Strength and Warranties of Skill

Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than does its rival, aesthetic hedonism. The network theory states what makes it the case that an aesthetic value is reason-giving: it figures in a fact that lends weight to the proposition that it would be an aesthetic achievement for an agent to act. An aesthetic achievement is an act that succeeds as a result of the exercise of an aesthetic competence seated in the agent. Core aesthetic competence is competence in aesthetic evaluation. Aesthetic meta-competence is competence in selecting opportunities for acting aesthetically. An aesthetic expert is an agent who has competence for aesthetic achievement.

Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than aesthetic hedonism. According to the network theory, an aesthetic value figures in a fact that lends weight to the proposition that it would be an aesthetic achievement for an agent to act in the context of an aesthetic practice. Each aesthetic practice has its own aesthetic profile, in which determinate aesthetic values are distinctively realized, and each has core aesthetic norms centred on its distinctive aesthetic profile. An account is given of the valence of aesthetic values. The theory explains why aesthetic experts disperse into almost all demographic niches, why they jointly inhabit the whole aesthetic universe, why they specialize by aesthetic domain, why they specialize by type of activity, why they specialize by activity and domain interacts, and why their expertise is rooted in relatively stable psychological traits.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

While the main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than does aesthetic hedonism, the two theories share some common assumptions. Aesthetic evaluations are mental representations that attribute aesthetic values to items. Aesthetic acts are acts based on aesthetic evaluations. Aesthetic values figure in aesthetic reasons, which are practical reasons. That is, an aesthetic reason lends weight to the proposition that an agent should perform some act—an act of aesthetic appreciation, for example. Hence, one task for a theory of aesthetic value is to state what makes some values aesthetic. A second is to state what makes it the case that an aesthetic property figures in a reason that lends weight to what an agent should do. Aesthetic hedonism and the network theory offer only to explain the practical normativity of aesthetic value.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than does its rival, aesthetic hedonism. Aesthetic activity is not limited to appreciation, and six case studies are presented of aesthetic agents whose expertise covers a range of aesthetic activities. From a survey of the case studies, we see that six facts need explaining. Aesthetic experts disperse into almost all demographic niches, they jointly inhabit the whole aesthetic universe, they specialize by aesthetic domain, they specialize by type of activity, they specialize by activity and domain interact, and their expertise is rooted in relatively stable psychological traits.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than does its rival, aesthetic hedonism. According to the network theory, an aesthetic value figures in a fact that lends weight to the proposition that it would be an aesthetic achievement for an agent to act. An aesthetic achievement is an act that succeeds out of aesthetic competence, so an agent has aesthetic reason to act just when they have reason to achieve by so acting. Agents with aesthetic reasons to act have reasons to act in coordination with one another when their coordination raises their chances of achieving. In acting, they rely upon and give rise to social formations. Aesthetic agency is scaffolded by aesthetic practices, which are social practices. A contrast is drawn with structuralist social theory.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains the facts about aesthetic activity than does its rival, aesthetic hedonism. Aesthetic hedonism reduces aesthetic values to hedonic values, which naturally figure in practical reasons. That an item offers an agent pleasure is always reason for them to access the pleasure. Most philosophers add that aesthetic values are subject to a standard. On the best contemporary account, the standard is represented by an ideal aesthetic appreciator. An argument is given to explain why the standard represented by an ideal aesthetic appreciator is normative for all aesthetic agents. Finally, aesthetic hedonism befits a desire-based theory of value.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

The main argument for the network theory of aesthetic value is that it better explains six facts about aesthetic activity than does its rival, aesthetic hedonism. The chapter indicates why aesthetic hedonism does not predict how aesthetic experts disperse into almost all demographic niches, how they jointly inhabit the whole aesthetic universe, how they specialize by aesthetic domain, how they specialize by type of activity, how they specialize by activity and domain interact, or how their expertise comes to be relatively stable. In addition, the account of the normativity of aesthetic reasons has some revealing flaws. The account has trouble with the plasticity of pleasure, the bounded rationality of aesthetic agents, the importance of aesthetic personality, and the possibility of the alienation of aesthetic reasons from desires.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

