PREVIEW-Episode 28: Nelson Goodman on Art as Epistemology

Summary: Discussing Goodman's Ways of Worldmaking (1978).<br> This is a 31-minute preview of our vintage 2 hr, 10-minute episode which you can buy at <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/product/ep-28-nelson-goodman/" target="_blank">partiallyexaminedlife.com/store</a> or <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2010/10/31/ep28-nelson-goodman-citizens/" target="_blank">get for free</a> with PEL Citizenship (see <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/membership" target="_blank">partiallyexaminedlife.com/membership</a>). You can also purchase the full episode in the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/episode-28-nelson-goodman/id884283195" target="_blank">iTunes Store</a>: Search for "Partially Goodman" and look under "Albums."<br> What's the relationship between art and science? Does understanding works of art constitute "knowledge," and if so, how does this relate to other kinds of knowledge? Goodman describes art as a symbol system (including art like instrumental music that doesn't seem representative), which can symbolize successfully or not. While there is no one set of concepts by which to judge all art (different types of art and other descriptive endeavors establish incommensurable "worlds"), neither is art an anything goes endeavor where the individual spectator is the only determinant of quality.<br> We're joined by painter <a href="http://jaybailey.com/" target="_blank">Jay Bailey</a> to bring up lots of amusing artwork examples (The Monkees! Thomas Kinkade! Self-mutilation as art!) and tell us how well Goodman's account accords with his understanding of artistic practice (his answer: not so well).<br> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0915144514?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=theparexalif-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0915144514" target="_blank">Buy the text.</a><br> End song: "Staple Gun" by <a href="http://www.marklint.com/" target="_blank">Mark Lint and Stevie P</a> (1999).<br>