02074cam a2200253 i 4500 120711s2013 enk b 001 0 eng 9780415531511 9780203072462 SDU N7480 V473 R 2013 Verstegen, Ian. 217992 A realist theory of art history / Ian Verstegen. New York : Routledge, 2013 168 p. Ontological explorations HKBU library YT2025 M09 "As the theoretical alignments within academia shift, this book introduces a surprising variety of realism to abolish the old positivist-theory dichotomy that has haunted Art History. Demanding frankly the referential detachment of the objects under study, the book proposes a stratified, multi-causal account of art history that addresses postmodern concerns while saving it from its errors of self-refutation. Building from the very basic distinction between intransitive being and transitive knowing, objects can be affirmed as real while our knowledge of them is held to be fallible. Several focused chapters address basic problems while introducing philosophical reflection into art history. These include basic ontological distinctions - society and culture, general and 'special' history, the discontinuity of cultural objects, the importance of definition for special history, scales, facets and fiat objects as forms of historical structure, the nature of evidence and proof, historical truth and controversies. Stressing critical realism as the stratified, multi-causal approach needed for productive research today in the academy, this book creates the subject of the ontology of art history and sets aside a theoretical space for metaphysical reflection, thus clarifying the usually muddy distinction between theory, methodology and historiography in art history"-- Art Historiography. 195384 Art Philosophy. SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General. = C.1 SDU GBE lcc 111926 111926 0 0 lcc 0 N7480 V473 R2013 0 CGB 282521 SDU SDU GEN3 2025-09-22 2 0 N7480 V473 R 2013 1000361213 2025-09-22 00:00:00 C.1 2025-09-22 GBE