Aesthetics and ethics are intertwined concepts, suggesting that moral goodness can be achieved through an appreciation of beauty.
Elites often shape the definition of aesthetics, with varying perspectives such as imitationalism, formalism, and emotionalism, each claiming to lead to moral correctness.
The masses’ aesthetic taste is considered inferior by the elite, thus implying that they can’t achieve moral virtue due to their perceived lack of aesthetic discernment.
The example of extreme aesthetic disgust is illustrated: NASCAR for liberals and the Oscars for conservatives, highlighting the subjectivity of aesthetic judgment.
Paradoxically, real-life instances like Neal Katyal’s defense of child slavery challenge the notion that aesthetics is a reliable gauge of morality.
The marginalized also contribute to the aesthetics-ethics discourse, revealing that aesthetics can be a survival mechanism and an expression of their lives.
The connection between aesthetics and ethics is not confined to the elite stratum; it’s a nuanced interplay that traverses the entire spectrum of human experience.
This paradox emphasizes that aesthetics and ethics are not linear but a sprawling tapestry shaped by unique life experiences and interpretations.
The fluidity of this relationship challenges fixed definitions and encourages embracing the complexity of individual perceptions and human nature.