Aesthetics Today

Edited by Robert Stecker and Ted Gracyk

Provides a wide-ranging introduction to aesthetic theory and philosophy of art for readers, particularly university students who seek an overview of major controversies, theories, and writers. The 44 readings are chosen for their capacity to provide a representative set of competing perspectives within the contemporary debate and are edited to be accessible to undergraduates. With 40 readings by contemporary authors and 4 classic texts that provide a solid foundation, Aesthetics: A Reader is both accessible and current.

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Part I: Environmental Aesthetics: Natural Beauty Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 "Nature, Aesthetic Judgment, and Objectivity" Chapter 5 "Interpreting Environments" Chapter 6 "Fact and Fiction in the Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature" Chapter 7 "Do Non-Native Species Threaten the Natural Environment?" Chapter 8 Further Reading Chapter 9 Part II: Conceptions of Aesthetics: Aesthetic Experience Chapter 10 Introduction Chapter 11 "Analytic of the Beautiful" Chapter 12 "What Makes a Situation Aesthetic" Chapter 13 "Art and the Domain of the Aesthetic" Chapter 14 "Aesthetic Communication" Chapter 15 Further Reading Chapter 16 Part III: Conceptions of the Aesthetic: Aesthetic Properties Chapter 17 Introduction Chapter 18 "Of the Standard of Taste" Chapter 19 "Objectivity and Aesthetics" Chapter 20 "Sensitivity, Sensibility, and Aesthetic Realism" Chapter 21 "Aesthetic Properties, Evaluative Force, and Differences in Sensibility" Chapter 22 Further Reading Chapter 23 Part IV: What Is Art? Chapter 24 Introduction Chapter 25 From The Principles of Art Chapter 26 "An Aesthetic Definition of Art" Chapter 27 From The Art Circle Chapter 28 "Non-Western Art and Art's Definition" Chapter 29 Further Reading Chapter 30 Part V: What Kind of Object is a Work of Art? Chapter 31 Introduction Chapter 32 From Art its Objects Chapter 33 "Interpretation: Process and Structure" Chapter 34 "Musical Works as Eternal Types" Chapter 35 "Types, Indicated and Initiated" Chapter 36 Further Reading Chapter 37 Part VI: Interpretation and the Problem of the Relevant Intention Chapter 38 Introduction Chapter 39 "An Intentional Demonstration" Chapter 40 "A Paradox in Intentionalism" Chapter 41 "On What a Text Is and How It Means" Chapter 42 "Allusion and Intention in Popular Art" Chapter 43 Further Reading Chapter 44 Part VII: Representation: Fiction Chapter 45 Introduction Chapter 46 "The Logical Status of Fictional Discourse" Chapter 47 "What is Fiction?" Chapter 48 "How Can We Fear and Pity Fictions?" Chapter 49 "Spelunking, Simulation, and Slime: On Being Moved by Fiction" Chapter 50 Further Reading Chapter 51 Part VIII: Representation: Depiction Chapter 52 Introduction Chapter 53 "Seeing-as, Seeing-in, and Pictorial Representation" Chapter 54 "Pictorial Recognition" Chapter 55 "Pictorial Art and Visual Experience" Chapter 56 Further Reading Chapter 57 Part IX: Expressiveness in Music Chapter 58 Introduction Chapter 59 From The Beautiful in Music Chapter 60 From Musical Meaning and Expression Chapter 61 From Deeper than Reason Chapter 62 Further Reading Chapter 63 Part X: Artistic Value Chapter 64 Introduction Chapter 65 "Aesthetic Judgment, Principles, and Properties" Chapter 66 "Art and Interaction" Chapter 67 "Empiricism and the Heresy of the Separable Value" Chapter 68 Further Reading Chapter 69 Part XI: Ethical, Aesthetic and Artistic Value Chapter 70 Introduction Chapter 71 "The Ethical Criticism of Art" Chapter 72 "Tragedy and Moral Value" Chapter 73 "Art, Morality and Ethics: On the (Im)moral Character of Art Works and Inter-Relations to Artistic Value" Chapter 74 "Aesthetics as a Guide to Ethics" Chapter 75 Further Reading Chapter 76 Part XII: The Humanly Made Environment Chapter 77 Introduction Chapter 78 "Architectural Principles in an Age of Nihilism" Chapter 79 "Art and Architecture" Chapter 80 "Reconsidering the Aesthetics of Architecture" Chapter 81 Further Reading Chapter 82 Index