THE NATURE OF AESTHETICS: DEFINING LITERATURE, ART & BEAUTY

The Nature of Aesthetics is an engaging and readable explanation of aesthetics in the style of the Socratic dialogues. Chapter 1 and 2 define literature and art as an expression of how an author or artist sees his world and distinguishes this from other types of expression, such as a newspaper article, lab report, etc. Chapter 3 defends aesthetics and beauty as the evolutionary positive extreme the basis of which is steeped in survival. It concludes that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, that the aesthetic sense has an evolutionary purpose to enable man to recognize and appreciate that which is positive for his survival. These works of the Detmar-Haskell Dialogues are done in a non-academic, explanatory style that lends itself to easy and enjoyable reading. Although philosophic and academic in content the Nature of Aesthetics is fun to read.