160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Late Night Thursday! Our Hobsonville Bookstore is open until 9pm tonight! ✨

Aesthetics

The Classic Readings
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Aesthetics is a comprehensive anthology exploring the philosophy of art and beauty across history and cultures. This expanded edition brings together classic and contemporary essays, from Plato and Kant to Oscar Wilde and Arthur C. Danto, examining topics such as the nature of beauty, aesthetic judgement, and the value of art and nature. The collection includes diverse perspectives, incorporating contributions from artists, poets, and critics, and broadens the field by featuring significant Asian philosophical writings.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$7599
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This anthology is ideal for students, scholars, and anyone interested in philosophy, art criticism, and cross-cultural perspectives on aesthetics. Its blend of canonical and varied voices makes it suitable for both academic study and general readers keen to deepen their understanding of aesthetic theory.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The newly expanded and revised edition of Cooper’s popular anthology features classic writings on aesthetics, both historical and contemporary.

The second edition of this bestselling anthology collects essays of canonical significance in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. It features a wide range of topics from the nature of beauty and the criteria for aesthetic judgement to the value of art and the appreciation of nature.

  • Includes texts by classical philosophers like Plato and Kant, alongside essays from art critics like Clive Bell. The edition boasts new readings from Leonardo da Vinci, Oscar Wilde, Walter Pater, Ronald W. Hepburn, and Arthur C. Danto among others.
  • Intersperses philosophical scholarship with diverse contributions from artists, poets, novelists, and critics.
  • Broadens the scope of aesthetics beyond the Western tradition, including important texts by Asian philosophers from Mo Tzu to Tanizaki.
  • Includes a fully-updated introduction to the discipline written by the editor, as well as prefaces to each text and chapter-specific lists of further reading.

Series: Philosophy: The Classic Readings

View all
  • Epistemology
    From Plato to Quine, this volume provides a concise collection of the essential, classic readings in the theory of knowledge. Epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, is one of the oldest and most central branches of philosophy. Do we know what we think we know? What are the sources of knowledge? These are among the perennial questions of philosophy. This...
    Paperback
    $16500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Ethics
    This is the second volume in a new series of classic readings in philosophy and collects together the central texts in the history of moral philosophy, thus representing many of the most important topics in the field. It will serve as an invaluable resource for students of all levels taking courses in ethics or moral theory. The texts selected range...
    Paperback
    $8099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Aesthetics
    The newly expanded and revised edition of Cooper’s popular anthology features classic writings on aesthetics, both historical and contemporary. The second edition of this bestselling anthology collects essays of canonical significance in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. It features a wide range of topics from the nature of beauty and the criteria for aesthetic judgement to the value of...
    Paperback
    $7599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781119116806

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 May 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell

Edition: 2nd edition

Contributors:

  • Edited by David E. Cooper
  • Edited by David E. Cooper
  • Edited by David E. Cooper

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 567g

Pages: 368

About the Author

DAVID E. COOPER is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Durham University and has been a visiting professor at universities in the US, Canada, Malta, and Sri Lanka. His many books include Philosophy: The Classic Readings (Wiley Blackwell, 2009, edited with P.S. Fosl), World Philosophies: A Historical Introduction (Wiley Blackwell, Second Edition, 2002), Existentialism: A Reconstruction (Wiley Blackwell, Second Edition, 1999) and Animals and Misanthropy (2018).

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether it’s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • How Lucky Am I
    The first full book featuring social media sensation Mr. Skelly, with over 5 million global followers, a skeleton who teaches us that life is a gift to be treasured, reminding us how lucky we all are to live in this present moment. For readers of The Book of Gifts and The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. In this poignant,...
    Hardback
    $4299
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Daily Stoic
    The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman offers an enriching journey through the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, distilled into a format meant for modern readers' daily use. This compelling book is structured as a day-by-day guide, bringing wisdom, insight, and guidance from esteemed Stoic philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius directly to your life. Each day unveils...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Happiness Trap
    Free yourself from depression, anxiety, and insecurity, and instead, build a rich and meaningful life with the world's best-selling guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Over 1 million copies sold! The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris is an illuminating and transformative guide designed to help readers navigate the challenging landscape of modern life. As an expert in ACT,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Courage to be Disliked
    The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga presents an enlightening and thought-provoking dialogue between a philosopher and a young man disillusioned with life. In a series of conversations, the philosopher introduces the principles of Alfred Adler's psychology, advocating for personal empowerment and mental freedom. Through this engaging dialogue, the young man learns to confront the societal...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Creative Act
    Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day and then ages out. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed...
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Lessons on Living
    Bestselling author Nigel Latta's simple psychological toolkit for life's ups and downs. Over thirty years working as a clinical psychologist, Nigel Latta assembled a personal toolkit based on three simple principles. These principles helped him to be more resilient, joyful, and attuned to what matters most. The same principles have helped him through some difficult times as well, such as...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
    In the drab and oppressive world of 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell introduces us to Winston Smith, a man haunted by the omnipresent surveillance and control exercised by the Party and its enigmatic leader, Big Brother. Winston works diligently at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to alter historical records to fit the ever-changing narrative dictated by the...
    Paperback
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Godel, Escher, Bach
    Godel, Escher, Bach, by Douglas R. Hofstadter, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that delves into the complex interplay between the works and ideas of three brilliant minds: mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. This interdisciplinary treatise embarks on a journey through a labyrinth of mathematical theorems, artful prints, and intricate compositions, weaving them together...
    Paperback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Aroha
    Aroha by Dr Hinemoa Elder is an enlightening exploration of timeless Maori wisdom, intricately woven into a contemporary context. This top-selling non-fiction title from New Zealand in 2021 introduces readers to 52 traditional Maori proverbs, known as whakataukī, each offering a profound lesson for every week of the year. Dr Elder, a respected Maori psychiatrist, delves into these powerful sayings...
    Hardback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.