Combining classic accounts of the nature of aesthetics with the latest approaches, Aesthetics focuses on why art and the aesthetic matter to us, and how perceivers participate in - and contribute to - the experience of art appreciation.

Preface 1. What is distinctive about the aesthetic? 2. Why is it important to recognize objects as art? 3. Art as a vehicle for expression, creativity and freedom 4. Is it ever possible to understand a work of art? 5. Why is it important to respond emotionally to art? 6. Are evaluations of art objective? Notes Further Reading Biographical Details Index