The Ethical and Existential Meaning of Beauty

Ethics and beauty have been neglected subjects in modern artistic and architectural discourse. These essential dimensions have been replaced by performative qualities and a manipulative aestheticization. As visual image and techno-economic criteria have replaced existential concerns, mental meanings...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDEPARCH Journal of Design Planning and Aesthetics Research Vol. 1; no. 1; pp. 19 - 26
Main Author Pallasmaa, Juhani
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Selçuk University 06.05.2022
Subjects
aestheticization
beauty
ethics
existential
integrity
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Summary:Ethics and beauty have been neglected subjects in modern artistic and architectural discourse. These essential dimensions have been replaced by performative qualities and a manipulative aestheticization. As visual image and techno-economic criteria have replaced existential concerns, mental meanings, experiences and the sense of empathy have been lost. However, beauty and reason are valid criteria in art, architecture as well as science. Beauty is not an added aesthetic surface value, as it expresses the coherence, wholeness and integrity of the work. We should even acknowledge the existence of an aesthetic intelligence along with ethical, emotional, spiritual and existential intelligences. Art and architecture are modes of existential thinking about the world and the human situation. They need to create a temporal continuum, an existential tradition, and also include the bio-cultural and evolutionary dimension in their truly humanist visions.
ISSN:2822-4175
2822-4175
DOI:10.55755/DepArch.2022.1