PHILOSOPHICAL AESTHETICS I (PHRA-4321)

Aesthetics has become a major field of philosophical investigation only since the 18th century, particularly since Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgment. Nevertheless, this class will not neglect the earlier classical tradition with its metaphysical framework, and we will discuss what has gotten lost without it. Aesthetics explores the important question of value judgments in aesthetics. It also leads philosophy to investigate very concrete phenomena and problems such as the structure of the human mind and the concrete materials of art and music, as well as history and society in so far as they are reflected in art. This class will try to bridge the typical gap between abstract reflection and concrete phenomena in aesthetics. The first semester will focus on the philosophy of art and beauty in general; the following semester will explore the concrete fields of architecture, painting, music and literature. Seminar. Research paper and class presentations. Intended audience: MDiv, MA/MTS, PhD/ThD. [Auditors excluded]