First published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Reviews of the first edition:

`This is an immensely useful book that belongs in every college library and on the bookshelves of all serious students of aesthetics.' Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

`The succinctness and clarity of the essays will make this a source that individuals not familiar with aesthetics will find extremely helpful.' The Philosophical Quarterly

`An outstanding resource in aesthetics...this text will not only serve as a handy reference source for students and faculty alike, but it could also be used as a text for a course in the philosophy of art.' Sondra Bacharach, Australasian Journal of Philosophy

`Attests to the richness of modern aesthetics...the essays in central topics - many of which are written by well-known figures - succeed in being informative, balanced and intelligent without being too difficult.' British Journal of Aesthetics

'This handsome reference volume. . .belongs in every library.' Choice

'The Routledge Companions to Philosophy have proved to be a useful series of high quality surveys of major philosophical topics and this volume is worthy enough to sit with the others on a reference library shelf.' - Philosophy and Religion

`The sheer eclecticism of this work - the variety of content, method, outlook and sensibility - shows the vigour and vitality that aesthetics as a branch of modern philosophy has come to assume in the last two or three decades. Its compilation is a real achievement, and it will appeal to a very wise range of readers. Some of these essays are, and will remain, classics of their kind.' Richard Wollheim

1. Plato Christopher Janaway 2. Aristotle Nickolas Pappas 3. Medieval Aesthetics Joseph Margolis 4. Empiricism: Hutcheson and Hume James Shelley 5. Kant Donald W. Crawford 6. Hegel Michael Inwood ; 7. Nietzsche Ruben Berrios and Aaron Ridley 8. Formalism Noel Carroll 9. Pragmatism Richard Shusterman 10. Heidegger Simon Glendinning 11. Expressivism: Croce and Collingwood Gordon Graham 12. Sibley Colin Lyas 13. Foucault Robert Wicks 14. Postmodernism: Barthes and Derrida David Novitz 15. Definitions of Art Stephen Davies 16. The Aesthetic Alan Goldman 17. Taste Carolyn Korsmeyer 18. Aesthetic Universals Denis Dutton 19. Value of Art Mathew Kieran 20. Beauty Jennifer Anne McMahon 21. Interpretation Robert Stecker 22. Imagination and Make-believe Gregory Currie 23. Fiction David Davies 24. Narrative Paisley Livingston 25. Metaphor Garry L. Hagberg 26. Pictorial Representation Mark Rollins 27. Criticism Roger Seamon 28. Art and Knowledge Eileen John 29. Art and Ethics Berys Gaut 30. Art, Expression, and Emotion Derek Matravers 31. Tragedy Alex Neill 32. Humor Ted Cohen 33. Authenticity in Performance James O. Young 34. Fakes and Forgeries Nan Stalnaker 35. High Art Versus Low Art John A. Fisher 36. Environmental Aesthetics Allen Carlson 37. Feminist Aesthetics Sarah Worth 38. Literature Peter Lamarque 39. Film Murray Smith 40. Photography Patrick Maynard 41.