A survey of the central issues in contemporary aesthetics available. It features eighteen freshly commissioned papers on the evaluation of art, the interpretation of art, and many other forms of art such as literature, movies, and music.

Notes on Contributors. Introduction: Aesthetics Today. Part I: The Core Issues:. 1. The Origins of Modern Aesthetics: 1711—35: Paul Guyer (University of Pennsylvania). 2. Defining Art: Intension and Extension: George Dickie (University of Illinois, Chicago). 3. Art and the Aesthetic: Marcia Muelder Eaton (University of Minnesota). 4. The Ontology of Art: Amie L. Thomasson (University of Miami). 5. Evaluating Art: Alan Goldman (College of William & Mary). 6. Interpretation in Aesthetics: Laurent Stern (Rutgers University). 7. Art and the Moral Realm: Noël Carroll (University of Wisconsin – Madison). 8. Beauty and the Critic’s Judgment: Remapping Aesthetics: Mary Mothersill (Barnard College). 9. The Philosophy of Taste: Thoughts on the Idea: Ted Cohen (University of Chicago). 10. The Emotions in Art: Jenefer Robinson (University of Cincinnati). Part II: The Arts and Other Matters:. 11. The Philosophy of Literature: Pleasure Restored: Peter Lamarque (University of York) and Stein Haugom Olsen (Lingnan University). 12. The Philosophy of the Visual Arts: Perceiving Pictures: Joseph Margolis (Temple University). 13. The Philosophy of the Movies: Cinematic Narration: Berys Gaut (University of St. Andrews). 14. The Philosophy of Music: Formalism and Beyond: Philip Alperson (Temple University). 15. The Philosophy of Dance: Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest: Francis Sparshott (University of Toronto). 16. Tragedy: Susan Feagin (Temple University). 17. The Aesthetics of Nature and the Environment: Donald W. Crawford (University of California, Santa Barbara). 18. Art and the Aesthetic: The Religious Dimension: Nicholas Wolterstorff (Yale University). Index

The Blackwell Guide to Aesthetics is one of the most authoritative surveys of the central issues in contemporary aesthetics available. The volume features eighteen newly-commissioned essays on the evaluation of art, the interpretation of art, and forms of art such as literature, movies, dance, and music. Written in clear and accessible prose by an assembly of some of the most distinguished philosophers of art, these essays develop the themes, discuss the problems, and evaluate the arguments of the main topics in the field. An excellent resource for students and scholars alike, this book provides a guide to the central, traditional questions as well as the cutting-edge issues in aesthetics today. The contributors are Peter Kivy, George Dickie, Noël Carroll, Paul Guyer, Ted Cohen, Marcia Muelder Eaton, Joseph Margolis, Berys Gaut, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Susan Feagin, Peter Lamarque, Stein Haugom Olsen, Francis Sparshott, Alan Goldman, Jenefer Robinson, Mary Mothersill, Donald W. Crawford, Philip Alperson, Laurent Stern, and Amie L. Thomasson.

"This volume vaults the reader immediately into the center of philosophical conversation about the arts. The high-caliber authors advance substantive positions on a very satisfying sweep of issues, and the resulting whole displays to advantage both the good sense and provocativeness of contemporary Anglo-American aesthetics." Eileen John, University of Louisville "From a volume of this kind one wants sharply focused essays on central themes, by fair-minded but opinionated experts. In a few pages they have to tell us how we got to where we are, and why it matters. This is not an easy specification to fill, but the success rate in The Blackwell Guide to Aesthetics is high." Gregory Currie, University of Nottingham