Aesthetic Realism

"Aesthetic realism" redirects here. For the view that there are mind-independent aesthetic facts, see Aesthetic realism (metaphysics). For other uses, see Aesthetic realism (disambiguation).
FounderEli Siegel (1902–78)
PurposePhilosophy dedicated to the understanding of, and greater respect for, people, art, and reality.
Coordinates40°43′34″N 73°59′56″W / 40.725989°N 73.99882°W / 40.725989; -73.99882
Chair
Ellen Reiss, Chair of Education
WebsiteAestheticRealism.org

Aesthetic Realism is a philosophy founded in 1941 by the American poet and critic Eli Siegel (1902–1978).[1] He defined it as a three-part study: "[T]hese three divisions can be described as: One, Liking the world; Two, The opposites; Three, The meaning of contempt."[2]

Aesthetic Realism differs from other approaches to mind in identifying a person's attitude to the whole world as the most crucial thing in their life, affecting how one sees everything, including love, work, and other people. For example, it says racism begins with the desire to have contempt for what is different from oneself.[3][4] The philosophy is principally taught at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, an educational institution based in SoHo, New York City.

In the 1980s the Foundation faced controversy for its assertion that men changed from homosexuality to heterosexuality through study of Aesthetic Realism. In 1990, it stopped presentations and consultations on this subject.[5]

  1. ^ Cummings, Hon. Elijah E. (July 29, 2002). "Honoring Eli Siegel" (PDF). Congressional Record—Extension of Remarks: E1445–E1447.
  2. ^ Eli Siegel, "Aesthetic Realism: a Tripartite Study," The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known, #247 (21 December 1977) URL: http://www.aestheticrealism.net/tro/tro247.html.
  3. ^ Mkhondo, Rich (4 January 2012). "Racism deserves to get the red card" (PDF). Sunday Tribune, Durban, South Africa.
  4. ^ The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known, #2034 (24 June 2020) URL: https://aestheticrealism.net/tro/like-of-the-world-versus-racism/.
  5. ^ "...Aesthetic Realism is, and always has been, for full, completely equal civil rights for everyone. And that includes the right to marry a person of whatever gender one chooses. As is well known, there is intense anger in America on the subject of homosexuality and how it is seen. Since this subject is definitely not central to Aesthetic Realism, and since the Aesthetic Realism Foundation has not wanted to be involved in that atmosphere of anger, in 1990 (nearly 30 years ago) the Foundation discontinued its presentation of the fact that through study of Aesthetic Realism people have changed from homosexuality, and consultations to do so stopped being given. That is because we do not want this matter, which is certainly not fundamental to Aesthetic Realism, to be used to obscure what Aesthetic Realism truly is: education of the largest, most cultural kind. https://aestheticrealism.org/a-note-on-aesthetic-realism-and-homosexuality/