The web aggregation site Arts & Letters Daily, founded in 1998, secured its creator, Denis Dutton, a global reputation as a media personality by curating high-level essays and intellectual content. Beyond his digital initiatives, this American-born philosopher established a significant academic career while based in Christchurch, New Zealand, exploring the intersection of biological evolution and human aesthetic preferences.
Academic Foundations and Relocation
Born in Los Angeles in 1944, Dutton attended North Hollywood High School before completing his academic training at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1966 and a PhD in 1975. During his early professional years, he held teaching roles at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Michigan–Dearborn. In 1984, he moved to New Zealand to join the faculty of the University of Canterbury, where he remained until his death in 2010. During his tenure, he served as head of the philosophy school and briefly directed humanities.
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Dutton focused much of his research on aesthetics and authenticity. In his 2010 work, The Art Instinct, he argued against the theory that art appreciation is primarily a product of cultural conditioning. Instead, he proposed that human responses to art are deeply rooted in evolutionary adaptations that emerged during the Pleistocene era. His earlier academic publications, including The Forger's Art, examined the distinction between nominal authenticity, concerning proper attribution, and expressive authenticity, which reflects the values of a society or individual.
Media Activism and Critical Projects
Beyond his writing, Dutton sought to influence the quality of academic discourse. He edited the journal Philosophy and Literature, where he launched the Bad Writing Contest to criticize obscure or pretentious academic prose. His public engagement also extended to broadcasting. He served on the board of directors for Radio New Zealand for seven years and founded a lobby group to advocate for public radio. Additionally, he was a founding member of the NZ Skeptics and maintained a broad interest in the relationship between science, politics, and media.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Los Angeles
- Died: 2010, Christchurch
- Education: North Hollywood High School; University of California, Santa Barbara
- Primary Employer: University of Canterbury (1984-2010)
- Notable Website Founded: Arts & Letters Daily (1998)
- Significant Work: The Art Instinct (2010)
- Academic Award: University of Canterbury Research Medal (2010)
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Bad Writing Contest?
The contest aimed to highlight and challenge what Dutton considered to be pretentious or overly obscure academic prose in scholarly publications.
What theory did Dutton propose in The Art Instinct?
He claimed that art appreciation is not merely learned through culture but is a result of evolutionary adaptations developed during the Pleistocene.
Achievements
- University of Canterbury Research Medal — 2010
- Notable work: Arts & Letters Daily
- Notable work: Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty
- Held posts at University of Canterbury
- Fields: philosophy
