Philosophy 1361, Spring 2008

Dr. Cynthia Freeland

Unit One Paper Topics

1. Eaton

What is new in Marcia Eaton’s discussion of the aesthetic? Does her revision of the traditional notion of the aesthetic make sense to you? Explain.

2. Purposiveness without a Purpose

Kant’s phrase “purposiveness without a purpose” is a puzzling one. Explain what he means by this phrase and tell how it relates it both to the concepts of art and the aesthetic. It would probably be useful to bring in some examples. Does this seem to be a good or plausible way to explain art?

3. Art and the Aesthetic

Should art be aesthetically pleasing? Why or why not? Be sure to use examples and include some references to our readings.

The paper is due in class Wednesday, January 30th. Please add a cover sheet that clearly identifies your topic. Late papers will be marked down. The suggested length is two pages, double-spaced. You do not need formal footnotes for the two course texts; simply cite them as “Freeland, p. 3” or “Korsmeyer, p. 11”. Remember to consult the Writing Tips from Dr. Freeland. And remember, do not plagiarize! All sources that are quoted from or paraphrased must be cited with full references in footnotes.