PHIL 1361 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: New Criticism, Categorical Imperative, Aestheticism

• School: University of Houston
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 1361
• Professor: C.Mag Uidhir

Document Summary

Disinterestedness is also relevant in moral judgements, as one should not decide how to act by giving themselves special consideration. Pure" aesthetic and moral judgements overlap in this way. What makes for a great artist is genius" and taste". When judging a work of art, we should only look at the work itself. Art is it"s own reward and constitutes a realm outside of moral and social utility. (159) The view of the artist as a genius" and the idea of approaching art with disinterestedness was influential to the 19th century aestheticism movement. The artist, it was accepted, possessed special insight and abilities, and so was outside the common man"s judgement. His works were to be judged on their own merits, in something of a protected bubble. The appreciation of art, it was felt, should be divorced from political, social and moral considerations. (159) The feminist movement changed the perceptions of art away from romanticism and.