Abstract
In this article, I argue that our ontology of art has undergone a major change in the course of modern history. While we currently think of artworks as parts arranged in a certain way, there was a time when artworks were thought of as metaphysically more akin to ordinary artefacts such as tables and chairs; that is, as wholes having replaceable parts. This change in our ontology of art is reflected in our approach to art restoration. But what explains the change? I will suggest that the change took place because of a change in our conception of the function of art. More specifically, I will suggest that we have started to think of artworks as parts arranged in a certain way, because we have started to think of artworks as having, primarily, an aesthetic function.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | pqz046 |
Pages (from-to) | 268-281 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | The Philosophical Quarterly |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 279 |
Early online date | 8 Aug 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2020 |
Keywords
- ontology of art
- art restoration
- function of art
- parthood