Post on 09-Aug-2020
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
Ratto di Prosperina-Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Aesthetics For LifeW5: Aesthetics and Philosophy I
Dr. Meagan Louie
The poet speaks more of theuniversal, while the historianspeaks of particulars.
-Aristotle (Poetics)
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
Debates on Kant’s Critique of Aesthetic Judgements
Next Week’s Class: 30 Minute Debates
1. Divide into teams of 8-10 people
2. Next class each team will be assigned
(i) One of Kant’s Criteria, and(ii) a side to argue: i.e., Affirmative or Negative
3. 15 minutes for each team to prepare
4. 3 speakers for each side (Opener, Rebuttal, Conclusion)
5. 5 minutes for each speaker
6. Prize for “winning” side?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
Debates on Kant’s Critique of Aesthetic Judgements
Next Week’s Class: 30 Minute Debates
1. Divide into teams of 8-10 people
2. Next class each team will be assigned
(i) One of Kant’s Criteria, and(ii) a side to argue: i.e., Affirmative or Negative
3. 15 minutes for each team to prepare
4. 3 speakers for each side (Opener, Rebuttal, Conclusion)
5. 5 minutes for each speaker
6. Prize for “winning” side?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
Debates on Kant’s Critique of Aesthetic Judgements
Next Week’s Class: 30 Minute Debates
1. Divide into teams of 8-10 people
2. Next class each team will be assigned
(i) One of Kant’s Criteria, and(ii) a side to argue: i.e., Affirmative or Negative
3. 15 minutes for each team to prepare
4. 3 speakers for each side (Opener, Rebuttal, Conclusion)
5. 5 minutes for each speaker
6. Prize for “winning” side?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Outline
1 1 Introduction1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
METAPHYSICS: What is? Or what is real?. What things exist? How do they relate?.. → the study of existence
LOGIC: What is true?. How do I know what is true?. . → The study of valid reasoning
EPISTEMOLOGY: How do we know anything?. How do I know what I know?. . → the study of knowledge
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
METAPHYSICS: What is? Or what is real?. What things exist? How do they relate?.. → the study of existence
LOGIC: What is true?. How do I know what is true?. . → The study of valid reasoning
EPISTEMOLOGY: How do we know anything?. How do I know what I know?. . → the study of knowledge
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
METAPHYSICS: What is? Or what is real?. What things exist? How do they relate?.. → the study of existence
LOGIC: What is true?. How do I know what is true?. . → The study of valid reasoning
EPISTEMOLOGY: How do we know anything?. How do I know what I know?. . → the study of knowledge
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
METAPHYSICS: What is? Or what is real?. What things exist? How do they relate?.. → the study of existence
LOGIC: What is true?. How do I know what is true?. . → The study of valid reasoning
EPISTEMOLOGY: How do we know anything?. How do I know what I know?. . → the study of knowledge
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
ETHICS: What is good/moral for an individual?. How do I know how which actions to take?.. → the study of morality/conduct
POLITICS: What is good/moral for society?. How should we be behave as a society?. How should we be governed?.. → the study of government
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
ETHICS: What is good/moral for an individual?. How do I know how which actions to take?.. → the study of morality/conduct
POLITICS: What is good/moral for society?. How should we be behave as a society?. How should we be governed?.. → the study of government
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
ETHICS: What is good/moral for an individual?. How do I know how which actions to take?.. → the study of morality/conduct
POLITICS: What is good/moral for society?. How should we be behave as a society?. How should we be governed?.. → the study of government
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truth
existenceknowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistence
knowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledge
morality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledgemorality and
government???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. Recall: Aesthetics is a subfield of philosophy
AESTHETICS: What is sublime/beautiful?. How do I know what is is beautiful?
Question: Who cares about beauty/sublimity compared to issues of
truthexistenceknowledgemorality andgovernment???
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. QUESTION:
. . Can aesthetics and its subject matter
. . can give us insight into these
. . other branches of philosophy?
