ABSTRACT
The arts are an important part of human life and culture. They attract a large measure of attention and support. But what is art, exactly, and why should we value it? These are very old questions. Philosophers have been concerned with them for over two thousand years. In that time a number of important answers have been developed and explored. The purpose of this book is to introduce newcomers to the field of aesthetics and art theory to the problems encountered by any attempt to answer these questions in a sustained and coherent way, and to familiarize new readers with the thinking of those philosophers who have devoted most attention to them. The intention is not just to provide information and stimulation for students of philosophy. It also aims to show the relevance of philosophy of art and aesthetics to the interests and concerns of all those, students and others, who are actively concerned with the appreciation and study of works of art of every kind.
