Single Idea 22684

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality]

Full Idea

I defend 'ethicism', which says that ethically admirable attitudes count toward the the aesthetic merit of a work, and ethically reprehensible attitudes count against its aesthetic merit.

Gist of Idea

Good ethics counts towards aesthetic merit, and bad ethics counts against it

Source

Berys Gaut (The Ethical Criticism of Art [1998], 'Ethicism')

Book Reference

'Aesthetics and the Phil of Art (Analytic trad)', ed/tr. Lamarque,P/Olsen,SH [Blackwell 2004], p.283


A Reaction

He recognises that morally admirable works can explore unethical behaviour, and also that identifying the 'attitude' of a work is not simple. The ethics are not necessary. 'Triumph of the Will' is a classic test case. I disagree with Gaut.

Related Ideas

Idea 22685 Good art does not necessarily improve people (any more than good advice does) [Gaut]

Idea 22690 'Moralism' says all aesthetic merits are moral merits [Gaut]