"True art can only survive if we destroy relativism. Because of it’s nihilistic, solipsist nature, relativism can never be refuted, since it would require the relativist to admit the value of what lies beyond his Ego. The tired counter that “relativism is relative” and refutes itself is ridiculous and unconvincing. The only cure is to show that relativists adopt that particular point of view simply because they are the product of an individualistic society (which is an objective entity) that promotes such views. Relativists think they are unique and clever, but are just puppets of a capitalist world that wants them to think so. Relativism is not a true philosophical point of view, but a mere social stereotype. ” (Theodor Adorno, Negative Dialectics)
For many of you, the very notion of an objective aesthetic judgment is hard to conceive.
There are no such things as objective truths about the arts, for aesthetic judgments are rooted in subjectivity. Relativism and methodological solipsism seems to be the only possible methods here. If everything is relative (to me), then my appreciation of this specific piece of music, for example, will be as good as yours or his.
This view makes aesthetic discussion extremely difficult ( and to tell the truth, why bother ? ). Whenever an artist or artefact is criticized, the consensus seems to be that "de gustibus non est disputandum" : you have the right to express your opinion, but this opinion of yours has no universal validity whatsoever.
I would like to challenge this view.
My question for you today is: do you believe that a thing such as an objective aesthetic judgment is possible ? And why ? Do you believe that it is possible to state essential truths about the arts in general, truths which possess universal validity ?
My work on Aesthetics and on Critical Phenomenology leads me to believe that yes, indeed, objective truths about the arts do exist, and that Aesthetics is not a field which should be left in its entirety to the disorder of opinionated dogmatism.
I have been thinking long and hard about this and I would like to hear your thoughts.
Post your comments !
