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279Aesthetic experience and aesthetic valuePhilosophy Compass 1 (1). 2006.What possesses aesthetic value? According to a broad view, it can be found almost anywhere. According to a narrower view, it is found primarily in art and is applied to other items by courtesy of sharing some of the properties that make artworks aesthetically valuable. In this paper I will defend the broad view in answering the question: how should we characterize aesthetic value and other aesthetic concepts? I will also criticize some alternative answers
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252The semantics of fictional namesPacific Philosophical Quarterly 78 (2). 1997.In this paper we defend a direct reference theory of names. We maintain that the meaning of a name is its bearer. In the case of vacuous names, there is no bearer and they have no meaning. We develop a unified theory of names such that one theory applies to names whether they occur within or outside fiction. Hence, we apply our theory to sentences containing names within fiction, sentences about fiction or sentences making comparisons across fictions. We then defend our theory against objections…Read more
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237Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art: An IntroductionRowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2005.Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art is an essential introduction to some of the central topics and approaches being debated in contemporary aesthetics and philosophy of art. By taking a stand on each of the issues addressed and arguing for certain resolutions and against others, the text does not simply present a controversy in its current state of play, but instead helps to advance it toward a solution
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218Is the constructivist's dilemma flawed? Reply to PercivalJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 60 (1). 2002.
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192Should We Still Care about the Paradox of Fiction?British Journal of Aesthetics 51 (3): 295-308. 2011.The paradox of fiction presents an inconsistent triad of propositions, all of which are purported to be plausible or difficult to abandon. Here is an instance of the paradox: (1) Sally pities Anna (where Anna is the character Anna Karenina). (2) To pity someone, one must believe that they exist and are suffering. (3) Sally does not believe that Anna exists. Here is the problem. The paradox was formulated during the heyday of the cognitive theory of the emotions when there was a lot of theoretica…Read more
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188The interaction of ethical and aesthetic valueBritish Journal of Aesthetics 45 (2): 138-150. 2005.In many artworks, both aesthetic and ethical values are present, and both can contribute to the overall artistic value of a work. The question explored in this paper is: does the presence of one kind of value affect the degree of the other? For example, does a work that expresses a morally reprehensible attitude diminish the aesthetic value of a work? Let ‘interaction’ name the view that the presence of one kind of value affects the degree of the other. We will argue in favour of the existence o…Read more
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176The end of an institutional definition of artBritish Journal of Aesthetics 26 (2): 124-132. 1986.In "the art circle", dickie presents a revised institutional account of art. i argue: 1) if we consider the letter of the new account, it fails to distinguish works of art from many other artifacts; 2) if we consider its spirit, it is closer to the approach of those who claim art cannot be defined than to dickie's own earlier approach; 3) dickie fails to show that an institutional framework is a necessary condition for being a work of art
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148The correct and the appropriate in the appreciation of natureBritish Journal of Aesthetics 37 (4): 393-402. 1997.
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145Moderate actual intentionalism defendedJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 64 (4): 429-438. 2006.
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143Artworks: Definition, Meaning, ValueJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 56 (3): 311-313. 1997.
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139Immoralism and the anti-theoretical viewBritish Journal of Aesthetics 48 (2): 145-161. 2008.Can a moral defect be an artistic virtue? Can it make a positive contribution to artistic value? Further, if this can happen on occasion, does this imply that moral value has no systematic connection to artistic value since every conceivable relation between them is possible? The idea that moral defects can sometimes be artistic virtues has received a fair number of defenders recently and so has the anti-theoretical view that there is no systematic relation between artistic and moral value. But …Read more
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113Interpretation and Construction: Art, Speech, and the LawWiley-Blackwell. 2003._Interpretation and Construction_ examines the interpretation and products of intentional human behavior, focusing primarily on issues in art, law, and everyday speech. Focuses on artistic interpretation, but also includes extended discussion of interpretation of the law and everyday speech and communication. Written by one of the leading theorists of interpretation. Theoretical discussions are consistently centered around examples for ease of comprehension
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106Aesthetic instrumentalism and aesthetic autonomyBritish Journal of Aesthetics 24 (2): 160-165. 1984.
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101Gary Iseminger, The Aesthetic Function of Art (review)Philosophical Review 116 (1): 115-118. 2007.Introduces a more sophisticated functional definition of art Deals with some of the problems Beardsley had Old & New Aestheticism Aesthetic Communication notes on the Artworld Artistic value End of art?
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100The Hypothetical Intentionalist's Dilemma: A Reply to Levinson: ArticlesBritish Journal of Aesthetics 50 (3): 307-312. 2010.In a recent essay, Jerrold Levinson defends his version of hypothetical intentionalism, which is a theory of literary interpretation, from two criticisms. The first, argued by Stephen Davies, is that it is equivalent to the value-maximizing view. The second, argued by Robert Stecker, is that there are straightforward counterexamples to HI. We will argue that Levinson does not successfully fend off either criticism, and further, that in the process of attempting to do so, creates another dilemma …Read more
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87Expressiveness and expression in music and poetryJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 59 (1): 85-96. 2001.
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83Fish's argument for the relativity of interpretive truthJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 48 (3): 223-230. 1990.
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77Historical functionalism or the four factor theoryBritish Journal of Aesthetics 34 (3): 255-265. 1994.