What is art?

Philosophy consists of four main branches: 

Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics and Esthetics

Metaphysics is the most basic and fundamental branch of philosophy. its subject is studying the fundamental nature of the universe: “Are you in a universe which is ruled by natural laws and, therefore, is stable, firm, absolute—and knowable? Or are you in an incomprehensible chaos, a realm of inexplicable miracles, an unpredictable, unknowable flux, which your mind is impotent to grasp? Are the things you see around you real—or are they only an illusion? Do they exist independent of any observer—or are they created by the observer? Are they the object or the subject of man’s consciousness? Are they what they are—or can they be changed by a mere act of your consciousness, such as a wish?” [1] 

Epistemology deals with the discovery of the proper methods of acquiring and validating knowledge: “It is the task of epistemology to provide the answer to the “How?”—which then enables the special sciences to provide the answers to the “What?” [2] Epistemology is crucial to man’s survival because reason is man’s basic means of survival. Man has to think, in order to create his food, clothes, shelter ext. 

The science of ethics integrates metaphysics and epistemology and applies them to man’s life. A code of ethics tells a man that considering that he lives in ‘such’ a world (metaphysics) and that he acquires knowledge by ‘these’ means (epistemology) he should do ‘this’.

Esthetics studies art. According to Ayn Rand art is: “a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist’s metaphysical value-judgments.” [3] In what way does that relate to philosophy? Art is a concretization of metaphysics. In a work of art, the artist has to choose selectively what is essential for him to project and in what way he chooses to project his subjects. in a sculpture, for example, the sculptor has to choose if he wants to show every imperfection of his subject, or if he wants to show an idealised version of his subject, in what pose should his subject be? a heroic proud one, or perhaps a submissive miserable sobbing position. This choice between the bright and the dark, the ugly and the beautiful, will reveal to the observer what is the artist’s evaluation of man and life on earth; is the universe benevolent or malevolent to man, can happiness be achieved or are we sentenced to a lifetime of suffering. Take a close look at the image below, and try to answer these questions from the artist’s perspective. 

(Apollo Belvedere, AD 120–140)

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[1] - Ayn Rand, “Philosophy: who needs its”

[2] - Ayn Rand, “Consciousness and Identity,” - Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology 

[3] - Ayn Rand, “Art and Cognition” - The Romantic Manifesto