PHIL 212 - Philosophy of Art [GEKH]
Can “art” be defined? Do artists owe a responsibility to society? Should works of art be primarily analyzed as “significant form” or as an expression of the artist’s personality? Can we isolate a uniquely “aesthetic” attitude? Through considering such questions, the course introduces the student to philosophical reasoning and analysis.
Credit 3 hrs May not be repeated for additional credit
Grade Mode Normal (A-F) Course Rotation Fall
Class-Level Restriction Undergraduate standing
In this course, students are introduced to a number of “theories of art” deriving from the Western Philosophical tradition, beginning with Plato’s “Imitation Theory.” Questions such as, “What makes something a work of art?”, “What are the proper standards for judging works of art?”, and, “What is the relation of art to the rest of society?,” are explored. Through the study of competing answers to these and related questions, students learn about and learn to apply, the reflective and critical methodologies of Western Philosophy, e.g., conceptual analysis, criteria for the evaluation of explanatory theories and an array of critical thinking skills.
Notes -
Updates Course Rotation added 1/2015
Winter 2025 Course Sections
Fall 2024 Course Sections
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