PHI-30023 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Completion of core modules at level 2 in Philosophy or with the permission of the module convenor

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2024/25

This module provides a critical introduction to fundamental questions in the philosophy of art and to their most influential answers. The module would be of interest to any student who wants to know more about the philosophical approach to arts.
In its first part, the module traces the subject back to its roots in Hume, Kant and Plato. The second part focuses on key questions in the philosophy of art, for instance, the definition of art, objectivity and subjectivity in aesthetic evaluation, the relationships between art and morality, beauty, representation and expression in art, ontology and art, truth and art, as well as questions concerning the role of interpretation and imagination, and questions concerning particular art forms.

The module aims to:
- offer students a critical introduction to those questions in the philosophy of art which are of contemporary interest, many of which having shaped movements in the arts in the last century;
- to enable students to express in a critical and informed manner their own views on the main topics discussed in the course.

Intended Learning Outcomes

trace back to their historical sources and to their appropriate intellectual contexts the main directions in the philosophy of art;
will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
critically understand and distinguish the positions and theories discussed in the course in relation to key issues in aesthetics or philosophy of art; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
analyse and evaluate the main answers to the key questions discussed in the course, in particular questions concerning the definition of art, the relationships between art and morality, beauty, truth and reality; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
apply the theories and answers discussed in the course to specific pieces with significance in the history of art; will be achieved by assessments: 2
articulate and problematise concerns arising from the students' own aesthetic experiences on the basis of the arguments and positions discussed in the course; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
formulate objections and start building their own views on the topics and issues on which the module focuses, for instance on the relationship between art and morality, art and truth, art and reality. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2

Study hours

Contact hours:
- 10 1-hour lectures
- 10 1-hour seminars
Individual study hours:
- 65 hours seminar preparation
- 65 hours 1st essay preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment