Ateneo - UPO

The course will address the relationship between aesthetic experience and emotional experience. The first part will be devoted to a survey of the fundamental stages of philosophical thought on this topic. In the second part of the course, fundamental texts and passages from the contemporary debate on art, aesthetics and emotions will be read, discussed and commented upon.

- Pinotti, A. (a cura di) Il primo libro di estetica, Einaudi, 2022.
- D'Angelo P., Franzini E., Scaramuzza G. Estetica, Raffaello Cortina 2002 (testi selezionati)
- Benenti, M, Ravasio M. Espressività, Mimesis 2017
- Consoli, G. Estetica e scienze cognitive, Il Mulino 2015

Un testo a scelta tra:
- D'Angelo, P. La tirannia delle emozioni, Laterza 2021 (parti da selezionare con la docente)
- Walton, K. "Fearing Fictions", Journal of Philosophy 75 (1):5-27 (1978)
- Robinson, J. "Aesthetic Emotions", The Monist 103 (2):205-222 (2020)
- Matravers, D. "Art and the feelings and emotions". British Journal of Aesthetics 31 (4):322-331, (1991)

- In-depth understanding of philosophical texts belonging to the classical and analytical tradition of aesthetics.
- Understanding of logical and argumentative connections and identification of possible weaknesses or fallacies.
- Understanding of the role of philosophical thought in multidisciplinary debates.
- Ability to adopt and explain different perspectives on the same topic or problem.
- Development of presentation and communication skills.

Knowledge Italian and good understanding of written English

- Lectures
- Seminar discussions
- Presentations by students using the necessary software.

Writing of a short essay in Italian or English and discussion of the paper. Subject and references to be agreed with the teacher.
The evaluation will depend on:
(a) argumentative, stylistic and content adequacy of the essay (50%)
(b) mastery of syllabus topics (25%)
(c) ability to critically rework the syllabus topics in relation to the essay (25%)

1. Introduction: what is aesthetics? What is analytic aesthetics? Basic questions on aesthetics and emotions. Exposition of the course programme and methods of examination
2. Aesthetics as a theory of art and as a theory of experience. Review and comparison of the main approaches to aesthetics as a specific discipline.
3. Necessary and sufficient conditions, closed vs. open or "cluster" concepts for defining what is art. Analysis of a case study (Brancusi's Oiseau) for the definition of a work of art from the perspective of conceptual negotiation.
4. Historical introduction. Mimesis, between Plato and Aristotle. Conceptions of art, convergences and divergences on the role of imitation in art.
5. Historical introduction. Hume and the Standard of Taste. Reflections on the judgement of taste and on the role of the critic.
6. Historical introduction. Burke and the Sublime. Reflections on the nature of the beautiful and the sublime.
7. Historical Introduction. Kant, Transcendental Aesthetics and the Critique of Judgement.
8. Historical introduction. Schopenhauer, Will and Music. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
9. Aesthetics and emotions: two orders of problems. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
10. Aesthetics and emotions: what are emotions. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
11. Aesthetics and emotions: the emotions aroused by works of art. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
12. Aesthetics and emotions: emotions in fiction. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
13. Aesthetics and emotions: theories of expressivity, from illusion to emotional solicitation. Presentation and discussion of a chosen text.
14. Aesthetics and emotions: theories of expressivity, from the role of imagination to the role of perception.
15. Summary.

- Being able to read in depth and understand the philosophical texts discussed during the course by mastering the technical vocabulary [minimum objective].
- Being able to identify logical connections between texts and possible interdisciplinary connections (cognitive sciences, psychology, art) [advanced objective].
- Being able to identify the argumentative structure of the texts examined [minimum objective].
- Knowing and being able to present correctly the main theories and points of view examined during the course and being able to discuss them critically [minimum objective].
- Knowing how to present these theories using the necessary technologies [minimum objective].
- Knowing how to write a short essay rigorously and critically elaborating the theories discussed [advanced objective]