Moralism in aesthetics

Date

2007-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Several contemporary philosophers have argued that moral flaws in an artwork, such as an artwork’s presenting an immoral perspective as commendable, constitute aesthetic flaws, i.e., that the presence of moral flaws in an artwork diminish its aesthetic value. The arguments put forth to support this position fail, or so I argue, as several objections to them are raised and analyzed. Once the ground has been cleared of moralist concerns, I propose some arguments for the value of immoral art.

Description

Keywords

Aesthetics, Moralism

Citation