Instrumentalism - A Means to an End
Instrumentalists asks "What is art for?" To be "good" a work of art must convey a message or shape how people see the world or be able to produce an aesthetic experience for the viewer or audience.
Beardsley
- Takes the view that a work of art or an aesthetic experience should be evaluated from a detached perspective and not dependent on a person's individual liking it or not.
Goodman
- Takes the general view that art works serve as symbols and important because they contribute to knowledge and understanding (cognitive, not detached). The value of the art is in how well it serves this purpose.
Dickie
- Takes the view that both Beardsley's detached non-subjective perspective and Goodman's cognitive perspective are both important in evaluating art, but he also thinks their theories are over-simplified. Dickie proposes a system of ranking aesthetic values.
