Philosophy (Conversion) MSc
Philosophy Of Art PHIL5075
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Humanities
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course is concerned with a number of main issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics.
Timetable
2 lectures per week for 9 weeks, plus 4 seminars. The course may not run every year. Options running this year are available on MyCampus.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ 2 x Essay (2500 words) - 100%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Course Aims
The aim of this course is:
■ To introduce students to some major issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics
■ To explore some of the positions of significant philosophers on these questions.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Give an account of Hume's philosophical aims in 'Of the standard of taste';
■ Expound and critically discuss Kant's theory of aesthetic judgement;
■ Expound and critically discuss theories of artistic expression and meaning;
■ Describe and assess the prospects for a substantive theory of art;
■ Expound and critically discuss Danto's theory of art and the related institutional theory.
Assessment for this course is at Masters Level.