more from Sebastian Gardner

Single Idea 8111

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 5. Objectivism in Art]

Full Idea

The aesthetic objectivist faces the difficulty of accounting for the fact that pleasure is not in the object, and is necessary for, and not just a contingent accompaniment to, aesthetic response.

Gist of Idea

Aesthetic objectivists must explain pleasure being essential, but not in the object

Source

Sebastian Gardner (Aesthetics [1995], 1.2.3)

Book Reference

'Philosophy: a Guide Through the Subject', ed/tr. Grayling,A.C. [OUP 1995], p.591


A Reaction

The objectivist has to claim, not utterly implausibly, that if you don't get pleasure from certain works, then you 'ought' to. You can ignore a good work, but to deny that it gives pleasure is a failing in you.