Aesthetic terms, metaphor and the nature of aesthetic properties
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism
Publication Date
Winter 1-1-2005
Volume
63
Issue
1
First Page
27
Last Page
32
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Abstract
In this paper I begin by arguing that aesthetic terms cannot be used as metaphors and I end by arguing that the concept of an aesthetic property is analyzable in nonaesthetic terms. The beginning and the end of the paper are connected by a complex reasoning that can be summarized as follows: aesthetic terms cannot be used metaphorically because their applicability is never restricted to a particular category of objects (Section I); if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a particular category of objects then a fortiori it is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects; if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects, then all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects (Section II); if all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects, then all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by such objects; finally, if all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by visual objects, then for the purpose of analyzing the concept of an aesthetic property it suffices to analyze the concept of a visual aesthetic property (Section III).
DOI
10.1111/j.0021-8529.2005.00178.x
Print ISSN
00218529
E-ISSN
15406245
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2005 The American Society for Aesthetics
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
De Clercq, R. (2005). Aesthetic terms, metaphor and the nature of aesthetic properties. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 63(1), 27-32. doi: 10.1111/j.0021-8529.2005.00178.x
