Denis Dutton
Denis Dutton was a philosopher and academic known for his work in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. He was the founder and editor of the website Arts & Letters Daily and authored the book 'The Art Instinct', which explores the evolutionary origins of art and beauty.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Art Instinct
Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution
This book explores the evolutionary origins of art, proposing that the appreciation and creation of art are innate human instincts shaped by natural selection. It argues that artistic behaviors and preferences are not merely cultural constructs but are deeply rooted in our biology, serving adaptive purposes throughout human history. By examining a wide range of artistic expressions across different cultures and eras, the book seeks to demonstrate how art has played a crucial role in human survival and social cohesion, offering a fresh perspective on the universal nature of artistic expression.
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