"Ecstatic experiences” are when we seem to joyfully “lose” or transcend or go beyond ourselves. This essay introduces some philosophical issues about ecstatic experiences.
Category: Art & Aesthetics
Friedrich Nietzsche on Tragedy: Why Do We Like Tragic Art?
Tragic art is creative work that depicts the painful and catastrophic aspects of life. This essay summarizes German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s (1844-1900) theory of why we enjoy tragic art.
Jean-Luc Marion on ‘Saturated Phenomena’: What Are Mind-blowing Experiences?
This essay introduces French philosopher Jean-Luc Marion's concept of "saturated phenomena"—things people seem to experience (e.g., artworks, romantic partners, spiritual realities, etc.) that “blow your mind”—an important idea in the school of philosophy known as “phenomenology.”
Immanuel Kant’s Theory of the Sublime
Some of the most memorable experiences in life—like these—fill us with a profound sense of wonder and awe. Philosophers consider these experiences examples of the sublime. This essay summarizes Kant’s theory of the sublime.
Philosophy of Humor: What Makes Something Funny?
What makes something funny? This essay reviews some theories of what it is for something to be funny.
Videogames and Philosophy
An introduction to the philosophy of videogames: ethical, aesthetic and metaphysical issues about video games.
What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? The question is itself a philosophical question. This essay surveys some answers. #philosophy #whatisphilosophy #definingphilosophy
Wu-Wei: Acting without Desire
Author: Henrique Schneider Categories: Chinese Philosophy, Historical Philosophy, Global Philosophy Word Count: 997 Wu-wei (無爲, wúwéi) is a central concept in early Chinese philosophy. However, different schools of thought conceptualized the notion differently, so it is difficult to briefly capture its multiple senses and uses. Our focus here will be on one sense of wu-wei … Continue reading Wu-Wei: Acting without Desire
Definitions of Art: What is Art?
What distinguishes art from non-art? This is a central question in the field of study called aesthetics, which focuses on philosophical issues about art. This essay introduces influential philosophical attempts to define art.
Aesthetics vs. Art
Author: Brock Rough Category: Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art Word Count: 1000 1. The Distinction While some people take the field of aesthetics, broadly construed, to include the philosophy of art, it is instructive to examine whether and where the two notions diverge. Recognizing the distinction between the appropriate scopes of these concepts is important because there … Continue reading Aesthetics vs. Art