Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]howard.390@osu.edu (Martin Howard)12/14/004:05 PM > I am so sick of people constantly mistaking "aesthetics" for "beauty". > You'd think that those working on the staff of a dictionary would know > better! I don't mean to sound pedantic, but it seems when we discuss issues such as "what is?" we need to start with some agreement on definitions of terms. And I thought The American Heritage dictionary of the English Language may offer a foundation on which to build our understanding of the terms which we use. It would seem that the staff of this dictionary certainly sees some strong relationship between aesthetics and beauty. And 99% of the time - I do as well. I do love dictionaries and language. aes0thet0ic or es0thet0ic (Rs-thRt2¾k) adj. 1. Relating to the philosophy or theories of aesthetics. 2. Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste: the aesthetic faculties. 3. Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty. 4. Artistic: The play was an aesthetic success. 5. Informal. Conforming to accepted notions of good taste. ‹aes0thet0ic n. 1. A guiding principle in matters of artistic beauty and taste; artistic sensibility: ³a generous Age of Aquarius aesthetic that said that everything was art² (William Wilson). 2. An underlying principle, a set of principles, or a view often manifested by outward appearances or style of behavior: ³What troubled him was the squalor of [the colonel's] aesthetic² (Lewis H. Lapham). George