The other thread about ethical relativism made me wonder about aesthetic relativism as well.
As far as moral values are concerned, I think it's easier to argue that our moral intuitions are objective. However, can the same be said about aesthetic perceptions? Consider these two questions:
- Is the star-decked night sky objectively beautiful?
- Is Shakespeare objectively better than Justin Bieber as an artist?
Let me briefly state what I mean here by objectivity. A belief is said to be objective not simply because everyone believes it, but because even if someone did disbelieve it- it would still be true. Objectivity is a synonym for human mind-independence. So "2+2=4" or "for any proposition p, either p or not p" are objective facts because in every possible world, they would be true. Same goes with ethical maxims like "raping babies for pleasure is wrong", although this is more controversial. If evolution occurred in a different way and produced other rational beings, even they would come to believe in these facts (because they are mind-independent).
So my question is: are aesthetic truths- judgments about beauty- objective in the sense outlined above?
Sure, one could say that these are universal, in that all sane human persons believe it. But my question is a bit more controversial: are they objective, in the sense would hypothetical aliens also find these facts to be true?
I've never seen a discussion on this topic, it would be interesting to see your feedback.
As far as moral values are concerned, I think it's easier to argue that our moral intuitions are objective. However, can the same be said about aesthetic perceptions? Consider these two questions:
- Is the star-decked night sky objectively beautiful?
- Is Shakespeare objectively better than Justin Bieber as an artist?
Let me briefly state what I mean here by objectivity. A belief is said to be objective not simply because everyone believes it, but because even if someone did disbelieve it- it would still be true. Objectivity is a synonym for human mind-independence. So "2+2=4" or "for any proposition p, either p or not p" are objective facts because in every possible world, they would be true. Same goes with ethical maxims like "raping babies for pleasure is wrong", although this is more controversial. If evolution occurred in a different way and produced other rational beings, even they would come to believe in these facts (because they are mind-independent).
So my question is: are aesthetic truths- judgments about beauty- objective in the sense outlined above?
Sure, one could say that these are universal, in that all sane human persons believe it. But my question is a bit more controversial: are they objective, in the sense would hypothetical aliens also find these facts to be true?
I've never seen a discussion on this topic, it would be interesting to see your feedback.