Morris Weitz

Morris Weitz (July 24, 1916 – February 1, 1981) was an American philosopher of aesthetics. He focused primarily on ontology, interpretation, and literary criticism. From 1972 until his death, he served as the Richard Koret Professor of Philosophy at Brandeis University. Weitz was born in Detroit and later earned his BA from Wayne State University. His graduate studies in philosophy at the University of Michigan were influenced by an encounter with Bertrand Russell. Weitz taught at various institutions, including the University of Washington, Vassar College, and Ohio State University, before joining Brandeis. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1959 and was honored as a Fulbright Senior Scholar. His philosophical work, particularly his 1956 paper 'The Role of Theory in Aesthetics,' significantly impacted the field by challenging the possibility of a closed or real definition of art, suggesting instead that theories of art should be 'open' and exploring the concept of 'family resemblances' in relation to art. This work has been widely discussed and debated, influencing subsequent scholarship in the philosophy of art.