361: Aesthetics & The Philosophy of Art
In this class we will look at the metaphysical status of, as well as relations between, aesthetic experience, the aesthetic property of beauty, and art. Finally, we will also, as an application of various theories we've looked at, consider painting and the philosophy of music.
Warning: This class is a study in contemporary metaphysics. It is a philosophy class, not an art class. We will be concerned with the metaphysical status of aesthetic experience, beauty, and art at a very abstract level. There will also be a lot of readings. You should thus not take this class merely on the basis of the fact that you enjoy art. You should only take this class if you care about the role beauty and art plays in our fundamental understanding of the world and our place in it.
Required readings will with a few exceptons be drawn from the following two sources:
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"The Oxford Handbook of Aesthetics" by Jerrold Levinson (ed.), and
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"The Metaphysics of Beauty " by Nick Zangwill.
These are available at Amherst Books. The exceptions are available by either clicking on links below or will be made available in class.
Assignments: Tentatively, a short essay, a long essay, and an in-class exam.
First Assignment (10%): Pick an argument we have discussed in class so far. Then do the following two things: (i) Clearly present the argument in your own words, and (ii) provide some good reasons for why one might think the argument fails. The paper must be one and only one page (1.5 spaced, 12 point). It is due in class Friday 2.22.2008.
Second Assignment (50%): Read Zangwill's book. Find an argument (or thesis) that he develops, but which you disagree with. First present the argument (thesis), and then provide reasons for why it is false. In short, argue against one of Zangwill's points. You might (and should) bring in critical points from other things we've read. Be clear and precise. Say neither more nor less than what you need to say. Don't say false things. Feel free to see me about your paper. Start working on it right away. The paper must be 5 and only 5 pages long, standard format. It is due in class Friday 5.2.2008.
Third Assignment (40%): In-class exam. Friday 5.9.2008, during class hour. 20 short questions concerning key concepts and theories that we have dealt with, to be answered in 50 minutes. Covers the whole semester. There will be no make-up exam.
My Office: Bartlett Hall 367 (whenever)
There will be no class Wednesday 3/12, Friday 3/14, and Monday 3/24. Your second assignment will be on Zangwill's book, so spend these days (as well as spring break!) reading it and thinking about what in this book you want to write on.
Tentative Schedule:
First Week: Introduction: Levinson, Ch.1, Urmson "What Makes a Situation Aesthetic?", and Sibley "Aesthetic Concepts"
Second Week: Aesthetic Realism vs. Aesthetic Anti-Realism: Levinson, Ch.3 & Ch. 4
Third Week: Aesthetic Experience and The Aesthetics of Nature: Levinson, Ch.5 & Ch.6
Fourth Week: Aesthetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and Cognitive Science: Levinson, Ch.41 & Ch.42
Fifth Week: Definition of Art: Levinson, Ch.7, and Danto, "The Artworld"
Sixth Week: Ontology of Art: Levinson, Ch.8
Seventh Week: Intentions and Expression in Art: Levinson, Ch.11 & Ch.15
Eighth Week: Zangwill, "The Metaphysics of Beauty"
Ninth Week: Zangwill, "The Metaphysics of Beauty"
Tenth Week: Zangwill, "The Metaphysics of Beauty" and Walton, "Categories of Art" (for Friday 4/18/08)
Eleventh Week: Zangwill, "The Metaphysics of Beauty"
Twelfth Week: Zangwill, "The Metaphysics of Beauty"
Thirteenth Week: Baugh, "Prolegomena to Any Aesthetics of Rock Music" and Davies, "Rock versus Classical Music"
