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| Raphael Sanzio, School of Athens (1509), in the Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican. Fresco (5.0 m x 7.7 m.) [1]. |
When teaching a survey course in
the history of art and architecture, the blank stares at the mere mention of
Philosophy are unavoidable. In my experience as a professor, most students are not sufficiently prepared in this very important
area; especially those who enter faculty right away after high school.
I always tell my students that, among other things, art is a conversation; a conversation between the artist/architect and his public, and, perhaps more significantly, a conversation between artists themselves in which the cultural context plays an important role. Very difficult to make sense
of any such dialogue if we do not have an idea of the milieu that nurtures the artist/architect and his work.
The need for a philosophical background applies to everyone, even to those for whom art and architecture is an interest
outside the academic arena. As Peter Hacker puts it:
The
history of philosophy is a capital part of the history of ideas. To study the
history of philosophy is to study an aspect of the intellectual life of past
societies, and of our own society in the past. ... the study of the history of philosophy is essential. For we cannot know
where we are, unless we understand how we got here. (“Why study Philosophy”, in iai news http://iainews.iai.tv/articles/why-study-philosophy-auid-289
Consulted: October 29, 2014).
I am not suggesting everyone studies advanced courses in Philosophy; what I
propose is that the subject should be part of everyone’s comprehensive education,
especially that of people interested in the Humanities.
For those interested, the series of lectures by Professor
Charles Anderson – “Political, Economic and Social Thought” (University of
Wisconsin-Madison) – will get you off to a good start. You can download the
series from iTunes” https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/political-economic-social/id430425134?mt=10
Professor Anderson is a solid an engaging lecturer with a sense humor.
[1] Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_School_of_Athens_01.jpg
According to the source: "This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public
domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term
of life of the author plus 100 years or less." And, "This file has
been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law,
including all related and neighboring rights." Consulted: November 4, 2014.
