Introduction slides for philosophy of art

1. PHILOSOPHY
Some Basic Standards

2. THALES 624-545 BCE
Mythos
Logos

3. Echo and Narcissus by John William
Waterhouse
MYTHOS
LOGOS

4. MYTHOS
Narcissus by Dali
LOGOS

5. LOGOS
Mythos
Logos: an attempt to answer the
question How do you know?
Logos: giving reason, without
supernatural explanation, to
support an answer.

6. HOW DO YOU KNOW?
It is the Epistemological Question.
Epistemology is the branch of
Philosophy that tries to answer
the question “How do you know?”

7. PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENT REASON
For any claim, give a reason why it
is true or false.
This is what separates knowledge
from other meaningful practices
(or logos from mythos).
Leibniz, 1646 – 1716

8. PYTHAGORAS 580-500 BCE
Gnomon
Round
or Square
Rectangle
or Oblong
The nature of reality

9. GNOMON
Round
or Square
Rectangle
or Oblong
The forms of reality

10. GNOMON
Round
or Square
Rectangle
or Oblong
The forms of reality

11. PYTHAGORAS 580-500 BCE
Gnomon
Round
or Square
Rectangle
or Oblong
The forms of reality

12. PYTHAGORAS 580-500 BCE
Gnomon
Round
or Square
Rectangle
or Oblong
The forms of reality

13. GEOMETRY OF THE REAL
Forms of reality

14. GEOMETRY OF THE REAL
Forms of reality
Leonardo: Fetus Study

15. WHAT IS REAL?
It is the Metaphysical Question.
Metaphysics is the branch of
Philosophy that tries to answer
the question “What is real?”
Leonardo: Vetruvian Man

16. PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENT REASON
For any claim, give it the strongest
possible interpretation.
This can help separate what is real
from mere appearances and
illusions.
Quine, 1908–2000

17. Jacques Louis David: Death of Socrates
SOCRATES 470-399 BCE

18. HOW TO LIVE?
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its
heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to
the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that
way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the
same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But
the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no
food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants
distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then
the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
—Aesop, 620-564 BCE

19. Josh Staub, The Mantis Parable
HOW TO LIVE?

20. HOW TO LIVE?
It is the Ethical Question.
Ethics is the branch of Philosophy
that tries to answer the question
“How to live?”
Parable of the Good Samaritan,
Church of Saint-Eutrope

21. DEFINING ‘PHILOSOPHY’
Philosophy is the attempt to answer, with reason, the
epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical questions.

23. Arcimboldo
SPRING

24. Dalí
THE FACE OF
WAR

25. Ocampo
MOUTH
FLOWER

26. DRAWING HANDS
Escher

27. TRUE FALSE
Scott Kim

28. Rob Gonzalves Unfinished Puzzle

29. Ken Knowlton
Helen Keller

30. NORTON WISDOM WITH MAGIC BOX
Whojaba