The Appreciation Game: A Monist Ontology of Works of Art
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A pluralist ontology of art states that works of art can belong to distinct ontological categories whereas a monist ontology states that all works of art belong to one ontological category. A monist ontology would be preferable since it is more informative about the nature of art, and may pave the way for a definition of art. Yet, monist conceptions struggle to deal with cultural practices of art appreciation. In the first part of the paper, I will discuss the main monist strategies in the ontology of art, and I will argue that all these strategies find it hard to deal with the relevant cultural practices. Then, I will propose a new monist ontology according to which all works of art are norm‐constituted entities. Finally, I will show that this account deals better than its competitors with the relevant cultural practices.
Source: European Journal of Philosophy
DOI: 10.1111/ejop.70070
Author: Enrico Terrone
Institution: University of Genoa
Language: English
Topic: Ethics, Aesthetics, and Art
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,240
OpenAlex ID: W7128928249