The Social Aesthetics of Human Environments

Across these essays Arnold Berleant demonstrates how aesthetic values and theory can be used to reappraise our social practices. He tackles issues within the built environment, everyday life, and politics, breaking down the dichotomy between the natural and the human. His work represents a fresh approach to traditional philosophical questions in not only ethics, but in metaphysics, truth, meaning, psychology, phenomenology, and social and moral philosophy. Topics covered include the cultural aesthetics of environment, ecological aesthetics, the aesthetics of terrorism, and the subversion of beauty. The corruption of taste by the forces of commercial interests as well as how aesthetics can advance our understanding of violence are also considered. Berleant''s exploration is supported by his analysis of 19th-century art to the present day, starting with impressionism through to postmodernism and contemporary artistic interventions. By critically examining the field in this way and casting new light on social understanding and practice, this collection makes a substantive contribution in identifying and clarifying central human issues, guided by an understanding of aesthetic engagement as a powerful tool for social critique.>

Autorentext

Arnold Berleant is Professor (Emeritus) of Philosophy at Long Island University, USA, and Past President of the International Association of Aesthetics.

Inhalt

List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgements

Part I. Wherefore Aesthetics?

1. Questioning Aesthetics
2. Transformations in Aesthetics

Part II. The Complicit Participant
3. Objects into Persons
4. Duchampian Reflections on Descartes

Part III. Environment as Cultural
5. The Cultural Aesthetics of Environment
6. Some Questions for Ecological Aesthetics

Part IV. Aesthetic Exploitation
7. The Critical Aesthetics of Disney World
8. The Subversion of Beauty

Part V. Negative Aesthetics
9. The Aesthetics of Terrorism
10. Reflections on the Aesthetics of Violence

Part VI. Aesthetics as Cultural Critique
11. The Sublime Troubles of Postmodernism

Part VII. Aesthetic Community
12. Getting Along Beautifully: Ideas for a Social Aesthetics
13. Aesthetics and Community

Notes
Bibliography
Appendix - an annotated bibliography of writings by Arnold Berleant in social and political aesthetics and ethics
Index