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Art, definition of

DOI
10.4324/9780415249126-M006-1
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DOI: 10.4324/9780415249126-M006-1
Version: v1,  Published online: 1998
Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/art-definition-of/v-1

1. Definitions

If the purpose of a definition of art is to facilitate the unequivocal identification of items as art works, then it should characterize a property, or some combination of properties, displayed by each and every art work and belonging exclusively to art works, that is, a feature or set of features marking all art works and only them. Such a definition is called ‘real’ or ‘essential’ (see Definition); it specifies one or more necessary conditions which in the combination indicated are together sufficient for anything to be of the kind in question.

Definitions can serve goals other than that of unequivocal identification and they need be no more rigorous than is required by the chosen purpose. We might look to a definition simply for the sake of knowledge; for instance, in seeking a precise and systematic catalogue of things. We might aim, alternatively, to teach the meaning of a term and will use such definitional methods as are adequate to achieving that end – ostension, enumeration, dictionary meanings, reference to paradigms. We could wish to prescribe a new meaning or use for a term by an act of stipulation, either for a special purpose (in which case the definition is sometimes called ‘operational’) or in order to change its meaning altogether (as in revisionist definitions). We might be concerned, instead, to characterize a thing’s typical features, or the properties that are significant in our use of that thing; these emphases might result in partial definitions drawing attention to non-essential features. As is apparent from this list, sometimes the task of definition is purely descriptive and at others it is regulative; sometimes it is concerned with the way the world is and at others with linguistic practices; sometimes it is controlled by our interests and at others is largely independent of them.

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Citing this article:
Davies, Stephen. Definitions. Art, definition of, 1998, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-M006-1. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis, https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/art-definition-of/v-1/sections/definitions.
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