[MD] Percepts and Concepts.

[Kat P]

Hey John and Ham, 

There appears to be some debate as to the definition of art. This is the section of the conversation I am refering to.

 

Ham:
> > Art is an expression of emotion in a form other than words. Usually it is
> > created to please the senses by appealing to the esthetic values of the
> > observer. Art is an entertainment, not a form of communication. The aim of
> > art, whether in painting, music, or sculpture, is to arouse emotional
> > feelings. The aim of philosophy is to convey ideas about the meaning of
> > life and the origin of existence.
> 


John:
> The aim of metaphysics is origins and meanings. Philosophy comprehends much
> more with its "love of wisdom". And you don't think poetry is art? You
> don't think theater is art? You don't think drama is art? You don't think
> art is a form of communication? I don't even know where to begin to open up
> the can of worms you present here. It makes me very suspicious of you in
> general.
> 
> 
Ham:
> Also, I think the notion that Pirsig's message is that art has been divorced
> from philosophy is simplistic. Quality (Value) is to be found in much that
> is not art -- the order of the cosmos, people, romance, morality,
> engineering, gustatory delights, poetry, intellectual ideas, etc..
> 
> John:
> So you also think cookery is not an art... a form of pandering perhaps? I'm
> speechless as well.

 

Arlo previously said in a different thread of conversation.

>On a side note, I continue to think that it remains our 
> biggest challenge to do away with words like "artist" as applied to 
> certain domains (painting, sculpting, dance, music, etc.) and see the 
> "artist" from a Pirsigian (and Hippie) view that the label "artist" 
> should apply to anyone doing high-quality activity (from building 
> rotisseries, to gardening, to fixing motorcycles, to whatever).

 

I think that this (Arlo's point) is a very good point. I don't think that you can define art as an expression of emotion in a form other than words. I think that art is anything that is high-Quality. This would then include, as Arlo says, gardening, fixing motorcycles, engineering etc, and would mean that philosophy wasn't excluded as a form of art either.

 

I hope that seeing the arguments from both sides of this dicussion all together will allow people to come to their own decision about what art is.

 

Kat.

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