Eldridge Richard. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art

Cambridge University Press, 2003. — 292 p.In this book Richard Eldridge presents a clear and compact survey of philosophical theories of the nature and significance of art. Drawing on materials from classical and contemporary philosophy as well as from literary theory and art criticism, he explores the representational, expressive, and formal dimensions of art, and he argues that works of art present their subject matter in ways that are of enduring cognitive, moral, and social interest. His discussion, illustrated with a wealth of examples, ranges over topics such as beauty, originality, imagination, imitation, the ways in which we respond emotionally to art, and why we argue about which works are good. His accessible study will be invaluable to students and to all readers who are interested in the relation between thought and art.Richard Eldridge is Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania. His previous publications include Beyond Representation: Philosophy and Poetic Imagination (1996), The Persistence of Romanticism (2001), Stanley Cavell (2003), and many journal articles.The situation and tasks of the philosophy of art
Representation, imitation, and resemblance
Beauty and form
Expression
Originality and imagination
Understanding art
Identifying and evaluating art
Art and emotion
Art and morality
Art and society: some contemporary practices of art
Epilogue: the evidence of things not seen