Re: 'Whatever one wants to "say" about plans can be conveyed using other less ambiguous and fruitlessly disputable words.'
Problem is there are lots of key arguments in aesthetics that cannot easily - and in fact rarely manage to - avoid using the word 'reality' or equivalents like the 'real world.' For example a major topic of debate in contemporary aesthetics is the relationship between fiction and reality in novels etc. Does the novel tell us anything of value about reality? (Some say yes, some say no.) Similarly in visual art, if one is going to argue that art is essentially representation, for example, (as many do) then it is reality (the world etc) that is said to be represented. And so on. The notion of reality (or equivalents) occurs again and again in debates in aesthetics - and as a key element in the debate, not as something merely peripheral. The problem - the weakness - is, as I say, that so few writers attempt to stipulate what they mean by it. In fact one usually gets the impression that they don't see any need to stipulate. The meaning of this hugely ambiguous word is taken to be clear and self-evident... -- Derek Allan http://www.home.netspeed.com.au/derek.allan/default.htm On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 12:18 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Boris writes: > > > And I think we should not avoid any words in a > > serious discussion. > > Including 'art', 'aesthetic', 'Beauty' etc. > > > But Boris, I haven't advocated avoiding THOSE words. I said I suspect > disputants will never agree on the notions to be entertained with the > words > 'real' > and 'reality'. I offer the following evidence: Immediately after I posted > my > argument that those two words are prompted by -- and will stir -- too > many > different and incompatible notions, Williams writes this line: > > " I think a plan is a make believe script. It is not > real until it's acted." > > Notice: Someone could respond that a plan is a notion. Notions exist. They > are already "real". So a plan is "real". William will respond that he > doesn't > mean "real" in that sense, and he will maintain his sense of "real" is the > better one --- I say just avoid the word. Whatever one wants to "say" > about > plans > can be conveyed using other less ambiguous and fruitlessly disputable > words. > > > > > ************** > Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family > favorites at AOL Food. > > (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
