Ancient Aesthetics MSc (P02814)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PPL-P-AncientAe

The course will examine theories of beauty and the arts (especially, though not limited to, poetry and drama) in ancient thinkers, especially Plato and Aristotle; thinkers from later antiquity may also be included. Topics discussed will include the nature of beauty, artistic representation or imitation, censorship and the place of art in education, and the concept of tragedy. The impact of ancient aesthetic theories on later thought will also be considered.

Shared with UG course U04148 Ancient Aesthetics

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Philosophy, (School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Schedule I)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should have acquired
? an understanding of the aesthetic thought of leading ancient philosophers, primarily Plato and Aristotle
? an understanding of major issues discussed by these thinkers, (such as: beauty; censorship, and the relation of art to morality; artistic representation; poetic inspiration; the nature of tragedy)
? an awareness of how these issues relate to continuing debates in contemporary aesthetics
? an ability to read closely, analyse and criticise ancient philosophical texts
? an improved ability to understand and analyse arguments, and to present and defend them, both in writing and in group discussion