more on this theme | more from this text
Full Idea
'Autonomism' is the theory that the intrinsic moral merits and defects of an artwork are irrelevant to its aesthetic value.
Gist of Idea
'Autonomism' says the morality is irrelevant to the aesthetics
Source
Daniel Jacobson (Ethical Criticism and the Vice of Moderation [2006], Intro)
Book Ref
'Aesthetics and the Phil of Art (debates)', ed/tr. Kieran,Matthew [Blackwell 2004], p.342
A Reaction
This contrasts with 'moralism', which says the ethics is part of the aesthetics. Autonomism seems to be the modern academic label for art for art's sake. In nineteenth century novels the ethics are central; in modernist novels they seem to be irrelevant.
| 22696 | 'Autonomism' says the morality is irrelevant to the aesthetics [Jacobson,D] |
| 22697 | Moral defects of art can be among its aesthetic virtues [Jacobson,D] |
| 22700 | Immoral art encourages immoral emotions [Jacobson,D] |
| 22701 | Jokes can sometimes be funny because they are offensive [Jacobson,D] |
| 22702 | Audiences can be too moral [Jacobson,D] |
| 22699 | Moderate moralism says moral qualities can sometimes also be aesthetic qualities [Jacobson,D] |
| 22703 | We don't often respond to events in art as if they were real events [Jacobson,D] |
| 22698 | We can judge art ethically, or rate its ethical influence, or assess its quality via its ethics [Jacobson,D] |