14293 - History of Modern Aesthetics (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students are aware of the main historical and historiographical orientations concerning aesthetics in the modern age, and in particular between the 19th and 20th centuries. They must have gained basic knowledge of the changes that have occurred over these two centuries in aesthetics, meant both as a theoretical reflection on art and as a moment of philosophical thought in general. They must also master methods of investigation that enable them to deal with the complex relationships that are established between artistic configuration and aesthetic experience, also in relation to the expressive phenomena that characterize the historical-cultural contexts in question.

Course contents

Debating Taste: Theories of Aesthetic Judgment in the Modern Era

The course aims to define and explore the sensory and cognitive processes that some of the leading philosophers of English empiricism placed at the foundation of aesthetic evaluation and appreciation. In particular, it seeks to trace the evolutionary stages of an inquiry in which the definition of the faculty of judgment—situated between sense and reason—became progressively more complex and problematic. Moreover, the course aims to situate aesthetic reflection within the main currents of modern philosophy, highlighting, on one hand, the ways in which aesthetics emerged as an autonomous and distinct discipline, separate from other branches of philosophical inquiry, and, on the other hand, the continuing relevance of theories of taste that still influence contemporary thought.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Sources (mandatory texts)

- Lord Shaftesbury, I Moralisti, Palermo, Aesthetica, 2003, pp. 99-135 (part III, §§ 1 e 2).

- F. Hutcheson, L’origine della bellezza, Palermo, Aesthetica, 1988, pp. 21-41 e 47-63.

- D. Hume, Saggi sul gusto e sulle arti, Milano, Mimesis, 2024, pp. 131-152 (“Sulla regola del gusto”).

 

2) Critical Studies (mandatory texts)

- L. Formigari, L’estetica del gusto nel Settecento inglese, Roma, Aracne, 2019, pp. 69-93 e 117-153.

- A. Gatti, Contro i “nemici della ragione e della bellezza”. I Saggi sul gusto e sulle arti di David Hume, in D. Hume, Saggi sul gusto e sulle arti, Milano, Mimesis, 2024, pp. 7-47.

 

Mandatory Texts for non attending students:

- E. Franzini, L’estetica del Settecento, Bologna, il Mulino, 1995, pp. 93-114 (“Gusto e genio”).

- C. Gentili, E. Caramelli, Storia dell’estetica, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2025, pp. 94-98 (Lord Shaftesbury) e 115-123 (Hutcheson e Hume).

Teaching methods

The course consists of frontal lessons. The sources are commented and discussed, and their main content and historical context are synthetically reconstructed. 

Assessment methods

The final proof will take place in the form of an oral examination. During the examination the teacher will assess whether the student has achieved or not some basic educational goals: knowledge of the texts and capacity to contextualize authors and works; comprehension of the fundamental concepts and capacity to provide a correct interpretation of them; clarity in the explanation of concepts and accuracy in the use of philosophical terminology; capacity to establish connections between the various authors and themes from both a historical and a strictly speaking conceptual point of view. During the oral examination the teacher will assess if the student possesses the abovementioned knowledge and skills in a (more or less) complete, precise and adequate way, or vice-versa in a (more or less) incomplete, vague and superficial way. The final grade will correspondently vary from excellent (30 and honors) to very good (30) to good (27-29) to fairly good (24-26) to more than enough (21-23) to merely enough (18-21) to unsatisfactory (<18).

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) have the right to special accommodations according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the teacher but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adaptations. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

It is recommended that you contact the university office well in advance. Any adaptations must be submitted 15 days in advance for the teacher(s)' approval. They will also assess the adaptations' appropriateness in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

 

Exam sessions

Exam sessions are scheduled during the calendar year in the following months: January, February, March, May, June, July, September, November.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations containing useful texts and materials for further study of the course topics will be shown during the lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Gatti