Today: Plato and Aristotle
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
1.1 Other Branches of Philosophy1.2 Aesthetics as a Window into other Branches of Philosophy
Aesthetics and Other Branches of Philosophy
. QUESTION:
. . Can aesthetics and its subject matter
. . can give us insight into these
. . other branches of philosophy?
Today: Plato and Aristotle
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Outline
2 2 Aesthetics and TRUTH2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Kraut(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s Theory of Forms:. Reality consists of two realms:
(i) The material world that we perceivethrough our senses:→ Objects are transient, defective
(ii) A realm that contains true, eternaland perfect FORMS→ These forms possess the highestlevel of truth
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Kraut(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s Theory of Forms:. Reality consists of two realms:
(i) The material world that we perceivethrough our senses:→ Objects are transient, defective
(ii) A realm that contains true, eternaland perfect FORMS→ These forms possess the highestlevel of truth
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Kraut(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s Theory of Forms:. Reality consists of two realms:
(i) The material world that we perceivethrough our senses:→ Objects are transient, defective
(ii) A realm that contains true, eternaland perfect FORMS→ These forms possess the highestlevel of truth
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Kraut(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s Theory of Forms:. Reality consists of two realms:
(i) The material world that we perceivethrough our senses:→ Objects are transient, defective
(ii) A realm that contains true, eternaland perfect FORMS→ These forms possess the highestlevel of truth
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s ”Allegory of the Cave”, drawing by Markus Maurer
The objects we perceive areimitations/shadows of the ”true forms”
Art, as an imitation of imitations, iseven further removed from trutha
I.e., Plato’s answer: ’No.’
aPlato was talking about dramas/tragedies
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s ”Allegory of the Cave”, drawing by Markus Maurer
The objects we perceive areimitations/shadows of the ”true forms”
Art, as an imitation of imitations, iseven further removed from trutha
I.e., Plato’s answer: ’No.’
aPlato was talking about dramas/tragedies
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Plato’s ”Allegory of the Cave”, drawing by Markus Maurer
The objects we perceive areimitations/shadows of the ”true forms”
Art, as an imitation of imitations, iseven further removed from trutha
I.e., Plato’s answer: ’No.’
aPlato was talking about dramas/tragedies
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle also believed in a division between thematerial world and true forms...
...but he believed that elements in the material worldall contain some essence of the true form.
So what did he think about art?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle also believed in a division between thematerial world and true forms...
...but he believed that elements in the material worldall contain some essence of the true form.
So what did he think about art?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle also believed in a division between thematerial world and true forms...
...but he believed that elements in the material worldall contain some essence of the true form.
So what did he think about art?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
...poetry is more philosophical and moremomentous than history. The poet speaks moreof the universal, while the historian speaks ofparticulars. It is universal that when certainthings turn out a certain way someone will in alllikelihood or of necessity act or speak in a certainway—which is what the poet, though attachingparticular names to the situation, strives for.(Poet. 1451a38–1451b10)
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
...poetry is more philosophical and moremomentous than history. The poet speaks moreof the universal, while the historian speaks ofparticulars. It is universal that when certainthings turn out a certain way someone will in alllikelihood or of necessity act or speak in a certainway—which is what the poet, though attachingparticular names to the situation, strives for.(Poet. 1451a38–1451b10)
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Poetry, at least, is not an ”imitation ofimitations” to Aristotle
It expresses universal truths andthemes about human nature
We can interpret all art in this way -i.e., as expressing universal truths andthemes
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Poetry, at least, is not an ”imitation ofimitations” to Aristotle
It expresses universal truths andthemes about human nature
We can interpret all art in this way -i.e., as expressing universal truths andthemes
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Poetry, at least, is not an ”imitation ofimitations” to Aristotle
It expresses universal truths andthemes about human nature
We can interpret all art in this way -i.e., as expressing universal truths andthemes
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle’s answer is yes!
