Program Overview

Program Details

The University of Guelph offers a program in Philosophy, specifically the course "Problems of Contemporary Philosophy" (PHIL*6200).

Course Description

This course explores recent work by philosophers and scientists arguing that art can be understood in scientific terms. Two main themes are discussed: attempts to understand aesthetic preferences in terms of the evolved nature of humans, and neuroaesthetics, which determines aesthetic preferences based on the nature of the brain and its function. The course examines the views of scientists such as Steven Pinker and Dennis Dutton, and discusses the issues with their conceptions of art and evolution.

Course Outline

The course is divided into two parts. The first part reads Dutton's "The Art Instinct" and discusses the idea that evolution matters to art. The second part explores the field of neuroaesthetics, reading a series of articles and examining the idea that the brain can inform our understanding of art.

Research Areas

The course touches on research areas such as:

• Aesthetics
• Evolutionary theory
• Neuroaesthetics
• Philosophy of art

Department and School

The course is offered by the Department of Philosophy, which is part of the College of Arts. The College of Arts also includes other departments and schools, such as:

• School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing
• School of Fine Art and Music
• School of Languages and Literatures
• Department of History
• Interdisciplinary Programs

Centres, Institutes, and Labs

The University of Guelph has several centres, institutes, and labs that may be of interest to students in the Philosophy program, including:

• Centre for Scottish Studies
• Grounded and Engaged Theory Lab (GET)
• Interdisciplinary Design Lab
• The International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation
• The Humanities Interdisciplinary Collaboration Lab (THINC)
• The School of Fine Art & Music Print Study Collection