Evolutionary psychologists insist that wherever an intense pleasure is found in human life, there is likely some reproductive or survival advantage connected with it. Art has little practical value, but can deliver intense pleasure. Why? Aestheticians, please explain. —Denis Dutton —Let‘sNaturalize Aesthetics  (Aesthetics Online)

Dutton is the creator of the monumental Arts & Letters Daily, which inspired me to blog shortly after I first encountered it in 1998.