An objective definition of "art" that encompasses human art, animal art, and art produced by robots, 3D printers, and other machines,
(1) Reduce the concept to its perceptual level roots and basic fundamental axioms, lemmas, and general principles.
Perceptual Level Roots:
- Art is rooted in the observable phenomenon of entities creating objects, patterns, or expressions that convey meaning, evoke emotion, or demonstrate skill and creativity.
- Entities involved in the creation of art include humans, animals, and machines.
- Art exists as a perceptual product, either as a physical object or an observable act (e.g., dance, sound arrangements).
Basic Fundamental Axioms, Lemmas, and General Principles:
- Existence: Art must exist as a tangible or perceptually identifiable phenomenon.
- Creation: Art must involve a process of creation, where materials or mediums are manipulated, modified, or arranged.
- Intent or Effect: The process or result of art typically carries an intent (in the case of humans and certain animals) or an effect (e.g., aesthetic or functional appeal) that can be perceived by an observer.
- Universality of Creation: The act of creation is not limited to humans; animals and machines can also create art if the result aligns with the essential characteristics of art.
(2) Identify additional intermediate steps and principles.
Intermediate Steps:
- Recognize that art encompasses a wide range of mediums and methods, such as physical objects (e.g., paintings, sculptures), auditory expressions (e.g., music, sounds), and performances (e.g., dance, movement).
- Art can be purposefully created (e.g., by humans and intentional animal behaviors like bowerbirds building decorative structures) or emergent from programmed processes (e.g., robots, AI, or machines like 3D printers).
- Different entities (humans, animals, machines) may have different motivations, but the result is unified by the impact, meaning, or sensory experience it produces.
Intermediate Principles:
- Art is not limited by the origin of the creator but by the characteristics of the result: form, meaning, and the ability to engage perception, emotion, or thought.
- Art may serve practical, aesthetic, communicative, or symbolic purposes.
(3) Identify measurable essential and distinguishing characteristics.
Conceptual Common Denominators (Measurable Characteristics):
- Creativity or Novelty: Art involves the production of something new, original, or distinct from its raw materials or medium.
- Expression or Impact: Art communicates, represents, or evokes ideas, emotions, or sensory responses.
- Form and Perceptibility: Art must have a form that can be perceived through senses (e.g., sight, hearing, touch).
- Intent or Emergent Effect: Art can arise from intentionality (e.g., human or animal intent) or emergent processes (e.g., machine algorithms producing aesthetic results).
Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Art distinguishes itself from mere functional or utilitarian objects by its focus on aesthetics, meaning, or emotional resonance.
- Art is not defined by its creator's nature (human, animal, machine) but by its capacity to evoke perception and response.
(4) Define the concept using genus and differentia.
Genus:
Art is a created phenomenon that involves the manipulation or arrangement of materials, mediums, or actions.
Differentia:
Art is distinguished by its capacity to evoke perception, emotion, or thought, either through intentional expression or emergent aesthetic qualities, irrespective of the entity that creates it.
Definition of Art:
Art is the intentional or emergent creation of perceptible forms, patterns, or expressions, crafted by humans, animals, or machines, that evoke sensory, emotional, or intellectual responses through novelty, meaning, or aesthetics.
Criteria for an Objective Definition:
- Rooted in Reality: The definition aligns with observable phenomena, such as paintings, music, animal behavior, and machine-generated works.
- Non-Contradictory: The definition does not exclude art based on the creator's identity, ensuring inclusivity of human, animal, and machine art.
- General and Universal: The definition applies universally to all forms of art, regardless of the medium or creator.
- Distinguishing Characteristics: The definition identifies essential features that separate art from non-art (e.g., perceptibility, emotional impact).
- Elimination of Invalid Concepts: The definition avoids mysticism or arbitrary limitations on the concept of art.
Does the definition meet these criteria?
Yes, the definition meets the criteria for an objective definition. It is valid, rooted in reality, and general enough to encompass human, animal, and machine-generated art.
Is the definition general and universal?
Yes, based on current knowledge, the definition is broad and universal, covering all entities capable of creating art.
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