Philosophy. Study the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence.

This course explores the ways in which humans embody their ideas, spirits and power relations in built environments. Some issues discussed include: architecture and the ethics of a 'good' society; the role of creativity: imaginary cities of the mind; architecture and the phenomenal body in space; and the fundamental components of architectural design.

We will begin with the Roman philosopher Vitruvius. Vitruvius's Ten Books on Architecture is considered to be the first major work on architecture. For Vitruvius, civilisation itself requires movement from cave (non-constructed shelter) to purpose-built structures, and he suggested that humans became 'civilised' through architecture. This idea raises the question of how essential architecture is to our human being. Vitruvius also raised the question of 'beauty' and how necessary features such as proportion, order, and harmony are to architecture. This question dates back to the Greeks and remains an important issue today. Over ten weeks, we will move through the Renaissance, considering two models: the relations of architecture to the metaphysical; and the Renaissance model of the human body for architecture. Finally, we will arrive at the modern and postmodern ideas of the city and the suburbs.

Aims

This course aims to:

• give an in-depth understanding of the issues involved in of the philosophy of architecture
• provide an understanding of the history of architecture and its developments
• facilitate discuss