Abstract
This paper discusses how feminists tackled gender bias rooted in the traditional
concept of disinterestedness, with an aim to reveal the importance of considering
the positive directions of feminist aesthetics today. Unveiling the gendered aspects
of philosophical concepts and theory is nothing new, as this was one of the main
works of feminist aesthetics back in the 1990s. However, I would like to repropose
these arguments as necessary factors to show how feminist aesthetics continue
to play an impactful role in modern discussions, especially when focusing on the
positive side of their contributions. First, I begin by outlining briefly Kant’s account
of disinterestedness, followed by Korsmeyer’s criticism on the relationships between
disinterestedness and universality, as well as how it could rise the problem of the male
gaze. Then, I nudge the discussion to the assessment of perspectivism by introducing
the objections made by Eaton. Finally, I conclude how the attempts of feminist
aesthetics can be thought not simply as a complete denial of traditional concepts
(including disinterestedness), but rather as a proposal of different aspects, allowing us
to expand our discussion to wider aesthetic topics.
