Philosophy 290-6

The topic of this seminar is art and human nature. What is art? Why do we value art as we do? What does art reveal about our nature? Drawing on philosophy, art history, and cognitive science, we will explore these questions. We will also look at recent efforts to frame problems about art in terms of neuroscience and evolutionary biology. Not only the pictorial but also the performing arts will concern us. This seminar is open to graduate students of philosophy. All other students require the permission of the instructor to attend.