Janko Kos’ View on Literary Axiology and France Veber’s Philosophical Value Theory

Abstract

Concerning the problems of literary axiology, the study presupposes the basic premises of metaphysical realism as a solid starting point. Janko Kos developed a realistic theoretical model of values in literature, which divides values in literature into cognitive, ethical and aesthetic. According to Kos, none of these values alone is decisive for the artistic value of a literary work of art. Artistic value should be understood as a synthesis of cognitive, ethical and aesthetic values, forming a higher, superior and indivisible entity. This synthesis enables the reader to experience existential totality. The philosophical axiology of the Slovenian philosopher France Veber (1890–1975) offers a well-founded argument in favor of Janko Kos’ theoretical model of values in literature. According to Veber’s theory of emotions and values the Kos’ model could be interpreted in the following way: in the process of reading cognitive, ethical and aesthetic emotions are awakened in the reader. Upon these primary emotions a higher, secondary emotion, regarded as the artistic experience or the experience of totality, is founded. It is a psychologically empirical fact that both levels of emotions exist. On the objective side, i.e. in the objectively given characteristics of a literary work, these two levels of emotions have their counterpart. On this objective side artistic value is founded on cognitive, ethical and aesthetic values as well as the experience of the totality is founded on the primary emotions (cognitive, ethical and aesthetic) on the subjective side. According to Veber’s philosophy the objects of emotions are always values. In this perspective the described structure of emotions is a correlate of the objectively existing structure of values in the literary work of art.