Abstract
The paper aims at a reconstruction of the specificity of an aesthetic of design and aims at a new understanding of aesthetics taking into account that there are diverse kinds of aesthetic objects, i. e. art, nature and design. I argue that traditional concepts such as beauty and sensuality are not apt if we want to understand what is specific for an aesthetic of design. Instead of proposing another basic concept such as “function”, in the first part of the paper I present a broader systematical outline to incorporate various kinds of aesthetic objects. I draw on Kant, Hegel and Aristotle to understand different kinds of aesthetic objects as aesthetic in a formally different way: In the aesthetic of art, what it means to be aesthetic is formally different from what it means to be aesthetic in the aesthetic of design – I propose to differentiate varying forms of aesthetic practices. In the second part of the paper I look at this idea with regard to design: Whereas works of art develop self-sufficient forms that allow for a reflective self-understanding of those experiencing them, design is bound up in our practical ends. I propose to understand it as an internally aesthetic endeavour insofar as the ends are renegotiated in the design via the forms they are embodied in. Thus the singular embodiment of the practical ends is a major part of what it means to understand a design object.
Literatur
Adorno, T. W. (2017), Ästhetik [1958/1959], Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Anscombe, G. E. M. (2000), Intention, Cambridge, Mass.Search in Google Scholar
Aristoteles (1995), Über die Seele, Hamburg.Search in Google Scholar
Conant, J. (2017), Die Einheit des Erkenntnisvermögens bei Kant, in: Kern, A., u. Kietzmann, C. (Hg.), Selbstbewusstes Leben. Texte zu einer transformativen Theorie der menschlichen Subjektivität, Berlin, 229–269.Search in Google Scholar
Cook, R. T., u. Meskin, A. (Hg.), The Art of Comics, Malden, Mass.Search in Google Scholar
Bertram, G. W. (2014), Kunst als menschliche Praxis. Eine Ästhetik, Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Boyle, M. (2017), Wesentlich vernünftige Tiere, in: Kern, A., u. Kietzmann, C. (Hg.), Selbstbewusstes Leben. Texte zu einer transformativen Theorie der menschlichen Subjektivität, Berlin, 78–119.Search in Google Scholar
Cummins, R. C. (1975), Functional Analysis, in: Journal of Philosophy 72, 741–765.10.2307/2024640Search in Google Scholar
Danto, A. C. (1991), Die Verklärung des Gewöhnlichen. Eine Philosophie der Kunst, Frankfurt am Main.Search in Google Scholar
Dorschel, A. (2003), Gestaltung. Zur Ästhetik des Brauchbaren, Heidelberg.Search in Google Scholar
Feige, D. M. (2015), Computerspiele. Eine Ästhetik, Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Feige, D. M. (2018), Design. Eine philosophische Analyse, Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Forsey, J. (2013), The Aesthetics of Design, Oxford.10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199964369.001.0001Search in Google Scholar
Hegel, G. W. F. (1986a), Enzyklopädie der philosophischen Wissenschaften 1, Frankfurt am Main.Search in Google Scholar
Hegel, G. W. F. (1986b), Vorlesungen über die Ästhetik 1, Frankfurt am Main.Search in Google Scholar
Hindrichs, G. (2013), Die Autonomie des Klangs. Eine Philosophie der Musik, Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Joost, G., Bredies, K., Christensen, M., Conradi, F., u. Unteidig, A. (Hg.) (2016), Design as Research. Positions, Arguments, Perspective, Basel.10.1515/9783035607383Search in Google Scholar
Kant, I. (1974), Kritik der Urteilskraft, Frankfurt am Main.Search in Google Scholar
Lopes, D. M. (2010), A Philosophy of Computer Art, New York.10.4324/9780203872345Search in Google Scholar
Maes, H., u. Levinson, J. (Hg.) (2012), Art and Pornography, Oxford.10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199609581.001.0001Search in Google Scholar
McDowell, J. (1996), Mind and World, Cambridge, Mass.10.2307/j.ctvjghtzjSearch in Google Scholar
Millikan, R. (1989), In Defense of Proper Function, in: Philosophy of Science 56, 288–302.10.1086/289488Search in Google Scholar
Osborne, P. (2013), Anywhere or not at All. Philosophy of Contemporary Art, London.Search in Google Scholar
Parsons, G. (2016), The Philosophy of Design, Cambridge.Search in Google Scholar
Parsons, G., u. Carlson, A. (2008), Functional Beauty, Oxford.10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199205240.001.0001Search in Google Scholar
Preston, B. (2003), Of Marigold Beer: A Reply to Vermaas und Houkes, in: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 54, 601–612.10.1093/bjps/54.4.601Search in Google Scholar
Saito, Y. (2010), Everyday Aesthetics, Oxford.Search in Google Scholar
Seeger, H. (1999), Funktionalismus im Rückspiegel des Designs, in: Fischer, V., u. Hamilton, A. (Hg.), Theorien der Gestaltung. Grundlagentexte zum Design 1, Frankfurt am Main, 216–218.Search in Google Scholar
Shelley, J. (2014), Das Problem nichtperzeptueller Kunst, in: Deines, S., et al. (Hg.), Kunst und Erfahrung. Beiträge zu einer philosophischen Kontroverse, Berlin, 270–295.Search in Google Scholar
Steadman, P. (2008), The Evolution of Designs. Biological Analogy in Architecture and the Applied Arts, New York.10.4324/9780203934272Search in Google Scholar
Sullivan, L. (1896), The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered, in: Lippincott’s Magazine 57.3 (1896), 403–409.Search in Google Scholar
Tavinor, G. (2009), The Art of Videogames, Malden, Mass.10.1002/9781444310177Search in Google Scholar
Thompson, M. (2011), Leben und Handeln, Berlin.Search in Google Scholar
Wittgenstein, L. (2005), Vorlesungen und Gespräche über Ästhetik, Psychoanalyse und religiösen Glauben, Frankfurt am Main.Search in Google Scholar
© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston