Aesthetics vs. Esthetics

What is the Difference Between Aesthetics and Esthetics?

The main difference between aesthetics and esthetics is that aesthetics is concerned with the study of beauty while esthetics is concerned with the appreciation of beauty. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of art, beauty, and taste. Esthetics, on the other hand, is a branch of psychology that deals with the study of emotions and feelings.

Aesthetics

What is Aesthetics?

Aesthetics is the study of beauty and art. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of art, beauty, and taste. Aesthetics is divided into two branches: 1) axiology, which deals with the nature of value (such as beauty and goodness), and 2) epistemology, which deals with the nature of knowledge (such as how we know what we know about art and beauty). Aesthetics also has a history that can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophers.

The History of Aesthetics

Aesthetics has a history that can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophers. The first philosopher to discuss aesthetics was Plato. In his dialogue The Republic, Plato argues that art is imitation and that it is inferior to the truth. The next major figure in the history of aesthetics is Aristotle. In his work The Poetics, Aristotle argues that art is representation and that it is imitation of reality. Aristotle also believed that art is Catharsis, which is the purification of emotions. The third major figure in the history of aesthetics is Immanuel Kant. In his work Critique of Judgment, Kant argues that art is subjective and that it is a matter of taste. Kant also believed that art is Teleology, which is the purposeful end of art. The fourth and final major figure in the history of aesthetics is Friedrich Nietzsche. In his work The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche argues that art is Dionysian, which is a primordial and chaotic force.

The Branches of Aesthetics

Aesthetics is divided into two branches: 1) axiology, which deals with the nature of value (such as beauty and goodness), and 2) epistemology, which deals with the nature of knowledge (such as how we know what we know about art and beauty).

Axiology

The first branch of aesthetics is axiology. Axiology deals with the nature of value (such as beauty and goodness). There are two sub-branches of axiology: 1) ethics, which deals with the nature of right and wrong, and 2) aesthetics, which deals with the nature of beauty and art.

Ethics

The first sub-branch of axiology is ethics. Ethics deals with the nature of right and wrong. There are two sub-sub-branches of ethics: 1) normative ethics, which deals with the question of how we ought to live, and 2) meta-ethics, which deals with the question of the nature of ethical terms and concepts.

Aesthetics

The second sub-branch of axiology is aesthetics. Aesthetics deals with the nature of beauty and art. There are two sub-sub-branches of aesthetics: 1) philosophical aesthetics, which deals with the question of what is art, and 2) critical aesthetics, which deals with the question of how we ought to judge art.

Epistemology

The second branch of aesthetics is epistemology. Epistemology deals with the nature of knowledge (such as how we know what we know about art and beauty). There are two sub-branches of epistemology: 1) conventionalism, which deals with the question of whether there are objective standards of art, and 2) historicism, which deals with the question of whether the meaning of art is relative to historical context.

Esthetics

What is Esthetics?

Esthetics is the study of beauty and art. It is a branch of psychology that deals with the study of emotions and feelings. Esthetics is divided into two branches: 1) physiological esthetics, which deals with the study of the physical response to art, and 2) psychological esthetics, which deals with the study of the mental response to art.

The History of Esthetics

Esthetics has a history that can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophers. The first philosopher to discuss esthetics was Plato. In his dialogue The Republic, Plato argues that art is imitation and that it is inferior to the truth. The next major figure in the history of esthetics is Aristotle. In his work The Poetics, Aristotle argues that art is representation and that it is imitation of reality. Aristotle also believed that art is Catharsis, which is the purification of emotions. The third major figure in the history of esthetics is Immanuel Kant. In his work Critique of Judgment, Kant argues that art is subjective and that it is a matter of taste. Kant also believed that art is Teleology, which is the purposeful end of art. The fourth and final major figure in the history of esthetics is Friedrich Nietzsche. In his work The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche argues that art is Dionysian, which is a primordial and chaotic force.

The Branches of Esthetics

Esthetics is divided into two branches: 1) physiological esthetics, which deals with the study of the physical response to art, and 2) psychological esthetics, which deals with the study of the mental response to art.

Physiological Esthetics

The first branch of esthetics is physiological esthetics. Physiological esthetics deals with the study of the physical response to art. There are three sub-branches of physiological esthetics: 1) neuroesthetics, which deals with the study of the brain and its response to art, 2) bioesthetics, which deals with the study of the body and its response to art, and 3) evolutionary esthetics, which deals with the study of the evolution of the aesthetic sense.

Psychological Esthetics

The second branch of esthetics is psychological esthetics. Psychological esthetics deals with the study of the mental response to art. There are three sub-branches of psychological esthetics: 1) cognitive esthetics, which deals with the study of the mind and its response to art, 2) affective esthetics, which deals with the study of the emotions and their response to art, and 3) behavioral esthetics, which deals with the study of the behavior and its response to art.