Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• interpret and evaluate critically complex views and arguments in aesthetics.
• bring those views to bear on your own experiences of art and of nature.
• present and debate philosophical ideas in writing, in an open-minded and rigorous fashion.
• express clearly and support with argument your own views in aesthetics.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• work effectively to deadlines and under time pressures.
• appreciate and evaluate sympathetically different points of views, including points of view remote from one’s own.
• articulate clearly and concisely a position, the problems facing it, and possible solutions to those problems.
• debate in a dispassionate and informed fashion about controversial issues.
• read and interpret difficult texts.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the relevance of those theories to our current understanding and appreciation of art and nature.
• the problems facing and possible developments of those theories.
• a range of theories in aesthetics and philosophy of art and the arguments in support of those theories.

Topics might include:

• the nature of aesthetic experience
• judgements of taste
• beauty and the sublime
• art and truth
• the relationship between aesthetics and ethics
• art and emotion
• art and the human condition

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• In-class discussion
• One-on-one consultation with module co-ordinator

Learning activities include

• Attending lectures
• Contributing to class discussion
• Doing independent research for and writing assessed essays and exams

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay proposal

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Students will receive written feedback. Students have the opportunity to receive further feedback from the module co-ordinator on any aspect of their performance during office hours or by appointment.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No
• Percentage contribution: 100%

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.