PHIL 236 - Philosophy and the Arts

CR: 3
A philosophical examination of the nature, meaning, and value of the arts, including the visual arts, literature, music, dance, and theater. Possible topics include the ontological status of the art object (what counts as art, or what distinguishes artworks from other kinds of objects); the relationship between art and truth; the roles of the artist and the aesthetic experience; the connection between art and madness; the political function of art; and the relationship between art and ethics. No specialized knowledge of the arts is required. V.1, V.6a