How to Be a Pessimist about Aesthetic Testimony

How to be a Pessimist about Aesthetic Testimony1. Testimony is an important source of knowledge.In many areas, a good deal of what an individual knows, she knows on the word of others.This holds even if we concentrate (as we will) on pure cases of testimony -those in which the audience H learns that p on the basis that her informant T claims that p, and independently of any evidence that T offers for that claim.Indeed, in general, where there is something to know, testimony provides a legitimate way to acquire that knowledge.Of course, one cannot believe just anybody.Gullibility is to be avoided, and informants who themselves lack knowledge cannot, perhaps, instil knowledge in their audience -even if what they say is true.But, provided one is suitably careful, on most issues taking the word of others is a legitimate way to come by belief.There are, however, putative exceptions.Aesthetic matters provide a prominent example.If you tell me that some film you have seen is excellent, it is far from clear that I can legitimately adopt your view.Your testimony might motivate me to watch the film, but it does not give me the right to the belief that the film is excellent.I won't have that right until I've seen the film myself.Or so, at least, some think.i Others disagree.ii They suggest that there need be nothing wrong with taking testimony on aesthetic matters.As before, one must act responsibly in choosing whom to believe.Perhaps aesthetic matters require greater caution than some others.But there is nothing wrong in principle with acquiring aesthetic knowledge in this way.