Aesthetic practices and normativity

Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 103 (2):408–425 (2021)
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Abstract

What should we do, aesthetically speaking, and why? Any adequate theory of aesthetic normativity must distinguish reasons internal and external to aesthetic practices. This structural distinction is necessary in order to reconcile our interest in aesthetic correctness with our interest in aesthetic value. I consider three case studies—score compliance in musical performance, the look of a mowed lawn, and literary interpretation—to show that facts about the correct actions to perform and the correct attitudes to have are explained by norms internal to a practice. Practice-internal norms, however, cannot settle the distinct question of which practices we have reason to opt into. When it comes to the source of aesthetic normativity—in virtue of what aesthetic value is genuinely reason-giving—I argue that existing accounts, which appeal to pleasure or achievement, are inadequate. The only practice-external aesthetic requirement is a generic one to opt into at least some aesthetic practices.

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Robbie Kubala
University of Texas at Austin

Citations of this work

Aesthetic Value and the Practice of Aesthetic Valuing.Nick Riggle - 2024 - The Philosophical Review 133 (2):113–149.
Toward a Communitarian Theory of Aesthetic Value.Nick Riggle - 2022 - Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 80 (1):16-30.
Reasons, normativity, and value in aesthetics.Alex King - 2021 - Philosophy Compass 17 (1):1-17.
Aesthetic Blame.Robbie Kubala - 2024 - Journal of the American Philosophical Association 10 (4).

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References found in this work

Rationality Through Reasoning.John Broome - 2013 - Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
After Virtue.A. MacIntyre - 1981 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 46 (1):169-171.
Transformative Experience.Laurie Paul - 2014 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press.
Practical reason and norms.Joseph Raz - 1975 - London: Hutchinson.
Two concepts of rules.John Rawls - 1955 - Philosophical Review 64 (1):3-32.

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