What, After All, Is Margolis’ Problem With Weitz’ Definition of Art?

Aili Whalen

Bellarmine University

pp. 57-69

in: Andrea Baldini, Feng Peng, Hae-Wan Lee & Peter Cheyne (eds), The Definition of Art and the Legacy of Joseph Margolis, East Asian Journal of Philosophy 2 (2), 2023.

Abstract

This article analyzes Joseph Margolis’ criticism of Morris Weitz’ definition of art with an eye to sorting out where, precisely, their differences lie. In particular, it focuses on their differing ideas of what an “open” and “closed” definition of art amounts to and what sort of entity art is. It concludes with the suggestion that differences in metaphysical worldview, rather than differences in how they view what kinds of entities should count as art, account for the discrepancy in their views.