Aesthetic and Artistic Autonomy

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Whether art can be wholly autonomous has been repeatedly challenged in the modern history of aesthetics. In this collection of specially-commissioned chapters, a team of experts discuss the extent to which art can be explained purely in terms of aesthetic categories. Covering examples from Philosophy, Music and Art History and drawing on continental and analytic sources, this volume clarifies the relationship between artworks and extra-aesthetic considerations, including historic, cultural or economic factors. It presents a comprehensive overview of the question of aesthetic autonomy, exploring its relevance to both philosophy and the comprehension of specific artworks themselves. By closely examining how the creation of artworks, and our judgements of these artworks, relate to society and history, Aesthetic and Artistic Autonomy provides an insightful and sustained discussion of a major question in aesthetic philosophy.

Reviews

The notion of aesthetic autonomy has assumed a number of forms across the diverse and too often mutually oblivious traditions of philosophy. In bringing together a wide range of interpretations from some of the leading theorists in their respective fields Aesthetic and Artistic Autonomy provides an important and innovative overview of that notion. Thanks not least to the editors skilful introduction this volume makes a persuasive case for the indispensability of autonomy as a category of contemporary art theory. -- Brian OConnor, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University College Dublin, Ireland
The autonomy of art has been a key issue in Continental traditions, and Owen Hulatt brings it centre-stage in Anglophone aesthetics. This is a collection of high quality that teases out autonomy's diverse meanings - showing its centrality to philosophical debate concerning the nature of art. -- Andy Hamilton, Reader in Philosophy, Durham University, UK

Author Bio

Owen Hulatt is Teaching Fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of York, UK.