Introduction to Aesthetics

1. Introduction to Aesthetics Bernie Cantens Guest: Arash Naraghi

2. Philosophy • Political Science - Political Philosophy • Religion – Philosophy of Religion • Sciences – Philosophy of Science • Psychology – Philosophy of Psychology • Law – Philosophy of Law • Environmental Studies – Environmental Philosophy • Mathematics – Philosophy of Mathematics • Neural Science – Philosophy of Mind • Education – Philosophy of Education • History – Philosophy of History • Modern languages – Philosophy of Language

3. philosophy Political Science Religion Sciences Psychology Psychology Law Environmental Studies • PHILOSOPHY • Studies the foundations of these disciplines. • Studies the presuppositions within the discipline. • Asks questions about the foundations upon which these disciplines are constructed .

4. Philosophical Questions Ultimate Questions Normative Questions EHICS: How ought we act? LOGIC: How ought we reason (think)? AESTHETICS: What ought we value? • ONTOLOGY: What exists? • METAPHYSICS: What is real/true? • EPISTEMOLOGY: How do we know? • SEMANTICS: What do you mean?

5. Aesthetics “Aesthetics”, German philosopher Baumgarten (1714-62) Science of sensory cognition Low-level means of cognition Taste

6. Aesthetics Philosophy of Art and Beauty Art Appreciation Art Criticism Art Classes Aesthetics

7. Aesthetics Art Classes Art History Art Appreciation Art Criticism AESTHEICS: The Philosophy of Art AESTHEICS: The Philosophy of Beauty

8. Aesthetics • Philosophy of Art • Philosophy of Beauty

9. Philosophical Questions What exists? ONTOLOGY What is real/true? METAPHYSICS How do we know? EPISTEMOLOGY What do you mean? SEMANTICS

10. Aesthetic Questions: Ontological When does art exists? Is the existence of art independent of human thought? When does beauty exists? Is existence of beauty independent of human thought? When does good art exists? Is the existence of good art independent of human thought? Does aesthetic value exists? Is the existence of aesthetic value independent of human thought?

11. Aesthetic Questions: Metaphysical Are judgments about what is art objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? Are value judgments about beauty objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? Are evaluative judgments about art objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? Are aesthetics value judgments objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative?

12. Aesthetic Questions: Epistemological(Art) How do we discern art and distinguish art from non-art? Empirically, rationally, intuitively, custom, culturally, authoritatively, capriciously? What counts as evidence for art? The intention of its author? The response it evokes?

13. Aesthetic Questions: Epistemological(Good Art) How do we discern good art and distinguish good art from bad art? Empirically, rationally, intuitively, custom, culturally, authoritatively, capriciously, individual taste, objective properties, meaning? What are the properties of good art? (meaning, unity, form, unity in diversity, imitation, complexity, artist’s intentions, etc.) What counts as evidence for good art?

14. Aesthetic Questions: Epistemological (Interpretations) How do we discern a good and valid interpretations of a work art from incorrect and inappropriate interpretations? Is there a correct interpretation of a work of art? If so, what determines it? Are there better interpretations? If so, what determines them? Are all interpretations equal? If so, why?

15. Aesthetic Questions: Epistemological(Aesthetics Value) How do we discern true value aesthetic judgments? Does it depend on the genre? Does it depend on education and background? Does it depend on culture? Does it depend on popular consensus? What counts as evidence for the truth or falsity of value judgments? Does it depend on one’s individual particular taste?

16. Aesthetic Questions: Epistemological(Beauty) How do we discern beauty and distinguish beautiful things from ugly things? Empirically, rationally, intuitively, custom, culturally, authoritatively, capriciously? What are the properties of beauty? Is it a simple quality? What counts as evidence for beauty?

17. Philosophy of Art When does art exists? Is the existence of art independent of human thought? Is it independent of the author’s intentions? Audience’s? When does good art exists? Is the existence of good art independent of human thought? Are judgments about what is art objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? Are evaluative judgments about art objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? How do we discern good art and distinguish good art from bad art? What are the properties of good art? What counts as evidence for good art? How do we discern a good and valid interpretations of a work art from incorrect and inappropriate interpretations? Is there a correct interpretation of a work of art? If so, what determines it? Are there better interpretations? If so, what determines them? Are all interpretations equal? If so, why?

18. Philosophy of Beauty When does beauty exists? Is existence of beauty independent of human thought? Are value judgments about beauty objective? Are they subjective? Are they necessary and universal? Are they normative? How do we discern beauty and distinguish beautiful things from ugly things? Empirically, rationally, intuitively, custom, culturally, authoritatively, capriciously? What are the properties of beauty? Is it a simple quality? What counts as evidence for beauty?

19. Other Aesthetic Questions What is the relation, if any, between art and nature? What is the relation, if any, between art and beauty? What is the relation, if any, between art and truth? What is the relation, if any between art and society?

20. Other Aesthetics Questions What is the relation between beauty and truth? What is the relation between beauty and morality?

21. Human Desires And Aesthetic Value If Aesthetic value if normative, (like ethics and logic), how do ideal values relate to human desires and the will? If the normative sciences of ethics and logic regulate our actions and thinking, what does aesthetic regulate?