On Friday 17 September, Alex King (Simon Fraser University) will be joining us for a talk and Q&A session in our first colloquia event for the term.
Universalism and the Problem of Aesthetic Diversity
An influential line of thought holds that the prevalence of diversity and disagreement about some set of values undermines universalism or realism about those values. WE can apply this thought to morality or to aesthetics, and make trouble (it seems) for universalists of those stripes. Some diversity-and disagreement-based worries in aesthetics, however, spin this common line of thought a bit differently. The aesthetic universalist is tasked not only (or even primarily) to explain the mere existence or even the prevalence of aesthetic diversity and disagreement, but to explain why it seems to us that aesthetic diversity and disagreement are good. Another worry for universalism, often taken to be related to the value of diversity and disagreement, is the deeply personal and even identify-constituting nature of aesthetic judgements, responses, and attachments. My task will be to clarify these worries and provide a universalist and realist-friendly solution to all three.
Attendance Details: This event will take place at BUCH A103. All are welcome to attend and masks are required.
