Short course
Philosophy of Art: An Introduction
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
14/04/2027 - 16/06/202714:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
People often disagree on whether a particular object or performance deserves the label ‘art’ and if so whether it is good art. What are we to make of such disagreements? Is it all just a matter of personal opinion or are there more objective standards for what constitutes (good) art?
We will explore different features that have been proposed as defining characteristics of art or as reasons for valuing it: its beauty, its ability to provide us with aesthetic experiences, its expressiveness, its originality, and the fact that we can learn from it. Furthermore, we will ask how good art is created and to what extent artists’ intentions determine the meaning of their works.
We will construe the term ‘art’ in a wide sense, which means that examples discussed in the course will be taken from various art forms, including painting, sculpture, literature, film and music.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Contact the team
Phone: +44 (0)1865 280900
Course starts Wednesday 14 April 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: Introduction to Philosophy of Art. What is art? Plato on art and its role in society.
Week 2: Locke, Hutcheson and Hume on how judgements of beauty can be universally true.
Week 3: Kant on art, aesthetic judgement, shared aesthetic experience, ‘disinterestedness’, and genius.
Week 4: What is art? Can we define art? What does Clive Bell say about aesthetic emotion?
Week 5: Institutional theories of art and the view that art cannot be defined. Plus, how can music express emotion?
Week 6: How are we affected by, and changed by, art? What can we learn from art? Why do we get bored with an artwork when overexposed to it? What is the connection between learning from art and great aesthetic experience?
Week 7: What are creativity and inspiration? What is the relationship between creativity in the artistic realm and creativity in other areas of life? What is the value of art? What is the ontology of art?
Week 8: To what extent is the content and meaning of a work of art determined by the artist’s intentions? Does the artist communicate with us via his artwork, and if so what does he convey? Do we need to know the context of the artwork’s creation to properly appreciate it, or can we use it however we wish?
Week 9: Can the moral flaws of a work of art reduce its aesthetic appeal? Can a flawed artwork corrupt you? What is the point of art criticism and what is the role of the art critic?
Week 10: Visit to the Ashmolean Museum where we will try to apply ideas from the course to discussion of particular artworks.
Please note: students will have to arrange their own transport for the field trip, and cover the cost of any entry fees.
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to develop an understanding of philosophical ideas concerning art and beauty and explore key questions in aesthetics relating to the nature, value and appreciation of art.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
- develop an understanding of major philosophical theories of art and aesthetics
- explore philosophical questions concerning the nature of art and the ways in which we experience and interpret works of art
- engage critically with different approaches to evaluating the value and quality of works of art
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. understand the views discussed in the course
2. have the ability to critically engage with these positions and communicate their views to others
3. be able to use the content of the course to reflect on their own encounters with art and beauty.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in some private study in preparation for each class. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, reading and reflecting on the handout, thinking about questions or undertaking tasks.
Teaching methods
The classes will involve presentations by the tutor, group work and general discussion, with plenty of opportunity for questions. As homework students will usually be given a short text to read, which will be discussed in the following class.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment. The following is for them.
Assessment
You will write one assessed essay of 1,500 words due a couple of weeks after the end of the course. This is marked by your tutor and will either pass or fail. Prior to this you will write a piece of 500 words which helps you develop your final assessment. You might, for instance, write a plan or a draft of part of the final essay.
Mr Daniel Dennis
Dan Dennis is a knowledgeable and friendly tutor. He is adept at explaining difficult ideas and encourages students to ask questions. He has taught for Oxford University for over ten years.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All short course students (online and in-person) may register to borrow from the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library, for the duration of their course.
Further information about the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library can be found on the library website.
Preparatory reading
- The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Imagination and Creativity, / Kind, Amy, and Julia Langkau (eds)
- The Oxford Handbook of Aesthetics / Levinson, Jerrold (ed.)
- Revealing Art / Matthew Kieran
Module code: O26P448PHW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
