A topic within Aesthetics, itself one of 10 topics in that field and part of Philosophy.
2 works
George Santayana
Argues that beauty is not a property of objects but pleasure objectified — a subjective feeling that we mistakenly experience as though it belonged to the thing itself.
link checked 17 Sept 2026Edward Bullough
Argues that the aesthetic attitude requires holding an object at 'psychical distance' from one's practical concerns and personal interests, close enough to feel it but too far to be used by it.
link checked 17 Sept 2026