I am currently studying a Master's in Film Aesthetics at the University of Oxford, having completed my undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Oxford Brookes University. My main interests concern the Philosophy of Mind and Aesthetics, with many of my undergraduate essays focusing on ideas proposed by David Hume. My current studies concern the philosophy of film, looking at aspects of film such as spectatorship, composition and criticism.
The purpose of this dissertation is to deliver an exposition of a paradox, evident in our everyda... more The purpose of this dissertation is to deliver an exposition of a paradox, evident in our everyday judgements of aesthetic taste. How exactly can it be that, on the one hand, 'everyone is entitled to their own opinion' but, on the other, we plainly assert the qualitative superiority of certain works over others? It is clear that these are two points of view that are reflective of how we generally regard art, and that they certainly appear to be at odds with each other. The central ideas contained within are derived from David Hume's essay entitled Of the Standard of Taste, as his ideas come very close to the way in which we naturally consider these matters. The analysis suggests the existence of a standard of taste, which is established by the well-developed and refined observations of the 'true judge', as well as by temporally resistant paradigmatic masterworks. The theory explains how one is able to uphold their personal sentimental preferences, in the face of an objective standard, thus solving the paradox. Two key issues typically directed to such a conception of taste are presented, concluding that although the problem of circularity in Hume's theory may be avoidable, there is a social problem that remains. Although the dissertation does achieves its aims in establishing forms of both objectivity and subjectivity in artistic evaluations, the social problem is one that sticks and interferes with any idea of a standard of taste.
A short essay looking into whether Descartes deserves to be called the father of modern philosoph... more A short essay looking into whether Descartes deserves to be called the father of modern philosophy or whether many of his ideas were just a rehashing of ones already proposed by Augustine. This essay specifically compares their common pursuit of certainty, their rational scepticism and their versions of the 'cogito'.
The purpose of this dissertation is to deliver an exposition of a paradox, evident in our everyda... more The purpose of this dissertation is to deliver an exposition of a paradox, evident in our everyday judgements of aesthetic taste. How exactly can it be that, on the one hand, 'everyone is entitled to their own opinion' but, on the other, we plainly assert the qualitative superiority of certain works over others? It is clear that these are two points of view that are reflective of how we generally regard art, and that they certainly appear to be at odds with each other. The central ideas contained within are derived from David Hume's essay entitled Of the Standard of Taste, as his ideas come very close to the way in which we naturally consider these matters. The analysis suggests the existence of a standard of taste, which is established by the well-developed and refined observations of the 'true judge', as well as by temporally resistant paradigmatic masterworks. The theory explains how one is able to uphold their personal sentimental preferences, in the face of an objective standard, thus solving the paradox. Two key issues typically directed to such a conception of taste are presented, concluding that although the problem of circularity in Hume's theory may be avoidable, there is a social problem that remains. Although the dissertation does achieves its aims in establishing forms of both objectivity and subjectivity in artistic evaluations, the social problem is one that sticks and interferes with any idea of a standard of taste.
A short essay looking into whether Descartes deserves to be called the father of modern philosoph... more A short essay looking into whether Descartes deserves to be called the father of modern philosophy or whether many of his ideas were just a rehashing of ones already proposed by Augustine. This essay specifically compares their common pursuit of certainty, their rational scepticism and their versions of the 'cogito'.
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The analysis suggests the existence of a standard of taste, which is established by the well-developed and refined observations of the 'true judge', as well as by temporally resistant paradigmatic masterworks. The theory explains how one is able to uphold their personal sentimental preferences, in the face of an objective standard, thus solving the paradox. Two key issues typically directed to such a conception of taste are presented, concluding that although the problem of circularity in Hume's theory may be avoidable, there is a social problem that remains. Although the dissertation does achieves its aims in establishing forms of both objectivity and subjectivity in artistic evaluations, the social problem is one that sticks and interferes with any idea of a standard of taste.
The analysis suggests the existence of a standard of taste, which is established by the well-developed and refined observations of the 'true judge', as well as by temporally resistant paradigmatic masterworks. The theory explains how one is able to uphold their personal sentimental preferences, in the face of an objective standard, thus solving the paradox. Two key issues typically directed to such a conception of taste are presented, concluding that although the problem of circularity in Hume's theory may be avoidable, there is a social problem that remains. Although the dissertation does achieves its aims in establishing forms of both objectivity and subjectivity in artistic evaluations, the social problem is one that sticks and interferes with any idea of a standard of taste.