In this course, we will consider a number of philosophical questions having to do with art and aesthetic experience. We will begin by asking what makes something an artwork, whether there is anything distinctive about the experience of beauty, and whether there are differences between natural and artistic beauty. Next, we will ask whether art and beauty have any value, and if so, what it consists in: can art teach us about the world, for example, or does it mislead us? Can it make us better, as individuals and/or as societies? Lastly, we will consider whether aesthetic judgments are objective or subjective: if you like an artwork and I don’t, are we genuinely disagreeing with each other? How might you convince me that you are right? In the final portion of the course, students will be asked to bring in an artwork of their choosing and consider how it exemplifies or challenges some aspect of our readings or discussion.