Art provide an abstraction from theparticulars of real life that allows us toglimpse true underlying forms
In this way, the aesthetic experience(as triggered by art) teaches usimportant things about ourselves
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle’s answer is yes!
Art provide an abstraction from theparticulars of real life that allows us toglimpse true underlying forms
In this way, the aesthetic experience(as triggered by art) teaches usimportant things about ourselves
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Aristotle and ART [Shields(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight into. what exists and what’s true?
Aristotle’s answer is yes!
Art provide an abstraction from theparticulars of real life that allows us toglimpse true underlying forms
In this way, the aesthetic experience(as triggered by art) teaches usimportant things about ourselves
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and BEAUTY [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can BEAUTY provide insight into what’s true?
Plato had a different opinion regardingBEAUTY (Greek kalon)
In Phaedrus (250d–256b) and Symposium,Plato observes that beautiful things triggerreflection on the part of the observer
As reflection is a key in the philosophicalpursuit of discovering truth, beauty is good
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and BEAUTY [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can BEAUTY provide insight into what’s true?
Plato had a different opinion regardingBEAUTY (Greek kalon)
In Phaedrus (250d–256b) and Symposium,Plato observes that beautiful things triggerreflection on the part of the observer
As reflection is a key in the philosophicalpursuit of discovering truth, beauty is good
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Aesthetics and Truth: Plato and BEAUTY [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can BEAUTY provide insight into what’s true?
Plato had a different opinion regardingBEAUTY (Greek kalon)
In Phaedrus (250d–256b) and Symposium,Plato observes that beautiful things triggerreflection on the part of the observer
As reflection is a key in the philosophicalpursuit of discovering truth, beauty is good
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Immanuel Kant’s Theory of Aesthetics
Q: Is this compatible with Kant’sview of the AESTHETICjudgement?
1 is subjective (a felt judgement, not an intellectual calculation)
2 is universal (...not in the eye of the beholder)
3 is DISINTERESTED (valueindependent of usefulness/benefitto perceiver)
4 Engages imagination and intellect (in addition to the senses)
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Plato and Kant on Beauty and USE/PURPOSE
Question: Is Plato’s view of beauty as a trigger for philosophicalreflection incompatible with Kant’s view of the aesthetic judgementas crucially disinterested?
Plato: Beauty triggers philosophical reflection and therefore is good
Kant: Beauty judgements must be disinterested, i.e., something isbeautiful if we judge it so independent of any purpose/usefulness
→Kant is making a claim about what makes something beautiful→ Plato is making a claim about whether beauty is good/bad
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
2.1 Plato on ART and REPRESENTATION2.2 Aristotle on ART and REPRESENTATION2.3 Plato on BEAUTY and TRUTH
Plato and Kant on Beauty and USE/PURPOSE
Question: Is Plato’s view of beauty as a trigger for philosophicalreflection incompatible with Kant’s view of the aesthetic judgementas crucially disinterested?
Plato: Beauty triggers philosophical reflection and therefore is good
Kant: Beauty judgements must be disinterested, i.e., something isbeautiful if we judge it so independent of any purpose/usefulness
→ Kant is making a claim about what makes something beautiful→ Plato is making a claim about whether beauty is good/bad
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Outline
3 3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICS3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and MORALITY: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato: Art (in the form of poeticnarrative) strongly influences youths
Appreciation for beauty will make youngpeople prefer noble deeds over ”ugly,vulgar” deeds
....but artistic depictions of dishonesty,greed, and viciousness might foster thesesorts of strong emotions and badbehaviour in young people
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and MORALITY: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato: Art (in the form of poeticnarrative) strongly influences youths
Appreciation for beauty will make youngpeople prefer noble deeds over ”ugly,vulgar” deeds
....but artistic depictions of dishonesty,greed, and viciousness might foster thesesorts of strong emotions and badbehaviour in young people
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and MORALITY: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato: Art (in the form of poeticnarrative) strongly influences youths
Appreciation for beauty will make youngpeople prefer noble deeds over ”ugly,vulgar” deeds
....but artistic depictions of dishonesty,greed, and viciousness might foster thesesorts of strong emotions and badbehaviour in young people
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato also considered ”the beauty ofpoetic lines” to be deceptive
i.e., the beauty of poetic language canmask the truth/moral value of theunderlying content
Question: Do you think beauty is good orbad? Deceptive or truthful?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato also considered ”the beauty ofpoetic lines” to be deceptive
i.e., the beauty of poetic language canmask the truth/moral value of theunderlying content
Question: Do you think beauty is good orbad? Deceptive or truthful?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide guidance towards. how an individual should behave?
