Introduction: Symposium on Aesthetic Value

Abstract

There is a resurgence of interest in aesthetic value. The models widely considered standard—sometimes lumped under the title aesthetic hedonism or aesthetic empiricism—are under challenge. A number of new models of this kind of value have been proposed, as well as a number of very distinct alternatives, especially ones that emphasize the inseparability of aesthetic value and social engagement. In light of the above, we have commissioned a symposium of eleven papers, gathering together proponents of these competing views in short presentations of their chief points and virtues. These papers both present several new ways of thinking about aesthetic value as well as demonstrate that aesthetic empiricism comes in different, highly sophisticated versions. The papers are arranged alphabetically based on authors name rather attempting to group them thematically. Regular readers of this Journal will immediately recognize that this symposium is unique in three ways. First, there is the topic itself. For many years, symposia have always been proposed by guest editors and have emphasized new, emerging, or neglected topics. This one was proposed and curated by the current editors and aims to highlight the current status of a perennial topic. Second, accomplishing this task meant inviting far more papers than in any past symposium. Third, the papers are unusually compact. The longest of them runs 1200 words.