Learning outcomes

Profound examination and critical reflection on the relevant topics of aesthetics in general and on Hegel's Aesthetics in particular.

Didactical Methods:
The course is structured prevalently by frontal lessons and lectures from the texts; the major themes will be items for a discussion.

Program

Title:
«The death of art and the tragedy of living». Hegel’s aesthetics and modernity.

Contents:
The first part of the course deals with different relationships between mimesis and ratio focalizing on some of the fundamental passages in history (Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Rationalism, Empirism, Baumgarten). Furthermore, even fundamental concepts of contemporary aesthetics, such as the sublime and the genius in their Kantian and Goethean form, will be examined. This will be followed by an analytical lecture of Hegel’s Aesthetics, which is a milestone of philosophical thought. The analysis will start with the principal categories of the tradition of aesthetics and arts. Afterwards some of the principal moments of Hegel’s aesthetics, above all the so called “End of art”, will be examined with the aim of individuating vital moments for the construction of a modern aesthetics, which might be able, at least partially, to give answers to the questions that characterize both the practice of arts and the reflection on it. Also the differences between the traditional version of Hegel’s aesthetics and the notes taken by his students during his Berlin lessons (only recently published) will be taken into account.

Examination Methods

The exam consists in an oral discussion with the teacher.