To provide an objective definition of "art" that encompasses not only human art but also the art created by non-human animals such as elephants or gorillas, we will follow the same rigorous process you outlined earlier. This involves identifying the perceptual level roots, axioms, general principles, intermediate steps, and essential characteristics that define the broader concept of "art."
1. Reduce the Concept to Perceptual Level Roots, Basic Fundamental Axioms, and Principles
Perceptual Level Roots:
- Qualities: Art, in its broader sense, includes marks, shapes, or forms that are intentionally created by an entity (human or non-human) and result in patterns or designs.
- Objects: Art manifests as physical creations, such as marks on paper, carvings, or arrangements of materials.
- Actions: The act of creating art involves deliberate motion or manipulation of a medium (e.g., holding a crayon, using a brush, or shaping clay).
- Relationships: Art reflects a relationship between the creator (human or non-human) and the medium or environment, resulting in a perceptible outcome that is distinct from random occurrences.
Basic Fundamental Axioms and Principles:
- Existence Exists: Art, as a physical result of deliberate actions, exists in reality and can be observed.
- Identity: Art has an identity as a deliberate creation that is distinguishable from random or accidental marks.
- Causality: Art is caused by an entity’s purposeful or exploratory engagement with a medium, motivated by curiosity, instinct, or intention.
- Intention or Deliberation: Art requires some form of purposeful or exploratory behavior, even if it is instinctual or playful in the case of non-human animals.
- Sensory Impact: Art is a perceptible phenomenon that stimulates sensory observation (e.g., visual, tactile).
2. Intermediate Steps and Principles for Broader Definition
Intermediate Principles:
- Deliberate Action: Both humans and non-human animals create art through deliberate actions, such as moving a tool (e.g., a crayon or brush) or shaping material, even if the purpose is not fully conceptualized.
- Exploration: Non-human animals, like elephants and gorillas, often engage in behaviors that appear exploratory or playful. The resulting marks or patterns are evidence of interaction with their environment and tools.
- Focus on Process, Not Just Intent: While human art is often guided by conscious intent to express or communicate, non-human art may arise from instinct, play, or curiosity. The process of creation, rather than the intellectual intent, becomes central to defining art in non-human cases.
- Expression of Agency: Both humans and non-human animals demonstrate agency in the creation of art. For example, an elephant holding a brush or a gorilla using crayons is exercising control over its actions to produce a visible outcome.
3. Measurable Essential and Distinguishing Characteristics
To broaden the definition of art, we must identify characteristics that encompass both human and non-human creations while remaining rooted in reality.
Essential Characteristics:
- Deliberate Creation: Art results from deliberate actions by an entity capable of interacting with its environment.
- Material Manipulation: Art involves the manipulation of physical materials or mediums (e.g., paper, paint, clay) to produce patterns, shapes, or designs.
- Sensory Impact: Art produces a result that can be perceived visually, tactilely, or otherwise by an observer.
- Exploratory or Intentional Behavior: Art arises from purposeful or exploratory behavior, even if the motivation differs between humans and non-human animals.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Human Art: Typically involves conscious intent, symbolic meaning, or aesthetic goals.
- Non-Human Art: Often arises from instinct, curiosity, or play without symbolic or conceptual intent.
Conceptual Common Denominators:
- The common denominator of all art forms (human and non-human) is that they are deliberate, perceptible creations arising from the actions of a sentient entity capable of manipulating a medium.
4. Objective Definition of Art (Including Human and Non-Human Art)
Genus (Broad Category):
- Art is a deliberate creation or activity.
Differentia (Distinguishing Features):
- Art is characterized by its use of a medium to produce perceptible patterns, shapes, or designs through purposeful or exploratory actions.
Objective Definition:
- Art: A deliberate creation or activity, performed by a sentient entity (human or non-human), involving the manipulation of a medium to produce perceptible patterns, shapes, or designs, arising from exploratory or intentional behavior.
5. Does the Definition Meet the Criteria for Objectivity?
Criteria for Objectivity:
- Rooted in Perceptual Reality: The definition is grounded in observable actions and outcomes, whether human or non-human.
- Non-Contradictory: The definition integrates the essential characteristics of art without contradiction and applies equally to human and non-human creators.
- Clear Genus and Differentia: The definition classifies art as a deliberate creation and distinguishes it by its reliance on medium manipulation and perceptible outcomes.
- Universal Applicability: The definition is broad enough to encompass all instances of art, from human masterpieces to the marks made by elephants or gorillas.
Validity:
Yes, the definition meets the criteria for objectivity and is valid. It is inclusive of both human and non-human art while maintaining the essential characteristics that distinguish art from random or accidental phenomena.
Universality:
Yes, the definition is general and universal. It applies to all forms of art, regardless of the creator's species, and recognizes the shared ability of humans and non-human animals to engage with their environment in creative or exploratory ways.
6. Examples of Non-Human Art
(a) Elephant Art:
- Elephants in captivity have been observed holding brushes with their trunks and creating abstract designs on canvases. While the motivation may be influenced by training, the marks they make are deliberate and result from their interaction with the medium.
(b) Gorilla Art:
- Gorillas, such as the famous gorilla Koko, have used crayons and paint to create abstract patterns. While Koko’s creations were guided by curiosity and play, they demonstrate agency and deliberate manipulation of the material.
(c) Chimpanzee Art:
- Chimpanzees in research settings have been observed creating patterns with paint or other mediums, often as a form of enrichment or exploration. The resulting works are distinct from accidental marks, reflecting the chimpanzee’s deliberate actions.
7. Implications of a Broader Definition of Art
By broadening the definition of art to include non-human creations, we recognize that:
- Art is not exclusively tied to human consciousness or symbolic intent.
- The act of creation and the resulting perceptible outcome are central to defining art.
- The capacity for creativity and exploration exists on a spectrum, with humans demonstrating the highest levels of symbolic intent but non-human animals also exhibiting creative behaviors.
This inclusive definition of art highlights the shared traits of creativity, agency, and interaction with the environment across species, while still distinguishing human art by its often symbolic and conceptual nature.
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