Synopses & Reviews
The Oxford Handbook of Aesthetics brings the authority, liveliness, and multi-disciplinary scope of the Handbook series to a fascinating theme in philosophy and the arts. Jerrold Levinson has assembled a hugely impressive range of talent to contribute 48 brand-new essays, making this the most comprehensive guide available to the theory, application, history, and future of the field. This Handbook will be invaluable to academics and students across philosophy and all branches of the arts, both as the reference work of choice and as a stimulus to new research and creativity.
Review
"It is apt that a book on aesthetics should immediately appeal to the senses. Levinson's edited collection has high production values, is clearly laid out, and...has excellent paper quality which contributes not a little to the pleasure of thumbing through its forty-eight essays. ... Levinson's first achievement...is that he has brought together many of the key practitioners in the field of philosophical aesthetics and this is reflected in the depth of subjects and the lucid quality of the writing. ... His second achievement is in imposing clarity and ease of navigation on the collections. ... Levinson has achieved his intention to provide a collection from which both the professional philosopher and the enthusiastic non-professional can derive instruction and pleasure. In doing so, he has also succeeded in filling a sizeable gap in a burgeoning book market."--
British Journal of AestheticsReview
"It is apt that a book on aesthetics should immediately appeal to the senses. Levinson's edited collection has high production values, is clearly laid out, and...has excellent paper quality which contributes not a little to the pleasure of thumbing through its forty-eight essays. ... Levinson's first achievement...is that he has brought together many of the key practitioners in the field of philosophical aesthetics and this is reflected in the depth of subjects and the lucid quality of the writing. ... His second achievement is in imposing clarity and ease of navigation on the collections. ... Levinson has achieved his intention to provide a collection from which both the professional philosopher and the enthusiastic non-professional can derive instruction and pleasure. In doing so, he has also succeeded in filling a sizeable gap in a burgeoning book market."--British Journal of Aesthetics
Review
"The piece is skillfully organized, and Levinson's grasp of the details of the various topics is unsurpassed. The aesthetics community has much for which to thank Jerrold Levinson. His papers are required reading on a number of topics in aesthetics, and he is renowned as a generous commentator and critic."--Derek Matravers, The Open University, Milton Keynes
"Levinson has achieved his intention to provide a collection from which both the professional philosopher and the enthusiastic non-professional can derive instruction and pleasure. In doing so, he has also succeeded in filling a sizeable gap in a burgeoning book market."--British Journal of Aesthetics
Table of Contents
Preface
Part One: Background
1. Philosophical Aesthetics: an Overview, Jerrold Levinson
2. History of Modern Aesthetics, Paul Guyer
Part Two: General Issues in Aesthetics
3. Aesthetic Realism 1, Nick Zangwill
4. Aesthetic Realism 2, John Bender
5. Aesthetic Experience, Gary Iseminger
6. Beauty, Nick Zangwill
7. Aesthetics of Nature, Malcolm Budd
8. Definition of Art, Robert Stecker
9. Ontology of Art, Stephen Davies
10. Medium in Art, David Davies
11. Representation in Art, Alan Goldman
12. Expression in Art, Aaron Ridley
13. Style in Art, Stephanie Ross
14. Creativity in Art, Philip Alperson
15. Authenticity in Art, Denis Dutton
16. Intention in Art, Paisley Livingston
17. Interpretation in Art, Gregory Currie
18. Value in Art, Robert Stecker
19. Humour, Noel Carroll
20. Metaphor, Ted Cohen
21. Fiction, Peter Lamarque
22. Narrative, George Wilson
23. Tragedy, Aaron Ridley
24. Art and Emotion, Alex Neill
25. Art and Knowledge, Berys Gaut
26. Art and Morality, Matthew Kieran
27. Art and Politics, Lydia Goehr
Part Three: Aesthetic Issues of Specific Artforms
28. Music, Stephen Davies
29. Painting, Susan Feagin
30. Literature, Paisley Livingston
31. Architecture, Gordon Graham
32. Sculpture, Robert Hopkins
33. Dance, Noel Carroll
34. Theatre, Paul Woodruff
35. Poetry, Alex Neill
36. Photography, Nigel Warburton
37. Film, Berys Gaut
Part Four: Further Directions in Aesthetics
38. Feminist Aesthetics, Mary Devereaux
39. Environmental Aesthetics, John Fisher
40. Comparative Aesthetics, Kathleen Higgins
41. Aesthetics and Evolutionary Psychology, Denis Dutton
42. Aesthetics and Cognitive Science, Gregory Currie
43. Aesthetics and Ethics, Richard Eldridge
44. Aesthetics of Popular Art, David Novitz
45. Aesthetics of the Avant-Garde, Gregg Horowitz
46. Aesthetics of the Everyday, Crispin Sartwell
47. Aesthetics and Postmodernism, Richard Shusterman
48. Aesthetics and Cultural Studies, Deborah Knight