How does aesthetic criticism try to justify judgments about art?

Aesthetic criticism attempts to justify judgments about art by seeking reasons that persuade others to perceive a work's qualities—such as its elegance, beauty, or profundity—in a similar light. Because these judgments are grounded in subjective experience yet held forth as universally valid for rational beings, critics must provide a framework of reference that is recognizable to others.1

This justification often involves several strategies:

• Comparison and Context: Critics place works of art in relation to one another. By using canonical works as "touchstones," they establish a context for comparison, allowing the perceived greatness of one work to serve as a standard for measuring another.1
• Artistic Interpretation: Criticism may focus on the study and interpretation of the aesthetic object itself. While some argue that critics should examine an artist's intention, others warn against the intentional fallacy, suggesting that judgment must remain focused on the work as it is given to the observer.1
• Moral Awareness: Some critics, such as F.R. Leavis, argue that objective evaluation is possible when a critic’s response is informed by moral awareness. In this view, art provides an exemplary expression of human feeling, allowing us to measure our own lives against the characters and sentiments depicted in the work.1

Ultimately, criticism is the justification of a response, aiming to articulate why a particular way of seeing a work is valid.1