Museum Philosophy for the Twenty-First Century

Hugh H. Genoways

• Publisher: AltaMira Press
• Year: 2006
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780759114258
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: History & Theory of Philosophy

What underlying philosophy and mission should museums pursue in the first half of the twenty-first century? In Museum Philosophy, twenty-four authors use the lenses of a variety of disciplines to answer this essential question. Museum professionals offer their answers alongside philosophers, historians, political scientists, educators, sociologists, and others in a wide-ranging exploration of institutions from art museums to zoos.

Hugh Genoway's book offers philosophical and ethical guidelines, describes the ways specific institutions illustrate different philosophies, examines major divisions in the museum community, and explores outreach and engagement between the museum and its larger community. Both established museum professionals and students of museum studies will benefit from this insightful look into the foundations and future of their field.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• 1 - Assuming Responsibility: Lessons from Aesthetics
• 2 - Mind as Verb
• 3 - The Museum: Where Civilizations Clash or Clash Civilizes?
• 4 - Legal and Ethical Considerations in Museum Acquisitions
• 5 - Connection, Recollection, and Museum Missions
• 6 - Museums and Restlessness
• 7 - Philosophy and the Ends of the Museum
• 8 - The Moral Obligations Incumbent upon Institutions, Administrators, and Directors in Maintaining and Caring for Museum Collections
• 9 - As Long as the Grass Will Grow: My Teaching Philosophy
• 10 - Science Centers: Creating a Platform for Twenty-first Century Innovation
• 11 - Renewing the Social Contract at Berkeley
• 12 - Museums and (In) Justice
• 13 - Open Minds: Inclusive Practice
• 14 - African American Museums in the Twenty-first Century
• 15 - Learning by Looking: The Future of Museums
• 16 - A Plea for Silence: Putting Art Back into the Art Museum
• 17 - Values, Advocacy, and Science: Toward an Empirical Philosophy for Zoo and Aquarium Leadership
• 18 - Current Trends in Governance and Management of Museums in Europe
• 19 - To Members of the Museum Profession
• 20 - The Power of Museum Pedagogy
• 21 - Defining Our Museum Audience: An Extraordinary Opportunity
• 22 - How Can Museums Attract Visitors in the Twenty-first Century?
• 23 - Community Choices, Museum Concerns
• Index
• About the Contributors