What are the ethical obligations of artists in their art? I have seen the following theories advanced:
- To provide entertainment and happiness to other people.
- To disturb other people and shake them out of complacency.
- To describe accurately the real world.
- To prove, by example, certain claims about abstract concepts.
- To do things that have never been done before.
- To provide useful and uplifting instruction to other people.
- To be absolutely independent from any authority.
- To create wealth by creating objects that will be valued by other people.
- To further the work of other artists.
- To express their inner selves.
- To glorify God.
- None of the above. Art is useless and intrinsically unethical.
These can't all be the case, can they?