Thomas Reid and the Expression Theory of Art

Abstract

I mean by "the expression theory of art" the theory which holds that the expression of emotion is the essential property of art. I mean by "a theory of artistic expression" any theory which gives an account of how works of art express emotions. My argument is that thomas reid, In contrast to his contemporaries and immediate predecessors, Came very close to holding not merely a theory of artistic expression but the expression theory of art.