Plain Aesthetics is an introduction to philosophical aesthetics and the philosophy of art written for all audiences. While students studying philosophy will find it informative, it is specifically constructed to be accessible to anyone, even those with no background in philosophy. It contains no jargon or technical language, except where such terms are defined at their point of use. Philosophers and theorists are discussed only where appropriate, and their views explained in context. Plain Aesthetics is written as a conversation between the author and the reader, and employs a great many examples of fascinating and influential artworks. Images and other works are presented to the reader both within the text and through an innovative interactive system. This book makes aesthetics accessible to everyone.
Plain Aesthetics
A Common Sense Approach to Philosophical Aesthetics
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Plain Aesthetics
A Common Sense Approach to Philosophical Aesthetics
Prologue
Chapter One: What is Aesthetics?
- Why Aesthetics?
- What is “Aesthetics”?
- Is Aesthetics About Answering a “Why” Question?
- Is Aesthetics Philosophy?
- Is Aesthetics About How the World is Represented to Us?
- Is Aesthetics About How We Associate One Thing with Another?
- Do All Aesthetic Experiences have an Emotional Dimension?
- If Aesthetics is About How We Directly and Immediately Sense the World, Does Context Matter?
- Is “Aesthetic” a Noun or an Adjective?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Two: What is an Aesthetic Property?
- What Are Some Examples of Aesthetic Properties?
- Is There a Difference Between Beauty and Aesthetic Goodness?
- Are Aesthetic Properties Matters of Fact or Matters of Value?
- Are Aesthetic Properties Literal or Metaphorical? Are They Real or Not Real?
- Are Aesthetic Properties Properties of Objects or of Experiences?
- Do Aesthetic Properties Go Beyond Merely the Perceptual?
- How Are Aesthetic Properties Relative to Time, Place, and Culture?
- Is the Function of an Object an Aesthetic Property?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Three: What is an Aesthetic Object?
- Are Aesthetic Objects Always Aesthetic Objects?
- What is the Difference between an Aesthetic Object and an Art Object?
- What Makes an Object (or Event) a Work of Art?
- Is Art Imitation?
- Is Art Expression?
- Are All Works of Art Aesthetically Appreciable?
- Is it Possible to Define Art at All?
- Can We Define Art in Historical or Social Scientific Terms?
- Why Define Art?
- What Are the Different Artforms?
- Should We Collect Art?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestion
Chapter Four: What is an Aesthetic Experience?
- What Makes an Experience Aesthetic?
- What Features Typify Aesthetic Experiences?
- Can an Experience be Partly Aesthetic?
- What is the Role of the Experiencer in Having an Aesthetic Experience?
- What Features of Aesthetic Experiences are Unique to Experiencers?
- Are All Aesthetic Experiences Positive?
- Are All Aesthetic Experiences Moral?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Five: What Roles Do Perspective and Culture Play?
- What is Feminist Aesthetics?
- What is the Role of Culture?
- What is the Origin of the Museum?
- Has the West Become More Secular About Art?
- What Role Does Resource Availability Play in Art?
- What Are Some Signature Elements of Ancient Egyptian Aesthetics?
- What Are Some Signature Elements of Japanese Aesthetics?
- What Are Some Signature Elements of Islamic Aesthetics?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Six: What Makes One Aesthetic Object or Experience Better Than Another?
- In Aesthetic Evaluation, Are We Focused on Objects or on Experiences?
- Can One Judgment Be Better Than Another?
- What Does it Mean to Call a Judgment “Object-Focused”?
- What Does It Mean to Call a Judgment “Subject-Focused”?
- How Should We Evaluate Art and/or Aesthetic Objects?
- What Are the Roles of Art Criticism and Art Critics in Aesthetic Evaluation?
- How Is Taste Involved in Aesthetic Evaluation?
- Can Taste Be Developed?
- How Do We Account for Taste Differences in Aesthetic Evaluation?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Seven: How Do I Know What a Work of Art Means?
- What Does It Mean for a Work of Art to “Mean”?
- Why Is the Meaning of a Work of Art Important?
- If Works of Art are Expressions of Artists, Isn’t the Meaning What the Artist Says It Is?
- Can a Work of Art Have More Than One Meaning?
- If a Work of Art Can Have More Than One Meaning, Which One Is Correct?
- Can Aesthetic Objects That Are Not Artworks Have Meanings?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
Chapter Eight: What is the Relationship Between Aesthetics and Ethics?
- Should Ethics Be Relevant to Aesthetics?
- Ethically Relevant Art: Some Examples
- What Should be done about Immoral Art?
- Offensive Content
- When Should Censorship Be Practiced?
- Who Should Censor?
- Can Aesthetics Teach Morality?
- Suggested Readings and Discussion Suggestions
- • A conversational and jargon-free introduction to philosophical aesthetics
- • Broad treatment of the subject, including coverage of aesthetic properties and experiences, the conditions of art, and the relationship between aesthetics and ethics
- • Dozens of images included throughout, with other examples (of visual, auditory, and performance art) offered through an innovative digital system
- • Suggested readings point toward paths of further exploration
Plain Aesthetics examines many works of historical and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, performances, and more. Images of many of these works are included within the book, while others are available for online viewing via innovative QR codes embedded throughout the text.
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