Some Attempts to Define “Art”

1. Art = The Beautiful

Art iff Beautiful

If Art then Beautiful

If Beautiful then Art

2. Art = The Aesthetic (what prompts aesthetic response)

(Art = “Purposiveness without a purpose”, free play of imagination)

Art iff Aesthetic

If Art then Aesthetic

If Aesthetic then Art

3. What is the aesthetic, anyway?

Stolnitz: Disinterested contemplative pleasure

· Not practical or utilitarian

· Does not have to do with subject matter

Eaton: What is intrinsically interesting in a work

· Can be an aspect of something that is practical

· Can involve subject matter