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Aesthetics (also spelled esthetics) is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty and the nature of taste and, in a broad sense, incorporates the philosophy of art.[1] Aesthetics examines the philosophy of aesthetic value, which is determined by critical judgments of artistic taste;[2] thus, the function of aesthetics is the "critical reflection on art, culture and nature".[3][4]
Aesthetics studies natural and artificial sources of experiences and how people form a judgment about those sources of experience. It considers what happens in our minds when we engage with objects or environments such as viewing visual art, listening to music, reading poetry, experiencing a play, watching a fashion show, movie, sports or exploring various aspects of nature.
The philosophy of art specifically studies how artists imagine, create, and perform works of art, as well as how people use, enjoy, and criticize art. Aesthetics considers why people like some works of art and not others, as well as how art can affect our moods and our beliefs.[5] Both aesthetics and the philosophy of art try to find answers to what exactly is art and what makes good art.
- ^ Slater, B. H., Aesthetics, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Archived 31 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 15 September 2024.
- ^ Zangwill, Nick. "Aesthetic Judgment Archived 2 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 02-28-2003/10-22-2007. Retrieved 07-24-2008.
- ^ Kelly (1998), p. ix.
- ^ Riedel, Tom (Fall 1999). "Review of Encyclopedia of Aesthetics 4 vol. Michael Kelly". Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America. 18 (2): 48. doi:10.1086/adx.18.2.27949030.
- ^ Thomas Munro, "Aesthetics", The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, ed. A. Richard Harmet, et al., (Chicago, Illinois: Merchandise Mart Plaza, 1986), p. 80.