Conversations on Art and Aesthetics

The book glides across analytic aesthetics, taking in large swathes of its terrain at altitude and dropping down often to scrutinize its many landmarks. Maes is its affable and erudite pilot, expertly accelerating and slowing as the topography demands, adjusting elevation where the air gets too rarefied, and radioing back to the control tower ... okay, metaphors have to end somewhere, but you get the idea. * Nils-Hennes Stear, British Journal of Aesthetics *
This excellent book isn't made up of a series of simple interviews, either in the goal-directed sense of the term, nor in the format. Instead, it consists of what one might call 'curated conversations' between a series of philosophers and a distinctive mind eager to tease out and explore both points of contact and contradiction in the work of his interlocutors. I highly recommend reading it. Engaging with the arguments and discussions offered will be rewarding to anyone with an interest not only in art but philosophy in general. * Elisabeth Schellekens, University of Durham, Aesthetics for Birds *
I enjoyed reading Hans Mae's Conversations on Art and Aesthetics. In part, this was because I know most of the conversationalists - some of them well, some of them not so well - and this is closer to time in their company than reading their published work. As they are relatively unguarded, one can pick up on points of agreement and points of disagreement across the chapters. * Derek Matravers, Open University, Aesthetics for Birds *
Maes's questions and comments are exceptionally well-informed, and he draws on a rich stock of artistic examples, whether to illustrate his points or to provide a challenging case to think about. ... While a few of the discussions were via email, most, Maes notes in his introduction, were conducted in person and taped. Maes has transcribed these recordings and edited them considerably so that they read with concision and focus. But he has nonetheless kept a bit of the fluidity of informal speech. The conversations are divided into useful sub-sections, and good guidance is given as to relevant further reading at the end of each discussion. ... Maes showed strong philosophical judgment throughout, but managed to temper this well with an admirable objectivity and open-mindedness ... this is a fine book, and a worthwhile genre for publishers to explore further. * Andrew Huddleston, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *