Fox Richard. Interpreting architecture: A Krauszian approach

A Thesis Presented In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Philosophy. — Department of Philosophy, California State University, Long Beach, 2009. — 160 p.I argue that Michael Krausz's philosophy of interpretation has important applications to the aesthetics of architecture. I claim that the taxonomy formed by the association of the interpretive ideals of singularism and multiplism with various ontological theories is useful for organizing and analyzing architectural interpretations. Specifically, I concentrate on how we ought to reconcile the number of competing interpretations of a given work of architecture we are willing to accept and what we should look for in this reconciliation. I conclude that this framework: (1) is useful for assisting interpreters that may be unable or unwilling to overcome differences in their ontological theories and reach agreement about the number of admissible interpretations they are willing to hold; and, (2) fosters an interpretive tolerance yet avoids endorsing interpretive positions that have confused architectural interpretive practice in recent decades.Thesis overviewMichael Krausz's philosophical insightsAn Overview of Krausz's Interpretive PhilosophyA Two-Tiered Framework
Objectivity is Praxial not Ontological
Two Interpretive IdealsExplication of the Singularist Thesis SISome Arguments in Support of SI
Some Important Consequences of SIExplication of the Multiplist Thesis MlSome Arguments in Support of Ml
Some Important Consequences of MlExplication of the Detachability Thesis DlSome Arguments in Support of Dl
Some Important Consequences of DlAdmissibility and PreferabilitySeparating Admissibility and Preferability
Clarifying the Operation of Admissibility and PreferabilityExtensions and amendments to Krausz's frameworkSuccess of Ml Depends on CommonalityTwo Types of Indeterminacy
Neither Type Undermines CommonalityPragmatic Objections to the Indispensability of Ontology
Pragmatism's Contribution to Identity of Artworks
Aims of Architectural Interpretation
The Community of Informed Interpreters
The Role of SI, Ml and DlContemporary architectural interpretive issues and positionsElements of Architectural InterpretationArchitectural Realism
Architectural Constructivism.
Architectural Singularism
Architectural Multiplism
Dimensions of Architectural InterpretandaOrthodox Interpretive PositionsConstructive-Multiplism
Realist-SingularismHeterodox Interpretive PositionsConstructive-Singularism
Realist-MultiplismApplication and examination of casesConstruing the Common Object (Eisenman's University Art Museum; The Gehry Residence)
Proper Construal of Informed Practitioners (Libeskind's World Trade Center Site Master Plan; Eisenman's University Art Museum)
Application Three: Detaching Ontology and Ideals (Divergent Ontologies "converge" on Ml; Shared Ontological Views and Divergent Ideals)Reference List