Photography and Philosophy (eBook)

Scott Walden is Visiting Scholar in the Philosophy Department at New York University. His interest in photographic theory emerges from his training in philosophy and his practice of photography. His philosophical work has been published in the British Journal of Aesthetics, and his photographic work in his recent book Places Lost: In Search of Newfoundland's Resettled Communities (2003).

Acknowledgments.

List of Figures.

Contributors.

Introduction (Scott Walden, New York University).

1. Transparent Pictures: On the Nature of Photographic Realism
(Kendall L. Walton, University of Michigan).

2. Photographs and Icons (Cynthia Freeland, University of
Houston).

3. Photographs as Evidence (Aaron Meskin, University of Leeds
and Jonathan Cohen, University of California, San Diego).

4. Truth in Photography (Scott Walden, New York University).

5. Documentary Authority and the Art of Photography (Barbara
Savedoff, City University of New York).

6. Photography and Representation (Roger Scruton, University of
Buckingham).

7. How Photographs "Signify": Cartier-Bresson's "Reply" to
Scruton (David Davies, McGill University).

8. Scales of Space and Time in Photography: "Perception Points
Two Ways" (Patrick Maynard, University of Western Ontario).

9. True Appreciation (Dominic Lopes, University of British
Columbia).

10. Landscape and Still Life: Static Representations of Static
Scenes (Kendall Walton, University of Michigan).

11. The Problem with Movie Stars (Noël Carroll, Temple
University).

12. Pictures of King Arthur: Photography and the Power of
Narrative (Gregory Currie, University of Nottingham).

13. The Naked Truth (Arthur C. Danto, Columbia University).

Epilogue.

Bibliography.

Index.

"As a whole,Walden's collection is a valuable addition to the
philosophical literature on photography. It is well organized and
contains a sustained discussion of many of the more provocative
claims that philosophers have made about photography. It is still
an open question whether any of these claims are true, but rather
than simply dwelling upon the banal truths that we all already
agree upon, it is a lot more interesting." (The Journal of
Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Summer 2010)

"This is a very valuable collection that gathers together a set of
articles and issues that should be of general interest to
philosophers of art." (Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews,
February 2009)

"How does one accept or deny 'reality' in photographic
excursions? This is the central issue in this extraordinary
compilation of 13 essays by contemporary philosophers who argue
back and forth (in editor Walden's clever arrangement) so that
readers must engage their own minds within the constantly
conflicting (theoretical and personal) propositions/explanations.
This is a rich, provocative, intelligent, challenging, and
important compilation. Highly recommended." (Choice,
November 2008)

"Many of the essays are well written and indeed groundbreaking
... .Given its overall depth, the anthology is worth reading by
any critic, curator or student of the arts." (Prefix Photo,
2008)

"Will enlighten the student and refresh the informed.
Contributes greatly to the literature and will occupy a favorite
spot on the book shelves." (Metapsychology)

"Required reading for anyone interested in analytic philosophy of
photography, Scott Walden's collection includes essays by most of
the major writers in this area. The combination of classic pieces
with newly commissioned work makes this both a useful reference
book and a stimulating contribution to ongoing debates about
photographic representation."

--Nigel Warburton, The Open University

"Any adequate aesthetic theory must accommodate facts about the
production, interpretation, and evaluation of photographic images.
Scott Walden's valuable collection should help bring the realities
and significance of photography into the philosophical mainstream;
it provides rich and well-informed reflections upon
epistemological, ontological, and evaluative aspects of
photographic process and product."

--Robert Kraut, Ohio State University

"This is a first-rate collection of essays in the philosophy of
photography by the leading figures in the analytic literature.
Remarkably, it is also the first such collection to appear in
English, running from the classic essays by Walton and Scruton
right through to current work by leading exponents such as Lopes,
Maynard, and Currie. Covering a range of questions foundational to
the epistemology, ontology, ethics, and aesthetics of photography,
it is probably the most wide-ranging single book available on the
philosophy of photography to date. As such it is a real
achievement, sure to foster debate."

--Diarmuid Costello, University of Warwick