The module will explore a number of central themes in Aesthetics, including questions as to the nature of beauty, how the worth of a work of art can be evaluated, and how ‘art’ can be defined.  The discussions of philosophical issues will be closely tied to the analysis of particular works of art, particularly visual works and music.

•        demonstrate awareness of questions that have been and continue to be central to Aesthetics.

•        demonstrate ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate works of art, through a detailed and critical understanding of the concepts, arguments and ideas that are dominant in Aesthetics.

•        demonstrate ability to interpret, criticise and use the ideas and arguments of a significant range of philosophers of art.

•        demonstrate ability to communicate and justify their interpretations and evaluations.

Teaching will be through a combination of weekly lectures and additional seminars.  Students will be expected to have read brief, selected passages from the authors prior to seminar classes, and to be able to discuss them.

To give students a grounding in the most important approaches to the philosophy of art, with an emphasis on their articulation in twentieth century British and American philosophy.

Method of Formative Assessment

Two coursework essays of 1000 words are required, on the topics given.  These essays should be submitted to Andrew Edgar.  Essays submitted, without good cause, after the deadlines given on the module handout may not be marked in time for the revision period.  Essays will be returned individually.

Method of Summative Assessment

The course is assessed by one essay of 2,000 words (maximum) together with a 90 minute unseen written examination. These counts equally in the final assessment of the module. The assessment essay may be based upon one of the coursework essays.

The module will explore a number of central themes in Aesthetics, including questions as to the nature of beauty and expressiveness, how the worth of a work of art can be evaluated, and how the concept of ‘art’ may be defined.  The first part of the module will discuss these central themes through a general review of a range of key arguments and theorists.  The second part of the module will be devoted to two the work of two philosophers, R. G. Collingwood and A. C. Danto, and to a critical examination of the way in which the central themes of Aesthetics are manifest and interpreted in their key texts.

The discussions of philosophical issues will be closely tied to the analysis of particular works of art, particularly visual works and music.

Indicative Reading List

Oswald Hanfling (ed.), Philosophical Aesthetics:  An Introduction, Oxford:  Blackwell, 1992.

David Cooper (ed.), A Companion to Aesthetics, Oxford:  Blackwell, 1992.

Gordon Graham, Philosophy of the Arts:  An Introduction to Aesthetics, London:  Routledge, 1997.

Charles Harrison and Paul Wood (eds), Art in Theory 1900-2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas, Oxford: Blackwell, 2002.