The Ethics of Aesthetic Discourse

A paradox lies at the intersection of aesthetic discourse and aesthetic value. At least one goal of aesthetic discourse is to increase aesthetic value. When aesthetic value is understood to be located in individual aesthetic experiences, occasionally aesthetic discourse leads to a reduction of that value. When this happens, one might ask whether aesthetic discourse is only morally right when it enhances the value of individual aesthetic experiences—and, so, wrong when it does the opposite, frankly something it does on a regular basis. Yet without critical aesthetic discourse, the enhancement of aesthetic value that relies on the creation and celebration of aesthetically better objects for our appreciation might not manifest. That is, if all aesthetic discourse is positive—with the goal of enhancing the value of individual aesthetic experiences—then we might well end up celebrating the mediocre, something that will dampen ambition for creating objects of greater aesthetic value. This article deals with this problem and considers five different solutions, the most potentially successful of which focuses on aesthetic education.