The complete work

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

Publication Date

Summer 2014

Volume

72

Issue

3

First Page

225

Last Page

233

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

Abstract

What is it for a work of art to be complete? In this article, we argue that an artwork is complete just in case the artist has acquired a completion disposition with respect to her work - a disposition grounded in certain cognitive mechanisms to refrain from making significant changes to the work. We begin by explaining why the complete/ incomplete distinction with respect to artworks is both practically and philosophically significant. Then we consider and reject two approaches to artwork completion. Finally, we set out and defend our own account.

DOI

10.1111/jaac.12089

Print ISSN

00218529

E-ISSN

15406245

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2014 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

Livingston, P. (2014). The complete work. Journal of aesthetics and art criticism, 72(3), 225-233. doi: 10.1111/jaac.12089

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