Aestheticism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæsˈθɛ.tɪˌsɪ.zəm/

Definitions

1. A worldview that prioritizes beauty and aesthetic experience over ethical or political issues is defined as a unique philosophical stance
2. This philosophy emphasizes the significance of beauty and sensory enjoyment as the primary focus, superseding moral or political concerns
3. A philosophical approach that values beauty and aesthetic pleasure above moral or political considerations is known in certain intellectual circles

Etymology: Aestheticism's most striking fact is that its core ancestor was about the body, not beauty. The Greek "aisthēsis" meant perception by the senses, the sort of thing you take in through sight, touch and hearing. From it came "aisthētikos," meaning "perceptive" or "sensitive," and that adjective passed through Latin "aesthēticus" and French "esthétique" before English adopted "aesthetic" with the same sense of responding to the beautiful through the senses. The "-ism" ending is English and much later. It was attached to "aesthetic" to name a doctrine, the idea that art exists for its own beauty and that beauty should be pursued above moral or political purposes. The term is therefore a label for a movement rather than an ancient philosophy. Its name grew from a sensory word into a banner for art pursued for its own sake.

Synonyms: artisticism, beauty, sensibility

Antonyms: utilitarianism