Nicholas Wolterstorff - What is Philosophy of the Arts?

What is the nature of art? What makes something “art”, and why should we value it? What are aesthetics and art theory? How is the philosophy of art (or aesthetics) relevant to the study, appreciation, and practice of the arts?
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Nicholas Wolterstorff is an American philosopher and a liturgical theologian. He is currently Noah Porter Professor Emeritus Philosophical Theology at Yale University.
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Closer to Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[@pauljarmer6451]

Am I third?

[@wisedupearly3998]

Art is what matches the inner patterns of perception.

[@andrefrattocomposer]

HA! I'm sorry, but this is rather hilarious. I'm sure Nicholas Wolternstorff is extremely bright and probably very nice, but my god, this is the answer of an academic. That's lovely that he discovered "work" music and thinks academia should spend more time with it, but I'll let him in on a little secret, most artists don't think that way, certainly composers don't. We generally don't distinguish between "esthetic" music and work music. I mean, that's crazy! Who even came up with those terms? Freakin academia, you really don't get it at all, do you? These silly classifications that exist only in minds of professors. Work music! HA! I mean, it's almost insulting, isn't it? Listen, Closer To Truth, you guys rock and I freakin love this channel, but if you want to know the philosophy of art, ask an artist.

[@adamtabl]

How can anyone postulate a concept of "art" and "aesthetics" for human beings and be totally unaware of "music" and "art" from around the world. He starts out very interesting but is so limited in his listening experience....! there is a previous comment referencing RF Thompson. One of his breakthrough ideas regarding "african art" was...if you want to know what the artists are doing.....ask them!

[@tonymaurice4157]

Abiogenesis can't even happen in the best of highly contrived lab environments with all the designed equipment and pure chemicals!

[@wicekwickowski3798]

But both of you have forgotten or deliberately omitted the most important aspect of the discussion, which is the definition of art and aesthetics. Without this, in my opinion the most important point, the discussion becomes such a loose talk about everything and nothing. And although art may mean something completely different to different people and be defined completely differently, in order to know on what grounds such a conversation is supposed to take place, in my opinion such definitions must be given.

[@ashtonmitch5699]

Our births are written in the stars. Our life charts have already been examined and keeps held from above. Our birth signs are for an absolute reason. The Hindu is the only religion in the world who are right and is the oldest religion in the world. Jesus is a savior through his teachings ONLY not by physical savior. He was a teacher of consciousness. The reason why life is pain and suffering is because we were ALL kicked out of heaven departed from God earth is a prison hell and reincarnation is absolutely 100% real. We will keep taking on new bodies in new worlds until we have achieved our higher conscience enlightened state of pureness of one.

[@evinkleinman6052]

U r correct Ashton. I agree with you👍👽😁

[@chayanbosu3293]

Ramayana and Mahabharata are not only the oldest literature of arts but also these epically have full of wisdom , moral truths which teache us how to live in this material world.

[@JungleJargon]

Everyone is an actor. Everyone acts differently.

[@judithbreastsler]

love that arts and crafts room and decor

[@maxwellsimoes238]

Art are fascinante but show song as art are no sense imagination.

[@abelincoln8885]

Philosophy of Art? lol.

[@oskarngo9138]

Can you say “Modern Art”; (such as a pile of bricks; or worse).....is necessary??

[@maxwellsimoes238]

He had change music left behind philosophy. Is is showing his Not shows how figuret out art. In this way song radio are worthless art. It emerges his art hasnt serious concept. Arrogante and fun.

[@lesliecunliffe4450]

Wolterstorff just reiterates Wittgenstein's (1953) more important insight into the meaning of 'language as use'. Art, like language, doesn't have an essence but operates with family resemblances or overlapping features. Gombrich (1999) explores this idea in his essay 'Uses of Images: Studies in the Social Function of Art and Visual Communication', which understands images as always operating in the 'logic of the situation' in which they are made. Both predate Wolterstorff's thinking on this topic.

[@rileyhoffman6629]

NB: Robert Farris Thompson, Yale Africanist art historian, long ago wrote an influential book, African Art in Motion. These are question that art historians have addressed for a very long time.

[@notinterested8452]

Of course there's philosophy of investment banking.

[@notinterested8452]

0:20

[@notinterested8452]

@Terre Schill Robert Lawrence Kuhn mentions writing a book on the philosophy of investment banking at 0:20

[@notinterested8452]

@Terre Schill I didn't really understand but thanks for commenting , I did enjoy reading all of the Hichhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books in the past and even a few of the Diskworld series. Maybe this video is about Maxwell's demon? IDK, I didn't even finish watching it.

[@notinterested8452]

@Terre Schillno problem.

[@acdude5266]

I'm too poor to understand what investment banking is. If it is anything like the philosophy of hedge funds, then the philosophy is that of Milton Friedman and ayn rand.

[@dondattaford5593]

The beauty of a blank canvas what you apply is for the imagination to interpret

[@B.S...]

_"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.”_ - [Albert Camus]

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

Art links choice to causation?

[@evinkleinman6052]

Superb video

[@maxwellsimoes238]

Trash vídeo first he not show up how art with philosophy was important in minds civilization. Instead he mix song with art are hilarious . If left he arrongant maybe showing trully philosophy of art.

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

@@maxwellsimoes238 Has there ever been a CTT video that you agree with? You seem to despise them all, yet they are all representing opposing viewpoints. If you reject all viewpoints, ... then what is your viewpoint?

[@johnyharris]

​@@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC Nihilism? Funny, I've been wanting to ask him the same question for some time now, but thought he may just slag my comment off so I didn't bother.

[@0-by-1_Publishing_LLC]

@@johnyharris I guess some people like to argue just for the sake of arguing. Although, I'm sure Mr. Simoes will disagree with that statement. lol.