ABSTRACT
Why is creativity an artistic merit? The aim of this chapter is to answer this question. Answering it promises to shed light on the nature of artistic values. One way of gaining a better reflective understanding of a kind of value is to consider what its criteria are and why they are its criteria. The chapter elucidates the claim that creativity is an artistic merit. It says what creativity is and what an artistic merit is. The chapter discusses reasons to doubt this claim. A good explanation of the merit of creativity should address these doubts. The chapter then develops a theory of artistic merit that appeals to the final value of acting excellently – for example, virtuously or skilfully. It argues that this theory gives us a good explanation of why creativity is an artistic merit. The chapter concludes by identifying questions raised by this theory, as well as some of its important ramifications.
