During this week, we will move from Plato’s introduction of Classical
rationalism to Kant’s attempt to merge the two scientific lines of rationalism
and empiricism. The most critical question explored during this period in
regards to meaning had to do with certainty. How can a meaning be assured and
how can it be universal to all people, everywhere. This was the purpose behind
Kant’s Critiques as well as many, many other writings of philosophical and
cultural theory.
As
you move through the readings and lectures, I would like you to consider this
question of universal versus relative knowledge and how it fits into
design. Meaning addresses the source for design processes and makes the work we
do defensible. This topic addresses expression, taste, interpretation and
coherence.
Meaning: The Modern period is defined as
moving away from mysticism and using
doubt as a tool for acquiring knowledge;
defining architecture and it’s rules for
judgment; body metaphors, introduction of
relative priorities; mechanics as the source
of meaning; challenging tradition as a
source of meaning; taste and the crisis of
meaning; application of Cartesian categories
to address truth in the arts; move to the
imaginative rather than imitative (Classical
to Romantic); Kant, meaning and genius
The lecture are:
Numbering, measuring, and weighing as Knowledge
DesignTheory.01_13-Meaning-Plato.mp3
Defining architecture and it’s rules for judgement
Link to download Image file — DesignTheory.02_05-Vitruvius and the Orders.pdf
Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.02_05-Meaning-Vitruvius.mp3
Shift in symmetry as an essential character in a definition of beauty, analogy of the body, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.03_05-meaning-Alberti.mp3
Body metaphors, introduction of relative priorities, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.03_06-meaning-Di Giorgio-Serlio.mp3
Mechanics as the source of meaning, moving away from mysticism, doubt as a tool for acquiring knowledge, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.04_02-Meaning-Enlightenment.mp3
Breaking with the past and the refocusing on the individual as source of knowledge, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.04_07-Meaning-Descartes.mp3
Tradition became challenged as a source of meaning, progress by certainty and truth, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.04_10-Meaning-cartesian.mp3
The unravelling of the Classical Canon through scientific inquiry, proportions not as absolute condition, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.05_05-Meaning-Perrault.mp3
Taste and the crisis of meaning – psychology of creation and experience of art, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.06_02-Meaning-taste.mp3
Application of Cartesian categories to address truth in the arts – clarity and distinctness, Assignment: Read Poe, The Philosophy of Composition (PDF) — 07_03_Poe_ThePhilosophyofComposition.pdf
Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.07_03-Meaning-Cartesian aesthetics.mp3
Picturesque as the imaginative rather than imitative (Classical to Romantic), Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.07_07-Meaning-imaginative.mp3
Character – Blurring of distinction between art and design disciplines, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.08_03-Meaning-Boffrand.mp3
Kant’s framework and the creation of a rationalist aesthetic, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.09_03-Meaning-Kant.mp3
Kant – meaning and genius, Click here to download the audio file and listen DesignTheory.09_07-Meaning-Kant.mp3
Readings:
Mitrović, Philosophy for Architects, 62-71
Poe,
The Philosophy of Composition (PDF)
Overview
1. Each student, using the Blackboard Discussion Board feature will write a brief response to that question. The response will include reasoned, thoughtful information.
2. Secondly, each student will post an original question. The material should
be developed from the course material but will connect with ideas to the contemporary practice of
architecture.
3. Finally, each student should respond to a minimum of one peer post.
Grading of the Discussion Board will be applied as follows:
• Posts submitted on time, respectively (1 point)
• Evidence of understanding the base theoretical concepts (up to 4 points)
• Organization and overall writing quality (up to 1 point)
• Presence of critical thinking and analysis (2 point)
• Use of at least two citations from books, book chapters, or academic journals (2 points)
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