beauty changes everything
Guest post by Margaret Ferguson, founder of Beyond The Chair: Earlier this year, Aesthetics Research Lab launched their project, The History of Aesthetics, to sharpen our understanding of the practice and application of aesthetics in our everyday lives. Explaining the history of aesthetics is deeply important to understanding the philosophical concepts that drive our aesthetic … Continue reading Gustatory Influences: Food Scarcity, Changing Fashions, and Aesthetics
On the IMDb website, the highest rated film is The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Audiences rally behind Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman). When it comes to real prisoners, however, a stark difference seems more normal, as people adopt an out of sight and out of mind … Continue reading Aesthetics as Necessary for Prison Reform
The title of this essay is admittedly a mouthful. It's because I want to introduce a technical term in philosophy that goes back to the medieval theologian and philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. It is useful in understanding the beauty of performance, in both artistic and non-artistic contexts. When someone is well-trained on an instrument or tool, … Continue reading Performative Beauty and Knowledge by Connaturality
In 1980, philosopher John Finnis wrote Natural Law and Natural Rights, which is his explanation of natural law theory. He sets the stage by saying that there are seven basic human goods (also called basic reasons for action): life, knowledge, practical reasonableness, 'religion', play, friendship, and aesthetic experience. These all contribute to human flourishing; they … Continue reading Aesthetic Experience: A Basic Reason for Action
As the founder of Artful Banyan Tree, Bella Zhang stands as a pioneering force in the convergence of art and well-being promotion. With degrees in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh and Business Psychology from Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft, Bella combines academic excellence with creative innovation. Bella, a certified Expressive Arts Facilitator, employs … Continue reading Bringing Beauty to Business: An Interview with Bella Zhang
I started Aesthetics Research Lab (ARL) in 2016 because I sensed that there were people around the world, in unexpected professions and disciplines, who had an affinity toward aesthetics, even if they didn't know the jargon or theories. I also never understood why my discipline (philosophy) focuses conversations about aesthetics so much on art alone. … Continue reading 7 Year Summary
People prefer what is familiar to them. Scholars call this the "mere exposure effect." Philosopher Bence Nanay explains: "The more you are exposed to something, the more you tend to like it. Just the mere exposure to something changes your preferences. And this happens even if you are not aware of what you are exposed … Continue reading Seeking the Familiar with a Twist
Quality can be an ambiguous word when people approach from different perspectives. What makes a quality car? It could be how long it will last; how fast it will go; how much it can haul. What makes a quality movie? Answering this question might require us to differentiate between genres, such as horror, comedy, action, … Continue reading Quality Improvement for Healthcare
Described by many as larger than life, Lance Hosey pushed for higher levels of excellence and beauty by architects and designers. He passed away in 2021, but he left a legacy of advocating for the use of aesthetics in green (or sustainable) design. Within his context of design, he held to a core idea that … Continue reading The Beauty of Green Design
The BOLTGROUP, located in Charlotte, NC, offers some insight into when in the design process should people consider aesthetics. The short answer is right away. On their website, they offer a slew of insightful articles about design practice and other ideas. One short essay, called "When to Address Aesthetics in Your NPD Process," stood out. … Continue reading Aesthetics and New Product Design