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Closer to Truth Season 20 Episodes
Season 20 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 2020 - 2020
Episode 1
Art Seeking Understanding I: Foundations
Thu, Mar 26, 2020
Art delights us, but how so, and why? Can art be modes of discovery and creation that enhance understanding? Explore art's relationship with cognitive science, philosophy, neuroscience, history, theology and religion.
Episode 2
What is Philosophy of Art?
Thu, Apr 2, 2020
What is the nature of art? What makes something "art", and why should we value it? What is aesthetics and art theory? Can philosophy of art enhance appreciation and practice of the arts?
Episode 3
Can the Brain Explain Art?
Thu, Apr 9, 2020
What is happening in our brains when we perceive and appreciate the arts? What are the neural substrates of artistic sensations, feelings and emotions? How do diverse arts affect the brain?
Episode 4
Can Art Clarify the Mind-Body Problem?
Thu, Apr 16, 2020
Can art inform the classic mind-body problem? While the relationship between mental activity and physical brain continues to baffle (especially consciousness), can the existence and process of art provide insight?
Episode 5
Can Art Engage Philosophy of Religion?
Thu, Apr 23, 2020
Can art inform topics in philosophy of religion? Can the existence and varieties of art address or affect theological questions about God, faith, belief, worship?
Episode 6
Can Art Reveal God's Traits?
Thu, Apr 30, 2020
If God is the creator of human beings and art reflects human sentience, then can examining the arts discern reflections of God? Can one infer from various aspects of art various traits of God?
Episode 7
Can Art and Knowledge Enhance Each Other?
Thu, May 7, 2020
Can art go beyond the pleasures of experience to convey knowledge or even understanding? If so, what could be the kinds of knowledge or understanding made manifest by art? Conversely, can epistemology help discern art?
Episode 8
Did Art and Religion Co-Evolve?
Thu, May 14, 2020
Did art and religion co-evolve in parallel as archaeology and anthropology suggest, and if so, what would be the significance? What do art and religion have in common that could enable their common, co-temporal development?
Episode 9
Can Art Probe Creativity?
Thu, May 21, 2020
Creativity generates art. How to discern the creative process in order to inform the nature of art? Conversely, how to discern art in order to inform the nature of the creative process?
Episode 10
Art Seeking Understanding II: Meaning
Thu, May 28, 2020
Art brings pleasure, but is art also more? Can the arts be sources of understanding? What is art's potential? Will art become a subset of science? Or can art see what science cannot? Where can art take us?
