TY - JOUR
T1 - Aesthetic terms, metaphor and the nature of aesthetic properties
AU - DE CLERCQ, Rafael
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - In this paper I begin by arguing that aesthetic terms cannot be used as metaphors and I end by arguing that the concept of an aesthetic property is analyzable in nonaesthetic terms. The beginning and the end of the paper are connected by a complex reasoning that can be summarized as follows: aesthetic terms cannot be used metaphorically because their applicability is never restricted to a particular category of objects (Section I); if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a particular category of objects then a fortiori it is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects; if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects, then all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects (Section II); if all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects, then all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by such objects; finally, if all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by visual objects, then for the purpose of analyzing the concept of an aesthetic property it suffices to analyze the concept of a visual aesthetic property (Section III).
AB - In this paper I begin by arguing that aesthetic terms cannot be used as metaphors and I end by arguing that the concept of an aesthetic property is analyzable in nonaesthetic terms. The beginning and the end of the paper are connected by a complex reasoning that can be summarized as follows: aesthetic terms cannot be used metaphorically because their applicability is never restricted to a particular category of objects (Section I); if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a particular category of objects then a fortiori it is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects; if the applicability of aesthetic terms is never restricted to a category of nonvisual objects, then all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects (Section II); if all aesthetic terms are applicable to visual objects, then all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by such objects; finally, if all aesthetic properties can be exemplified by visual objects, then for the purpose of analyzing the concept of an aesthetic property it suffices to analyze the concept of a visual aesthetic property (Section III).
UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/1878
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=61049251603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.0021-8529.2005.00178.x
DO - 10.1111/j.0021-8529.2005.00178.x
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
SN - 0021-8529
VL - 63
SP - 27
EP - 32
JO - Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism
JF - Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism
IS - 1
ER -