Is There Such a Thing as Good Taste?

When I was young, I believed there was no such thing as good taste—a notion I inherited from my father. However, as I matured, I realized this belief was mistaken. The existence of good taste becomes evident when we consider the absurdity of its denial. If we reject good taste, we must also reject the existence of good art and the skill of artists, which is clearly nonsensical.

Good taste, in its narrowest sense, pertains to aesthetic judgments. To prove its existence, consider two individuals assessing unknown artworks. The one who consistently selects the superior pieces demonstrates better taste. Thus, if good art exists, so does good taste.

The concept of good taste is often disputed because people's responses to art are influenced by external factors like fame or societal expectations. Additionally, what is considered good art changes over time, leading some to question the reality of good taste.

However, the goodness of art is not purely subjective; it's about how art affects its human audience. Since humans share common responses, art can be objectively good or bad based on its impact, much like a vaccine's effectiveness isn't negated by individual immune system variations.

Art is designed to elicit responses, and its quality can be assessed by knowledgeable observers free from extraneous influences. While perfect taste is unattainable, good taste certainly exists, as there is a partial order to the quality of art and our ability to judge it.

In conclusion, the concept of good taste is not a myth. It is a discernible quality that, although debatable, has a basis in the shared human experience of art.

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