at the University of Miami. He is the author of many articles and books on ethics and epistemology, including Moral Knowledge and Empirical Knowledge. More recently, he has published important papers on aesthetics.
