Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having?
Should we aspire to aesthetic consistency? Two kinds of aesthetic consistency are considered, following Ted Cohen’s discussion of consistency in personal aesthetics: consistency of aesthetic reasons and coherence of aesthetic personality. Neither of these kinds of consistency seems like something to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Helsinki University Press
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Estetika |
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| Online Access: | https://account.estetikajournal.org/index.php/uh-j-eteja/article/view/419 |
| _version_ | 1827789610170712064 |
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| author | Eileen John |
| author_facet | Eileen John |
| author_sort | Eileen John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Should we aspire to aesthetic consistency? Two kinds of aesthetic consistency are considered, following Ted Cohen’s discussion of consistency in personal aesthetics: consistency of aesthetic reasons and coherence of aesthetic personality. Neither of these kinds of consistency seems like something to aspire to, possibly because we cannot do so – if we are not typically reasoning at the level of aesthetic response that is envisaged – or because consistent, coherent responsiveness does not seem like a worthwhile aesthetic goal. A third kind of consistency is defended, at the level of reflection on the desirable functions of art. We can try to be consistent about broadly ethical principles, showing our commitments as to the goods that art should provide in a life or to a society. These very broad principles do not make direct or clear aesthetic contact with individual artworks, so we cannot straightforwardly apply them as evaluative principles. But we can be consistent in trying to link the very specific achievements of works with these reflective values. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:22:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05f5f1b35b474475ab01348d64f082c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-0915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:22:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Helsinki University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Estetika |
| spelling | doaj.art-05f5f1b35b474475ab01348d64f082c52023-10-19T08:07:22ZengHelsinki University PressEstetika2571-09152023-09-01602115–130115–13010.33134/eeja.419396Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having?Eileen John0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4886-2868University of WarwickShould we aspire to aesthetic consistency? Two kinds of aesthetic consistency are considered, following Ted Cohen’s discussion of consistency in personal aesthetics: consistency of aesthetic reasons and coherence of aesthetic personality. Neither of these kinds of consistency seems like something to aspire to, possibly because we cannot do so – if we are not typically reasoning at the level of aesthetic response that is envisaged – or because consistent, coherent responsiveness does not seem like a worthwhile aesthetic goal. A third kind of consistency is defended, at the level of reflection on the desirable functions of art. We can try to be consistent about broadly ethical principles, showing our commitments as to the goods that art should provide in a life or to a society. These very broad principles do not make direct or clear aesthetic contact with individual artworks, so we cannot straightforwardly apply them as evaluative principles. But we can be consistent in trying to link the very specific achievements of works with these reflective values.https://account.estetikajournal.org/index.php/uh-j-eteja/article/view/419aesthetic consistencyaesthetic reasonsaesthetic personalityparticularismfabian dorsch |
| spellingShingle | Eileen John Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? Estetika aesthetic consistency aesthetic reasons aesthetic personality particularism fabian dorsch |
| title | Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? |
| title_full | Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? |
| title_fullStr | Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? |
| title_short | Is Aesthetic Consistency Worth Having? |
| title_sort | is aesthetic consistency worth having |
| topic | aesthetic consistency aesthetic reasons aesthetic personality particularism fabian dorsch |
| url | https://account.estetikajournal.org/index.php/uh-j-eteja/article/view/419 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eileenjohn isaestheticconsistencyworthhaving |