Artworks are often deemed to be valuable because they can be true, which entails that they can be an important source of meaning and insight; they can even shape communities, give us a shared sense of identity and offer new social imaginaries. Heidegger is one of these thinkers who emphasizes the alethic dimension of art. Unlike most cognitivist theories, which focus on art’s content, Heidegger conceives of art as an event that is “a happening of truth.” In this talk, I will suggest that Heidegger brings out a sense of normative force in the artwork that is mostly overlooked by philosophy. To make sense of the event-character of art, we need to understand how an artwork can function as a measure. A measure is a standard that is primarily regulative and that grounds other normative practices, but whose normative force is not itself reliant on reasons or values. However, if recognized by an audience, the art-measure can be a source of reason and value.
The talk will take its starting point from two examples of artworks and does not require knowledge of aesthetic theories, but I would very much like to hear your thoughts about art and other possible sources of normativity and sense-making!