PHIL1112 - 01 - Aesthetics

(VCI) Visual & Creative Inquiry (AI-L) Aesthetic Inquiry Literature

The philosophical field of aesthetics has a long history that includes contributions from some of the most prominent philosophers of Western history. The class will explore a variety of key areas regarding aesthetics, including the nature of beauty, the grounds of aesthetic judgment, and the various functions of art in society, with reference to some of the most important texts of aesthetic philosophy. The course takes a historical approach, beginning with classical ideas of aesthetics in antiquity, through the early-modern period, and concluding with aesthetics theory in the modern era. Controversial questions will also be examined, such as whether artistic evaluations can possibly be objective, or whether determinations of beauty and artistic merit are culturally determined.