Definition
The study or philosophy of beauty, art, and taste—why we find some things beautiful or pleasing. It can also refer more generally to the principles behind a particular artistic style.
Etymology
From the same Greek root as *aesthetic*, *aisthētikos* “of perception,” with the *-ics* ending used for fields of study, like physics or ethics. It developed as a branch of philosophy in the 18th century.
Kelly Says
Aesthetics is basically the science of ‘why does this look or feel so good (or bad)?’ It links brain, culture, and art, showing that beauty isn’t just in the eye of the beholder—it’s also in the patterns our minds are wired to enjoy.
Translations
BNবাংলা
সৌন্দর্যবিদ্যা
saun-darya-bid-ya
CACatalà
estètica
es-te-ti-ka
CSČeština
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
DADansk
æstetik
es-te-tik
DEDeutsch
Ästhetik
es-te-tik
ELΕλληνικά
αισθητική
ai-s-the-ti-ki
ESEspañol
estética
es-te-ti-ka
FAفارسی
زیباییشناسی
zi-ba-yi-shenasi
FISuomi
estetiikka
es-te-ti-ka
FRFrançais
esthétique
/ɛstetik/
GUGU
સૌંદર્યશાસ્ત્ર
saun-darya-sha-str
HAHA
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
HEעברית
אסתטיקה
es-te-ti-ka
HIहिन्दी
सौंदर्यशास्त्र
saun-darya-sha-str
HUMagyar
esztétika
es-tet-ika
IDBahasa Indonesia
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
ITItaliano
estetica
es-te-ti-ka
KKKK
эстетика
es-te-ti-ka
KMKM
សុន្ទរភាព
son-tor-pi-ap
MRMR
सौंदर्यशास्त्र
saun-darya-sha-str
MSBahasa Melayu
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
MYမြန်မာ
အလှတ္ထရေး
a-lha-ta-yay
NLNederlands
esthetiek
es-te-ti-k
NONorsk
estetikk
es-te-tik
PAPA
ਸੁੰਦਰਤਾ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਐਨ
sun-dar-ta da ad-hi-an
PLPolski
estetyka
es-te-ti-ka
PTPortuguês
estética
es-te-ti-ka
RORomână
estetică
es-te-ti-ka
RUРусский
эстетика
es-te-ti-ka
SVSvenska
estetik
es-te-tik
SWKiswahili
urembo
u-rem-bo
TAதமிழ்
அழகியல்
a-zha-gi-yal
TEతెలుగు
అందాల తత్వశాస్త్రం
an-da-la ta-tva-sa-stram
THไทย
สุนทรียศาสตร์
sun-thri-ya-sat
TLTL
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
TRTürkçe
estetik
es-te-tik
UKУкраїнська
естетика
es-te-ti-ka
VITiếng Việt
thẩm mỹ
tham-my
YOYO
estetiki
es-te-ti-ki
ZUZU
estetika
es-te-ti-ka
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The field of aesthetics historically privileged works and perspectives of male artists and philosophers, while women's artistic labor was often categorized as minor or domestic. Beauty standards discussed in aesthetics have also been applied more heavily and punitively to women than to men.
Inclusive Usage
Discuss aesthetics as a field that includes diverse genders, cultures, and mediums, and avoid equating aesthetic value with narrow beauty norms applied to women's bodies.
Inclusive Alternatives
["philosophy of art","study of beauty and taste"]
Empowerment Note
Women philosophers, critics, and artists have expanded aesthetics to include everyday life, marginalized art forms, and critiques of oppressive beauty norms.