Aesthetics: University of Southampton

Course Description
Aesthetics covers the philosophy of art and questions about aesthetic judgements and value. This course gives you the opportunity to study both the history of aesthetics and some of the most recent arguments by contemporary philosophers.
The MA programme has been designed

• to offer a grounding in Aesthetics to those relatively new to the area
• to extend and deepen the understanding of those who have already studied Aesthetics at undergraduate level
• to offer thorough preparation for those wishing to go on to postgraduate research.

Programme Structure
Core units:Topics in the history of aesthetics, studying classic texts in aesthetics from the Ancient Greeks to the early twentieth century; Topics in contemporary aesthetics, concentrating particularly on issues that have attracted widespread debate
Research skills 1 and 2: An introduction to library facilities and a range of relevant philosophical skills, including philosophical writing and oral presentation
Specialised units (subject to availability):

• Art and emotion
• Philosophy of music
• Schopenhauer and Nietzsche on art
• The nature of art

These units are taught through seminars led by the unit tutor, in preparation for writing a 5,000-word essay, to be submitted at the end of the semester.
Plus: A dissertation – this is an extended piece of research (15,000–20,000 words) on a topic chosen in consultation with your supervisor – this can form the backbone of advanced work towards an MPhil/PhD