Rudolf Hallers Studien zu ästhetischen Grundlagenfragen

In this essay, the highly original contribution made by Rudolf Haller to aesthetic studies and the philosophy of art is analysed. In particular, the volume Facta und Ficta (1986) is examined, which takes as its starting point the contrast between real and imaginary objects, including works of art. According to Haller, it is problematic to give a definition of a work of art because one can refer to very different creations, from poetic compositions to architectural structures and musical scores. Therefore, in post-Hegelian aesthetics, a dynamic consideration of art is important, which leaves room for empirical multiplicity and artistic variety without aprioristic preclusions.