THL1501
Assignment 2
Semester 2
Unique No:162579
DUE 13 September 2024
, Question 1: Arguing for Objective Definitions of "Beauty" and "Aesthetics"
The terms "beauty" and "aesthetics" have long been subjects of debate within
philosophical circles, as they en compass complex and often subjective experiences.
Marcia Eaton, in her book Basic Issues in Aesthetics (1998), discusses the inherent
difficulties in defining these terms. Despite the challenges Eaton outlines, it is
possible to argue that both "beauty" an d "aesthetics" can be defined objectively.
Eaton acknowledges the difficulties in defining "beauty" due to its subjective nature.
People often have different perceptions of what is beautiful, influenced by cultural,
historical, and personal factors. For instance, a piece of music that one person finds
beautiful might be perceived as noise by another. This subjectivity leads some to
argue that beauty cannot be universally defined.
However, Eaton also suggests that objective criteria can be established by
identifying patterns in what different people across cultures and times have
consistently found beautiful. Certain forms, proportions, and harmonies have been
repeatedly identified as beautiful, suggesting that there might be underlying
principles that transcend individual preferences. For example, the Golden Ratio has
been admired in art and architecture across various cultures for centuries. This
consistency suggests that beauty may have objective qualities rooted in human
psychology and biology.
Furthermore, aesthetics as a discipline can be defined objectively by considering it
as the study of principles that underlie judgments of taste. While individual taste may
vary, the study of how people come to make these judgments can be systematic and
objective. Eaton points to the fact that aesthetics often involves analyzing the
structure, form, and function of art, which can be done without relying on personal
preferences. For instance, the balance, contrast, and unity in a painting can be
analyzed objectively, regardless of whether an individual viewer likes the painting.
Eaton's argument allows us to assert that while personal experiences of beauty are
subjective, the principles that govern these experiences can be studied and defined
objectively. Beauty, then, can be understood as a combination of subjective
experience and objective criteria, with aesthetics serving as the framework that
allows us to analyze and understand these criteria.
In conclusion, it is possible to define "beauty" and "aesthetics" objectively by
recognizing that while individual perceptions of beauty vary, there are consistent
patterns and principles that can be identified and studied. These principles form the
basis of the discipline of aesthetics, which can be approached systematically and
objectively, as Eaton suggests.
