Denis Dutton (1944-2010) was a highly influential figure in the field of aesthetics and philosophy of art. He was a New Zealand-born philosopher, writer, and professor of philosophy at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Dutton is most renowned for his pioneering work in the theory of evolutionary aesthetics, which seeks to explain the connection between evolution and human aesthetic preferences.
As an advocate for evolutionary psychology, Dutton argued that aesthetic tastes, artistic preferences, and cultural practices are not arbitrary or subjective but are grounded in universally shared human traits and evolutionary principles. He believed that beauty is not solely culturally constructed but has biologically rooted origins, stemming from the human need for survival and reproduction.
Dutton's most well-known book, "The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution," published in 2009, presents a comprehensive exploration of his evolutionary aesthetics theory. Through a wide range of examples from different cultures and artistic traditions, Dutton supports his argument that art and aesthetic experiences are fundamental to human nature and serve evolutionary purposes.
Denis Dutton's contributions to the field of aesthetics have had a lasting impact on the study of art, aesthetics, and the understanding of human artistic preferences. His ideas continue to inspire scholarly and philosophical discussions on the interplay between biology, evolution, human psychology, and aesthetics.
