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

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