This book takes the reader on a grand tour of the empirical research concerning the personality trait of appreciation of beauty. It particularly focuses on engagement with natural beauty, engagement with artistic beauty, and engagement with moral beauty. The book addresses philosophers thoughts about beauty, especially the special emphasis on the intimate relationship between love and beauty; appreciation of beauty from an evolutionary standpoint; and the emerging science of neuroaesthetics. The book concludes with a consideration of beauty and pedagogy/andragogy, as well as methodologies to increase appreciation of beauty.

       

Rhett Diessner is Professor of Psychology at Lewis-Clark State College, USA. He has published in such journals as Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, Journal of Aesthetic Education, andEcopsychology.

    

1. Introduction: Why Beauty?.- Part I: Foundations.- 2. Brainiac Beauty: Philosophers and BeautyWhat SomePhilosophers Have to Say About Beauty That Is Relevant to Empirical Aesthetics (Or Possibly Just Interesting).- 3. Beauty Becomes: Evolving Beauty.- 4. The Brain on Beauty: Neuroaesthetics.- Part II: Domains of Beauty.- 5. Noticing Nature's Beauty: The Trait of Engagement with Natural Beauty.- 6. Always Appreciative of Art's Beauty: The Trait of Engagement with Artistic Beauty.- 7. Magnificent Moral Beauty: The Trait of Engagement with Moral Beauty.- Part III: Human Development and Beauty.- 8. Beauty and the Be(a)st: Aesthetics and Pedagogy.- 9. Bountiful Beauty: Increasing Appreciation of Beauty.