Unlocking the Mystery of Defining Art: A Kantian Approach

Defining art has been a topic of debate for centuries. From Plato's idea of mimesis to Aristotle's concept of catharsis, philosophers and scholars have attempted to define what constitutes art. However, with the emergence of the institutional approach in the 20th century, defining art became even more complex.

The institutional approach defines art based on its context within institutions such as museums and galleries. This approach has been criticized for being too narrow and excluding forms of art that do not fit within these institutions. Ivan Kolev proposes a new perspective on defining art that challenges the institutional approach.

Kolev's article "Defining Art as Phenomenal Being" explores how Kant's category deduction can be used as a productive analogy for defining art. Category deduction is a method used by Kant to determine the necessary conditions for something to be considered a member of a particular category.

Kolev argues that just as Kant used category deduction to determine necessary conditions for categories such as substance and causality, it can also be used to determine necessary conditions for something to be considered art. Kolev proposes that these necessary conditions are phenomenal being.

Phenomenal being refers to an object or experience that is perceived through our senses and has aesthetic qualities. Kolev argues that art is a phenomenal being because it is an object or experience that is 

perceived through our senses and has aesthetic qualities. He also argues that art is free from natural processes and has an aspiration to protect itself from the influence of nature and history.

Kolev's approach challenges the institutional approach by expanding the definition of art beyond its context within institutions. By defining art as a phenomenal being, Kolev includes forms of art that may not fit within traditional institutions but still have aesthetic qualities.

Kolev's proposed response to defining art has potential implications for the field of aesthetics and art theory. It opens up new possibilities for understanding what constitutes art and expands the definition beyond traditional institutions. This new perspective also challenges the idea that art is a commodity that can be bought and sold, as it emphasizes the importance of preserving art as a phenomenal being.

In conclusion, Ivan Kolev's article "Defining Art as Phenomenal Being" published in Arts by MDPI offers a groundbreaking approach to defining art through Kant's category deduction. By expanding the definition of art beyond its context within institutions, Kolev challenges the institutional approach and opens up new possibilities for understanding what constitutes art. This new perspective emphasizes the importance of preserving art as a phenomenal being and has potential implications for the field of aesthetics and art theory.

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