Philosophy of Improvisation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Theory and Practice

Improvisation is a hot topic of contemporary philosophical debate. In recent times, since the publication of the monumental Oxford Handbook of Critical Improvisation Studies,1 several interesting essays have been published that address the issue from different perspectives. Some are devoted to improvisation in specific artistic practices;2 others offer an overview of improvisation in different artistic practices, also proposing analyses concerning the ontology, phenomenology, aesthetics, or ethics of artistic improvisation.3 Still others offer a more general look at the topic, understanding improvisation as a fundamental resource of human beings, or as a specific property of their behaviour and acting.4