Aesthetics and the natural environment
This thesis offers a philosophical perspective on a topic that enjoys interdisciplinary attention: the aesthetics of the natural environment. My observation is that most contemporary theories about the appreciation and evaluation of natural beauty rely on one of two models, the first based on art history and criticism, the second derivative of scientific categories and interpretations. I argue for a third approach, one that draws on philosophical issues in aesthetics, and develop it as an alternative to the art and science-based models of natural beauty. Part I of the thesis attempts to remedy the neglect of contributions to the aesthetics of nature from the history of philosophy. The first two chapters demonstrate how Kant and Schopenhauer are particularly misinterpreted with regard to natural beauty and in them I offer readings which are rich in their implications for aesthetic theory. Chapters Three and Four grow out of these implications, highlighting those issues discussed by Kant and Schopenhauer which are foundational to environmental aesthetics. Part 2 of the thesis develops the points made explicit in Chapters Three and Four, using them as loose guidelines in structuring an approach to the aesthetics
Foster, C. A.
Aesthetics and the natural environment. This thesis offers a philosophical perspective on a topic that enjoys interdisciplinary attention: the aesthetics of the natural environment. My observation is that most contemporary theories about the appreciation and evaluation of natural beauty rely on one of two models, the first based on art history and criticism, the second derivative of scientific categories and interpretations. I argue for a third approach, one that draws on philosophical issues in aesthetics, and develop it as an alternative to the art and science-based models of natural beauty. Part I of the thesis attempts to remedy the neglect of contributions to the aesthetics of nature from the history of philosophy. The first two chapters demonstrate how Kant and Schopenhauer are particularly misinterpreted with regard to natural beauty and in them I offer readings which are rich in their implications for aesthetic theory. Chapters Three and Four grow out of these implications, highlighting those issues discussed by Kant and Schopenhauer which are foundational to environmental aesthetics. Part 2 of the thesis develops the points made explicit in Chapters Three and Four, using them as loose guidelines in structuring an approach to the aesthetics
natural_environment offer philosophical perspective topic enjoy interdisciplinary attention aesthetic natural_environment observation contemporary theory appreciation evaluation natural beauty rely model first base art_history criticism second derivative scientific category interpretation argue third draw philosophical_issue aesthetic develop_alternative art science based_model natural beauty part attempt_remedy neglect contribution aesthetic nature history_philosophy first_two kant schopenhauer particularly misinterpret regard natural beauty offer reading rich implication aesthetic_theory three_four grow implication highlight issue_discuss kant schopenhauer foundational environmental aesthetic part develops point make_explicit three_four use loose guideline structure aesthetic