The Nature of Art

Intended for aesthetics courses in philosophy departments, or philosophy of art and critical aesthetic theory courses in art departments, THE NATURE OF ART is a collection of 28 seminal, historically-organized readings that are focused on a basic philosophical question: What is Art? Including writings from the Western tradition as well as non-Western, minority, and feminist writings, this volume provides students with a rich set of resources to explore this matter both broadly and deeply. Introductions to each reading situate the selection amidst each respective thinker's body of work and the greater philosophical context in which the remarks arose. Reading questions for each reading draw students' attention to key points to be encountered. Hailed by reviewers for its clarity and rigor, Wartenberg's THE NATURE OF ART offers a lively and engaging introduction to the philosophy of art.