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The Artful Thinker: Rediscovering the World Through a Philosophical Lens
I remember the first time I encountered philosophy. It was during my undergraduate years, a fleeting introduction that piqued my curiosity but didn’t quite capture my heart. Little did I know that this initial spark would eventually ignite a passionate flame.
My true love affair with philosophy began unexpectedly during my master’s program. Among the array of courses offered, one stood out like a beacon of intrigue: Art Philosophy. As I stepped into that classroom, I had no idea how profoundly it would change my perspective on the world.
The course began with an exploration of aesthetics, delving into questions that had always lingered in the back of my mind. What makes something beautiful? Is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder, or are there universal standards? We discussed Immanuel Kant’s “Critique of Judgment,” where he argues that judgments of beauty are subjective yet universal. This concept fascinated me — the idea that our personal experiences of beauty could somehow connect us all.
As we progressed, we tackled the age-old question: “What is art?” I found myself captivated by Arthur Danto’s “The Transfiguration of the Commonplace,” which explores how context and interpretation transform everyday objects into art. Suddenly, I saw the world differently. A urinal wasn’t just a urinal anymore — it could be Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain,” challenging our very definition of art.
One day, our professor introduced us to John Dewey’s “Art as Experience.” Dewey argued that art isn’t just about the final product but the entire process of creation and perception. This resonated deeply with me. I began to see art not as static objects in museums, but as living, breathing experiences that could enrich our daily lives.
