Course ObjectivesUniversity Bulletin Description: Discussion of central problems in aesthetics, such as the possibility of objectivity in criticism, modern and traditional definitions of a work of art, truth and meaning in the fine arts, natural beauty and its relationship to excellence in music, architecture, etc.
Course Objectives: Students should learn what philosophy of art (aesthetics) is - what it means to think philosophically about art. They will learn how to ask philosophical questions and construct well-formed philosophical arguments about art. Students will be introduced to several major philosophical theories of art, including representation, expression, formalism, and contemporary approaches. Students will also be introduced to the range of on-line resources in philosophy and the arts and how to assess their value and possible use in their own work and future careers.
Course Organization: We will study examples of philosophical writing by respected philosophers, critics, and theorists. Most are from the "analytic" tradition, emphasizing clarity of thought, objectivity, and well-developed arguments. We will use philosophical methods, including close attention to key concepts and terms and explication of implicit assumptions and principles. Throughout the course, we will use examples of work from a variety of art forms to see how philosophical ideas can enhance our understanding and appreciation of art.
Philosophical methodologies: Students will be required to develop philosophical reasoning skills through written assignments and class discussion (both in-person and on-line). Each student will also participate in a group project that uses a variety of philosophical perspectives to understand a work of art chosen by the group. Each group will make an oral presentation to the class, as well as an on-line presentation on the project.
On-Line methodologies: We will experiment with the use of on-line materials in philosophy and the arts for most of the course - the World Wide Web, e-mail, and Conferencing on the Web. We will be especially interested in introducing on-line resources that students will find useful in their own careers in the arts, philosophy, teaching, and other fields.
General Education: This course meets a University General Education requirement for an upper division GE course in the C.2.b. (philosophy) category. Philosophy majors receive unit credits toward the major, but not general education credit.
Pre-Requisites: The College requires junior standing for all 300-level general education courses. There are no other pre-requisites.