Final answer:
Yes, aesthetic experience can be derived from the appreciation of creations by others. Beauty is subjective but also commonly experienced, allowing for shared appreciation in art. Aesthetic judgment involves individual discernment, not set rules, enabling various interpretations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Can Aesthetic Experience Arise from Others' Creations?
Yes, aesthetic experience can absolutely be derived from the appreciation of what has been created by others. The aesthetic experience is a complex interplay of perception, emotion, and cognition that transcends the mere sensory input to engage with the symbolic, historical, or emotional undercurrents of an artwork. The notion put forth by philosophers like Immanuel Kant suggests that while beauty is subjective, it often resonates on a common human level. This resonance enables us to find shared beauty and value in things like Michelangelo's paintings or Toni Morrison's prose.
Art-based aesthetic experiences are said to differ from those elicited by natural wonders due to their constructed nature. Yet, both remain valid paths to aesthetic appreciation. Neuroscientist Dahlia Zaidel asserts that cognitive and affective processes shape our attraction to art. The beauty in art can defy precise linguistic description, but it can be profoundly felt and recognized on an intuitive level.
British philosopher Frank Sibley's work on aesthetic judgment proposes that such judgments, while grounded in sensory observations, are not bound by strict rules. They rely on an individual's discernment and sensitivity to details. As appreciation of art varies, so does the interpretation and justification of aesthetic judgments, allowing for a multitude of legitimate aesthetic responses to the same piece of art.