Lauren Rule- David Hume (Class Reading #2)

I liked Hume's perspective of art because he does not look to define art.  The definition of art is, in my opinion, subjective and really can't be defined.  Instead, Hume attempts to find a standard of art, which still I find to be subjective.  Hume's theory introduces an antinomy (as we discussed in class: two ideas that seem to contradict each other while both claiming to be true).  The antinomy that Hume introduces is standard of taste.  Standard implies the ability to judge art or that art has a basis for which it can be considered art or not.  Taste implies sentiment.  Sentiment is personal; it is impossible for someone to tell you that your sentiment is wrong.  The universal 'rule' of art allows every piece of art to be judged appropriately.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to judge art based on the universal rule.  The combination of standard and taste in judging art allows every person to judge art.  I have no training or expertise in judging art, so I really don't know the universal rule.  However, I see or read or hear or taste things that I deem to be art.  Since Hume adds the idea of sentiments to judging art, a creation can be deemed art by anyone.  At least this is how I interpret Hume's theory.  Hume, on the other hand, would deem that only those with the ability to judge art actually matter.  He thinks that those people are the only ones that can beat prejudice.  "Thus, unable to locate objectivity in artworks themselves, Hume judges that only certain people are so well qualified that their responses really count."