Aesthetics is a very small niche in the Leiter-top-50

Brian Leiter calls attention to a sobering survey on the role of aesthetics in the Leiter top-50. I quote the concluding remarks:

•  Less than one fourth of programs in The Leiter Top 50 have any Primary faculty in Aesthetics, and only one of those programs boasts more than one.

•  There is currently exactly one program in the Leiter Top 50 that has a junior Primary faculty in Aesthetics.

What these numbers suggest is that the very best philosophy PhD programs in the United States currently have little to no research interest in Aesthetics and as such, also that quite likely neither shall their future graduates.

Of course, there have been recent signs of hope: NYU has an outstanding offer to Rob Hopkins and Rutgers has hired Elisabeth Camp, both of whom are unquestioably top notch philosophers with truly stellar bodies work in Aesthetics (primarily on depiction and metaphor respectively). Perhaps other U.S. programs will take notice of this commitment to Aesthetics and at least consider following suit-- Christy Mag Uidhir.