Reading Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art

Description/Abstract

Designed for readers with little or no prior experience of the subject, this concise anthology brings together key texts in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. Two contrasting views are presented on each of six topics. They range from Plato's famous critique of art in the Republic, through Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy, to Barthes' The Death of the Author, and recent philosophical aesthetics from a number of traditions. Each of the texts is accompanied by an interactive editorial commentary, helping the reader to engage with the philosophical train of thought.

Table of Contents

Sources and Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

1. Art, value, and philosophy.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Plato.

Plato, Republic, Book 10 (extract).

Commentary on Plato.

Introduction to Nietzsche.

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy (extracts).

Commentary on Nietzsche.

2. Aesthetics, art, and nature.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Carroll.

Noël Carroll, 'Art and Interaction'.

Commentary on Carroll.

Introduction to Hepburn.

R.W. Hepburn, 'Contemporary Aesthetics and the Neglect of Natural Beauty'.

Commentary on Hepburn.

3. Aesthetic judgements.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Hume.

David Hume, 'Of the Standard of Taste'.

Commenatary on Hume.

Introduction to Kant.

Immanuel Kant, Critique of the Power of Judgment (extract).

Commentary on Kant.

4. Definitions of art.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Collingwood.

R.G. Collingwood, The Principles of Art (extracts).

Commentary on Collingwood.

Introduction to Dickie.

George Dickie, 'The Institutional Theory of Art'.

Commentary on Dickie.

5. Authors and works.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Barthes.

Roland Barthes, 'The Death of the Author'.

Commentary on Barthes.

Introduction to Danto.

Arthur C. Danto, The Transfiguration of the Commonplace (extracts).

Commentary on Danto.

6. Depiction in art.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Goodman.

Nelson Goodman, Languages of Art (extracts).

Commentary on Goodman.

Introduction to Wollheim.

Richard Wollheim, Painting as an Art (extract).

Commentary on Wollheim.

Further Reading.

Index.