Project

A critical analysis of the methodology of evolutionary explanations for the emergence and possible functions of art

Code
3F022911
Duration
01 October 2011 → 30 September 2015
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund, Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Humanities and the arts
    • Philosophy
    • Art studies and sciences
Keywords
aesthetics methodology art evolutionary theory interdisciplinarity
 
Project description

Since the last couple of decades, cultural and social phenomena such as art, religion, language and morality, are increasingly studied from an evolutionary point of view. However, a number of difficulties arise when a biological theory is applied to this subject matter. The goal of this research, with art as a case study, is to map pitfalls and opportunities, in order to contribute to the study of these phenomena, as well as to the expansion of evolutionary theory's framework of research.