Plato also considered ”the beauty ofpoetic lines” to be deceptive
i.e., the beauty of poetic language canmask the truth/moral value of theunderlying content
Question: Do you think beauty is good orbad? Deceptive or truthful?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight regarding. how society should structured?
Because of these possible negativeinfluences...
... Plato considered it better to ban theperformances of Greek tragedies in hisideal republic
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Plato and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight regarding. how society should structured?
Because of these possible negativeinfluences...
... Plato considered it better to ban theperformances of Greek tragedies in hisideal republic
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Aristotle and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight regarding. how society should structured?
Aristotle, in contrast, believed thatdramatic depictions of dishonesty, greedand violence were a good thing
By expressing these emotions to theaudience, dramas allow these sort ofnegative emotions to be purged withoutacting upon them
Greek katharsis
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Aristotle and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight regarding. how society should structured?
Aristotle, in contrast, believed thatdramatic depictions of dishonesty, greedand violence were a good thing
By expressing these emotions to theaudience, dramas allow these sort ofnegative emotions to be purged withoutacting upon them
Greek katharsis
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Aesthetics and POLITICS: Aristotle and ART [Pappas(2015)]
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight regarding. how society should structured?
Aristotle, in contrast, believed thatdramatic depictions of dishonesty, greedand violence were a good thing
By expressing these emotions to theaudience, dramas allow these sort ofnegative emotions to be purged withoutacting upon them
Greek katharsis
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Q: Can ART/AESTHETICS provide insight
. (i) into what exists and what’s true?
. (ii) how an individual should behave?
. (iii) regarding how society should structured?
What do you think?
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Class Instagram Assignment@SWU-LCI-AFL (password: swulciafl)
HW: Instagram Assignment: Option 1
1. Find an example of something beautiful that you think either
(i) expresses a universal truth(ii) motivates noble/moral behaviour
2. Post it to the class instagram, and explain in a comment
3. Remember to identify with your student code in the comment!
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
3.1 Plato on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.2 Aristotle on ART, MORALITY and POLITICS3.3 Class Discussion: Beauty/Art, Morality and Politics
Class Instagram Assignment@SWU-LCI-AFL (password: swulciafl)
HW: Instagram Assignment: Option 2
1. Find an example of something beautiful that you think either
(i) is deceptive(ii) motivates ignoble/immoral behaviour
2. Post it to the class instagram, and explain in a comment
3. Remember to identify with your student code in the comment!
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
Outline
4 References
Dr. Meagan Louie
1 Introduction2 Aesthetics and TRUTH
3 Aesthetics and MORALITY and POLITICSReferences
References I
Kraut, Richard. 2015.Plato.In Edward N. Zalta (ed.), The stanford encyclopedia of philosophy,Spring 2015 edn.
Pappas, Nickolas. 2015.Plato’s aesthetics.In Edward N. Zalta (ed.), The stanford encyclopedia of philosophy,Summer 2015 edn.
Shields, Christopher. 2015.Aristotle.In Edward N. Zalta (ed.), The stanford encyclopedia of philosophy,Fall 2015 edn.
Dr. Meagan Louie