PHIL 185.001 – Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art

Instructor: Aaron Thieme. This course meets MW 3:35 – 4:50 p.m. in WG 301.

What is a work of art? Is aesthetic judgment all just a matter of taste, or can it be objective? Can there be aesthetic value in an offensive piece of art? Why are forgeries less aesthetically valuable than originals? Why do people mourn the death of a character they know to be fictional? This course will discuss all of these questions and more. We’ll cover a broad array of different art forms and explore the intersections between art, culture, politics, and ethics. No prior background in philosophy or art is required, and anyone who has an interest in philosophy or art is encouraged to take this course.