Languages ​​of art

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Languages ​​of Art is the central work of the North American philosopher Nelson Goodman . In this book, Goodman presents a comprehensive theory of symbols that can explain pictorial symbol systems such as painting or photography, as well as notational systems such as alphabet writing or music.

structure

The languages ​​of art are divided into six parts. In Goodman's own words, the six parts come from six lectures he gave in Oxford in 1962. Furthermore, two paths of investigation are followed and combined in the last part. One path comprises chapters I. and II., The other III. to V. and Chapter VI. finally forms the conclusion.

I. Recreated reality begins with a criticism of the similarity theory of the image and contains the central thesis that denotation is the core of representation and description. (Goodman takes the description so broadly that it also includes predication and naming).

II. The sound of the images introduces the second central mode of reference , exemplification , distinguishes between literal and metaphorical exemplification and presents a theory of metaphor.

III. Art and authenticity explores the question of why one can forge works of art such as paintings, but this is impossible with such as compositions.

IV. The theory of notation forms the central chapter of the languages ​​of art . In this part Goodman describes his symbol theory, presents syntactic and semantic requirements of a notation and finally differentiates between (logical) analog and (logical) digital arts.

V. Score, Sketch and Script measures the theory of notation in terms of its application to various systems of symbols such as score, sketch, script, dance, and others.

VI. Finally, Art and Understanding describes the epistemological consequences of Goodman's symbol theory and deals for the first time with classical questions of aesthetics. Here, Goodman ultimately outlines a cognitivistic aesthetic, according to which the value of a work of art is measured according to its contribution to epistemology.

expenditure

  • Nelson Goodman: Languages ​​of Art. An Approach to a Theory of Symbols .
    • 1st edition. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company 1968, 13 + 277 pp.
    • 2nd Edition. Indianapolis: Hackett 1976, 13 + 277 pp. (Minor changes compared to the 1st edition)
  • German edition: Languages ​​of Art. Draft of a symbol theory .
    • 1st edition, translated by Jürgen Schlaeger. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1973, 301 S. Contains problematic translation errors.
    • 2nd edition, translated by Bernd Philippi (after the 2nd English edition). Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1995 (stw 1304: 1997), 254 pp. ISBN 3-518-28904-7 .

literature