"Philosophy & Art" with Thomas E. Wartenberg - The Academy for Teachers

Philosophy & Art with Thomas E. Wartenberg Wittgenstein wrote, “To observe is not the same thing as to see or glance at…. One observes in order to see what one would not see if one did not observe.” This is especially applicable to works of art, for few museum-goers do more than glance at the art on display. Yet careful observation of art can stimulate our thinking about large philosophical ideas. In this mini master class, we will observe and discuss important works of conceptual art and see what they tell us about philosophy, reality, and art itself. Thomas E. Wartenberg is professor emeritus to philosophy at Mount Holyoke College. His areas of interest are the philosophy of film, the philosophy of art, and philosophy for children, for which he has received worldwide attention. He is the author of many books, including "Big Ideas for Little Kids: Teaching Philosophy through Children’s Literature;" "A Sneetch is A Sneetch and Other Philosophical Discoveries: Finding Wisdom in Children’s Literature;" "Existentialism: A Beginner’s Guide;" and "Thinking on Screen: Film as Philosophy." He has recently completed a manuscript on visual illustrations of philosophy.