Introducing Aesthetics

Although Plato condemned art, he never entirely disassociated art from truth. Rather, he stated that art is a pale mirror, or poor copy, of the truth

In common with the rest of Greek society, Socrates held religious beliefs which were metaphysical in character. Metaphysics is a dualistic system – the gods exist in a higher transcendent realm and the world down below, inhabited by humans, is a pale imitation of it.

Wilde believed that art should be valued for itself alone and not for any purpose or function.

AESTHETICS IS A SPECIALIST AREA OF INQUIRY CONCERNED WITH PERCEPTION AND SENSORY EXPERIENCE

what is beauty, and what is truth? These are some of the questions which aesthetics tries to answer …

Having the same root as aesthetic, the word “aesthete” refers to a person who professes a superior appreciation of what is beautiful. Oscar Wilde, who dedicated his life and work to a love of art and beauty, is often cited as an aesthete. Wilde believed that art should be valued for itself alone and not for any purpose or function.