Rebecca Wallbank: "Aesthetic Skepticism and Epistemic Permissivism"

Rebecca Wallbank, Uppsala University and University of Geneva: "Aesthetic Skepticism and Epistemic Permissivism"

Abstract
Verdictive aesthetic competence is assessed upon the basis of standards that have either been societally imposed or which reflect our own aesthetic sensibilities. We cannot independently verify either of these standards and they often come apart. In fact, we cannot even ascertain that the aesthetic domain is a domain with sharable standards. If we were to find ourselves in a comparably poor epistemic position in many other contexts, we might be tempted to suspend judgement. But, to the contrary, in aesthetics many of us form verdictive aesthetic beliefs with such strength and commitment that our identities are forged around them; we often even try to convince others of their accuracy. Is this irresponsible? Is it unjustified? I will defend a form of epistemic permissivism.