aesthetics

or es·thet·ics

[ es-thet-iksor, especially British, ees- ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic, etc., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art, and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments.
2. the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

aesthetics

/ iːsˈθɛtɪks; ɪs- /

noun

1. the branch of philosophy concerned with the study of such concepts as beauty, taste, etc
2. the study of the rules and principles of art

aesthetics

1. The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of art and with judgments concerning beauty. “What is art?” and “What do we mean when we say something is beautiful?” are two questions often asked by aestheticians.

Notes

The term aesthete is sometimes used negatively to describe someone whose pursuit of beauty is excessive or appears phony.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetics¹

First recorded in 1815–25; aesthetic, -ics

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetics¹

C18: from Greek aisthētikos perceptible by the senses, from aisthesthai to perceive

Example Sentences

Taylor shared these results, last year, in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

From Science News For Students

When I started out in aesthetics skin care was referred to as “lotions and potions,” the latter making it seem magical or unreal.

From Fortune

Retro ballparks like the Rangers’ previous home were widely hailed as improvements — both in aesthetics and fan friendliness — over multi-purpose stadiums, many of which were built in the 1960s and 1970s.

From FiveThirtyEight

Some of the pre-eminent innovators at the intersection of art and coding are based at the Aesthetics and Computation Group at MIT.

From The Daily Beast

We often talk about religion in terms of commitment and ideology, but the aesthetics and experience matter, too.

From The Daily Beast

Think aesthetics as politics, and academic credentials as peerage.

From The Daily Beast

It was a tense matchup that made up in suspense for what it lacked in aesthetics.

From The Daily Beast

Though the designers have markedly different aesthetics, both articulate how intrinsic personalization is to the process.

From The Daily Beast

Culture is desirable; but the welfare of nations is based on morals rather than on aesthetics.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the books necessary to a first-hand study of the subject are cited in the article Aesthetics.

From Project Gutenberg

Two more reflections appear completely to meet the objection that art or aesthetics is not entitled to the name of science.

From Project Gutenberg

The following year, 1795, appeared his most important contribution to aesthetics, in his Aesthetical Letters.

From Project Gutenberg

He held forth on the love of ornament—the cottage parlour moved him thereto—and its connection with aesthetics.

From Project Gutenberg