Glenn Parsons

Philosophy of Design

The Philosophy of Design is an introduction to the fundamental philosophical issues raised by the contemporary practice of design. The first book to systematically examine design from the perspective of contemporary philosophy, it offers a broad perspective, ranging across key philosophical areas such as aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. The first part of the book explores central issues about the nature of design and its products, and the rationality of design methods. A central theme is that Modernist ideas, such as those offered by Loos and Gropius, provide important responses to these philosophical issues. In the second part of the book, these Modernist ideas serve as touchstones in the exploration of key issues for design, including: the place of aesthetics in design; design's relation to personal expression; the meaning of function; and design's relation to consumerism. The social responsibility of designers, and the impact of design practice on ethical reasoning are also discussed. Written in an accessible style, The Philosophy of Design presents a new perspective on design and a provocative reassessment of the Modernist legacy. It will engage students and designers with current philosophical debates, helping them to bring into clearer focus the meaning of contemporary design, and its unique challenges and possibilities.

The Philosophy of Design

Sandra Shapshay

Ned Hettinger

This handbook provides the first comprehensive overview of philosophical thinking about the aesthetics of the natural and human-made environments, exploring the topic's foundations, key ideas, and current debates. Throughout history and across cultures, people's perceptions of beauty and ugliness in their surroundings have been an important part of the human experience. This volume contains more than 30 contributions from leading scholars examining environmental appreciation from a variety of perspectives. Chapters cover a wide range of environments and issues, including the aesthetics of animals, natural sounds, gardens, the urban environment, and the relation between aesthetics and environmentalism. It also explores new topics such as the appreciation of nature in ancient thought, love of place, the traditional nature aesthetics of China and Japan, and the aesthetics of climate change. The Routledge Handbook of Nature and Environmental Aesthetics will be essential reading for students and scholars working on the aesthetics of environment, as well as anyone who wants to think deeply about environmental beauty. Scholars working in related fields outside academic philosophy, such as geography, landscape studies, environmental psychology, and environmental studies will also find it an invaluable guide to contemporary debates.

Routledge Handbook of Nature and Environmental Aesthetics

The appreciation of nature and natural beauty demands our attention as environmental issues become ever more urgent. In this timely introduction, Glenn Parsons provides an overview of philosophical work on the aesthetics of nature, identifying key conceptual questions, clarifying central theories, and analyzing the ethical ramifications of our experience of natural beauty. Outlining five major approaches to understanding the aesthetic value of nature, this second edition explores the aesthetic appreciation of nature as it occurs in wilderness, in gardens, and in the context of appreciating environmental art. Now updated to cover recent developments in the field, it includes: · A new chapter on the sublime, the picturesque, and the beautiful · Expanded discussion of empirical and evolutionary accounts of nature appreciation, as well as the appreciation of the environment in non-Western cultures · A new chapter on the aesthetic appreciation of animals · An in-depth analysis of the appreciation of nature through cinema and photography · Discussion of the relation between environmental appreciation and climate change Combining a clear and engaging style with a sophisticated treatment of a fascinating subject, Aesthetics and Nature explores the aesthetic dimension of humanity's relationship with our physical surroundings. This a must-read for anyone who cares about nature and the future of our environment.

The Appreciation of Natural Beauty and the Environment

Aesthetics and Nature

Aesthetics and Nature offers a clear and accessible introduction to the field of nature aesthetics. Glenn Parsons explores the current debates in the field, providing the reader with a thorough overview of the subject. The book situates nature aesthetics in relation to two principal influences: aesthetics' traditional project of understanding the value of art and current thought on the ethics of our relationship with nature. The book outlines five major approaches to understanding the aesthetic value of nature and explores the aesthetic appreciation of nature as it occurs in wilderness, in gardens, and in the context of appreciating environmental art. The book also includes a study of the idea that conserving nature's beauty provides a compelling reason to preserve wilderness. This highly topical idea has deep implications for the importance of aesthetic value in our relationship to nature, and for the fate of nature itself. Combining a clear and engaging style with a sophisticated treatment of a fascinating subject, Aesthetics and Nature is a valuable contribution to contemporary aesthetics.

Allen Carlson

Functional Beauty is an in-depth philosophical study of the relationship between function and aesthetic value. Breaking with the philosophical tradition of separating aesthetic value from functionality and drawing on recent research on the nature of function in the philosophy of science, Glenn Parsons and Allen Carlson explore the ways in which aesthetic value can depend upon function. In so doing, they provide a theory of the aesthetics of functionalobjects, including furniture, tools, and machines. They also shed new light on the aesthetics of the natural environment, architecture, and art.

Glenn Parsons

Books

Your next favorite book is out there