A Realist Theory of Art History

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-0-415-53151-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 172 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 420 g

Reihe: Ontological Explorations

As the theoretical alignments within academia shift, this book introduces a surprising variety of realism to abolish the old positivist-theory dichotomy that has haunted Art History.

Demanding frankly the referential detachment of the objects under study, the book proposes a stratified, multi-causal account of art history that addresses postmodern concerns while saving it from ist errors of self-refutation. Building from the very basic distinction between intransitive being and transitive knowing, objects can be affirmed as real while our knowledge of them is held to be fallible.

Several focused chapters address basic problems while introducing philosophical reflection into art history. These include basic ontological distinctions between society and culture, general and “special” history, the discontinuity of cultural objects, the importance of definition for special history, scales, facets and fiat objects as forms of historical structure, the nature of evidence and proof, historical truth and controversies.

Stressing Critical Realism as the stratified, multi-causal approach needed for productive research today in the academy, this book creates the subject of the ontology of art history and sets aside a theoretical space for metaphysical reflection, thus clarifying the usually muddy distinction between theory, methodology, and historiography in art history.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Verstegen, Ian

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Kultur- und Ideengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Kunst Kunst, allgemein Kunsttheorie, Kunstphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Kunst Kunstgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Kunst Kunst, allgemein Geschichte der Kunstwissenschaft und Kunstkritik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 What is Realism?, 2 Structure and Knowledge, 3 The Varieties of History, I, 4 The Varieties of History, II, 5 A Relational Approach to History, 6 Historical Evidence, 7 Resolving Historical Controversies, 8 Conclusion: Progress in Art History.

Über Autor(innen)

Ian Verstegen is an independent scholar living in Philadelphia. Trained in art history, he is an authority on early modern Italian art, especially the painter Federico Barocci, and his interests and publications extend to psychology, aesthetics, and philosophy. He is the editor of Maurice Mandelbaum and American Critical Realism (2010).