The Philosophy of Art
Many philosophers and scholars in the world over have struggled over the years to define what it means to be a human as well as explaining the characteristics of a human being. Little progress has, however, been made to this perspective with various facts used to explain the experiences of being a human. The search for a perfect defining has, however, seen introduction and display of strong levels on creativity. The basic and central objective of philosophy and its study is to reveal the truth as well as establishing a broader understanding of the revealed truth. It is thus through the pursuit of both wisdom and knowledge that insights about what being human means can be understood. The Philosophy of Art, also known as, Aesthetics; therefore ventures in helping us develop common ground on the concept of “art” or what the creative process is. An art is something with the ability to connect the spectator with the overall vision of the artist. The spectator’s interpretation might, however, not be on the spot. A true art, therefore, appeals to the human senses, thus a sensory perception. An art, therefore, has different elements that distinguish them from other things. Philosophers argue that true art appeals to emotion, are viewer-centered, and has a strong interplay with language.
Emotion
Emotion is an imperative element in arts. True arts, therefore, appeal to emotions of viewers. Through different artistic works, it becomes easy to differentiate between being overcome by emotion and having an emotion. Through this the aspect of emotion, true arts are said to be irrational and essentially subjective. “…The famous author Wordsworth argued that the artist is the skillful technician of spontaneous emotion and that the best art is essentially subjective and irrational. Tolstoy argued that art was the transmission of feeling not based in pleasure but in like experiences where we were influenced to become more humane…” (Introduction to Aesthetics slides). Unlike entertainment and other related fields, true art transmits both feelings and pleasure in a more humane manner to the spectators. Through this facet of arts, it is true to infer that a true art introduces civilization to individuals. Others philosophers have expression opinion on arts as having the ability to differentiate between the idea of feeling and the feeling itself (Hauser, 44). It is emotion. However, that explains the difference between the feeling and idea. Real arts therefore strongly appeal to and consequently reflect on various human conditions in which both structure and thought are perfected to produce real emotion. Tolstoy, a philosopher, argues that emotion is an important element of true art and therefore commands a portion in the definition of art. The diverse range of activities involved in the creation of art must, therefore, be tailored towards appealing to the feelings hence emotions.
Viewer-Centered
The concept of what true art is highly supported and consequently defended by the viewer’s perspective. Many philosophers agree that it is the views that have the capacity for deciding on what quality art is. Assessment and subsequent evaluation of the value of an art product, therefore highly depend on the viewers and their viewpoints (Read, 33). Taste and experience, however, play a critical role in the determination of what true art is. “…In determining the importance of art, taste or the special mental facility that allows one to experience anything in life with some ability to classify that experience is important as it allows for the incorporation of a felt response or one’s personal acquaintance with the art at hand, usually in terms of emotional response…” (Introduction to Aesthetics 2018, slides). A felt response from the viewer is thus imperative in determining the quality an artwork hence the importance of viewers’ perspective.
Moreover, the creators of art product do their work from the perspective of the viewer. David Hume, a Scottish Philosopher, argues that taste based on human experience is vital in the artistic process (Read, 21). The concept of views centered further reveals the evaluation of artistic works and process can best be deciphered by people with the most artistic experience. Greater understanding, however, lies in artistic sensitivity and artistic understanding.
Has a Strong Interplay with Language
The ultimate objective of an art product is communication. Artists often convey vital and impeccable information through their artworks. However, communication through art products is based on universal symbols that go beyond semantic language semantics (Hauser, 24). True art must, therefore, possess the ability to communicate effectively in a manner that can easily be understood. Philosopher Broechx writes, “… Art creates a certain kind of stimuli to which man reacts as to the information; this means that the work of art is received in the way of messages and then the information may provide insights into the development of meanings in the reception of works of art…” (Introduction to Aesthetics 2018 slides). Communication is, therefore, an imperative element that defines a true art.
Works cited
Hauser, Arnold. The Philosophy of Art History (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2018.
Introduction to Aesthetics 2018 PowerPoint (Class Notes)
Read, Herbert. Speculations: Essays on humanism and the philosophy of art. Routledge, 2014.