One question that leads us into aesthetics is: why does beauty matter? Or, what do aesthetic goods bring to my life, to make it a life that goes well? Or, how does beauty deserve the place we have evidently made for it in our lives? A theory of aesthetic value states what beauty is so as to equip us to answer this question. According to aesthetic hedonism, aesthetic values are properties of items that stand in constitutive relation to pleasure. Contemporary versions of aesthetic hedonism don’t explain what makes aesthetic values aesthetic, but they do explain what makes them normative, stating what makes it the case that aesthetic value facts lend weight to what an agent should do, for the fact that acting yields pleasure is always a reason to act. This book introduces and defends an alternative to aesthetic hedonism. According to the network theory, aesthetic value facts lend weight to its being an achievement for an agent to act. Since agents achieve by acting in coordination with one another, the theory takes seriously the sociality of aesthetic activity. The main argument for the network theory is that it better explains six facts about aesthetic activity than does aesthetic hedonism. The book also discusses the relationship between aesthetic value and pleasure, the point and distinctive character of aesthetic discourse, and the metaphysics of aesthetic value. Two final chapters use the network theory to shed light on how aesthetic value matters to us as individuals and as members of collectives.


Author(s):  
Dominic McIver Lopes

A theory of aesthetic value should help us to make sense of how our aesthetic commitments matter to us as members of collectives. Aesthetic policies endogenous to aesthetic practices are directly justified by the network theory. The chapter looks at what aesthetic reasons we have to adopt exogenous aesthetic policies. Many argue that aesthetic practices deserve public support because aesthetic goods are public goods. A case is made for an aesthetic opportunity principle: larger social groups have reason to foster the aesthetic opportunities available to their members. The principle is applied to arts education and to communication technologies subserving aesthetic exchanges. The chapter ends with a discussion of how aesthetic opportunity interacts with—and can potentially counteract—oppressive social structures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Irina Tyrchenkova

Recreational use of forest resources is the most important for urban green forests. Every year the problem of satisfying the population growing needs for recreation in the forest, while ensuring its preservation, acquires special relevance. The main function of Somovskoe Forestry (Voronezh region) is environmental protection, which includes the implementation of protective, water conservation, and recreational functions. Grass pine forests are the most comfortable for vacationers in Somovskoe forestry. In the study, the recreational potential of the Somovskoe Forestry (Voronezh region) has been estimated based on the methods of various authors, types of landscapes, types and forms of recreation, stages of digression, planning and aesthetic value. It has been revealed that most of the plantations are occupied with a closed type of l of horizontal closeness. The predominant class of aesthetic evaluation of the examined stands is II. The largest area is occupied by the strata with III and IV stage of digression. The main types of recreation in the stands of Somovskoe forestry are everyday and camping ones. The main forms are off-road and road ones. The predominant class of aesthetic assessment is II (65% ± 3.2). It is a plantation with reduced visibility and patency. The recreational potential of the studied artificial pine plantations is not higher than class II. Recommendations on regulating the movement of vacationers with the goal of hindering the "development" of the entire forest area, the development of measures to improve the culture and discipline of recreants, to increase the sustainability and productivity of plantations have been given on the basis of research results.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 60-69
Author(s):  
Salar Salah Muhy Al-Dın ◽  
Hourakhsh Ahmad Nia

The aim of this study is to extend the rationale and comprehensive understanding in respect of the notion of functionality and beauty in the smart skin buildings. Smart skin in buildings plays a key role in improving building functionality, and the future lies in the use of innovative smart skin strategies. The methodology focused on the objectivity and subjectivity of human perception to assess the aesthetic value of a building's smart skin. A theoretical analysis has been conducted based on the results of the investigation model and fortified by comparing the results with the findings obtained through the opinions of experts based in AHP methodology. The study demonstrates that there is a relation between both the aesthetic value and the functionality of the smart skin of a building. The findings revealed the difference in the aesthetic evaluation between the subjective functionality and the objective functionality of the building skin. The findings contribute useful evidence for the promotion of our understanding regarding the aesthetic value of the smart skin of a building, based on its functionality.


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