In my judgment and by my definition, inseparable attributes can't exist separately from the existents of which they are attributes. Even so, they can be separated mentally in the imagination by means of a process of abstraction.

For example, mentally, it's possible for me to imaginatively separate its attribute of length from a blade of grass. In reality, though, the blade and its length can't be separated.

Treating such an abstracted attribute, or any inseparable part of a whole, as if it could exist separately in reality, by my definition involves the fallacy of reification.

(Please note: since concept-formation involves a process of abstraction, sometimes the term "abstraction" is also used as a synonym for the term "concept." I use the term "abstraction" to denote a process, though, which itself is part of the process of concept-formation - and I use the term "concept" to denote an eventual product of that process of which abstraction is a part.)

Note

¹Although I've formulated this definition in my own words, in my judgment, I drew inspiration and benefit in doing so from Ayn Rand's discussion of abstraction in her book, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.

I often post stories about Aliana in my What's New blogs.

With the word "audience" I mean to include the possibility that there is only one person in the audience, who might even be the person who created the art work (for example, reading one's own manuscript; reciting one's own poem; or viewing and/or touching one's own sculpture). Of course, the audience could also involve many and could exclude the person who created the work.

Note

¹This definition, while strictly mine, with the help of the following sources evolved such that it satisfied me far more:

• the definition of art that Ayn Rand presented in her book, The Romantic Manifesto
• the reconstruction of Ayn Rand's esthetic and literary philosophy that Chris Matthew Sciabarra provided in his book, Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical
• various of Marshall Rosenberg's discussions of the nature of - including the stimuli and causes for - emotional responses, especially in his book, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.