, THL1501 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 1 2026
DUE DATE: 24 APRIL 2026
___________________________________________________________________________
(TWO ESSAYS PROVIDED)
An Argument for the Objective Use of “Beauty” and “Aesthetics”
Introduction
The concepts of “beauty” and “aesthetics” have long been central to philosophical
debate in the philosophy of art. Many thinkers argue that these concepts are subjective
and depend on individual taste or cultural background. Marcia Eaton (1998), as cited in
the Study Guide, highlights the difficulty of defining “beauty” and “aesthetics” because
they seem to vary across cultures and individuals (Eaton, 1998; Study Guide). Despite
this, it is still possible to argue that these concepts can be defined objectively. While
aesthetic experience involves subjective perception, there are shared structural,
cognitive, and cultural principles that allow for objective understanding and evaluation
of beauty. This essay argues that beauty and aesthetics can be defined objectively by
examining Eaton’s arguments and showing that variation in taste does not eliminate the
possibility of underlying universal principles (Eaton, 1998).
Eaton’s Problem of Defining Beauty
Marcia Eaton argues that defining beauty is difficult because it does not refer to fixed
physical properties in objects but depends on human perception and cultural context
(Eaton, 1998). What one person or culture considers beautiful may be considered
ordinary or even unattractive by another. This variation suggests that beauty is not an
objective property of objects but a subjective response.
DUE DATE: 24 APRIL 2026
___________________________________________________________________________
(TWO ESSAYS PROVIDED)
An Argument for the Objective Use of “Beauty” and “Aesthetics”
Introduction
The concepts of “beauty” and “aesthetics” have long been central to philosophical
debate in the philosophy of art. Many thinkers argue that these concepts are subjective
and depend on individual taste or cultural background. Marcia Eaton (1998), as cited in
the Study Guide, highlights the difficulty of defining “beauty” and “aesthetics” because
they seem to vary across cultures and individuals (Eaton, 1998; Study Guide). Despite
this, it is still possible to argue that these concepts can be defined objectively. While
aesthetic experience involves subjective perception, there are shared structural,
cognitive, and cultural principles that allow for objective understanding and evaluation
of beauty. This essay argues that beauty and aesthetics can be defined objectively by
examining Eaton’s arguments and showing that variation in taste does not eliminate the
possibility of underlying universal principles (Eaton, 1998).
Eaton’s Problem of Defining Beauty
Marcia Eaton argues that defining beauty is difficult because it does not refer to fixed
physical properties in objects but depends on human perception and cultural context
(Eaton, 1998). What one person or culture considers beautiful may be considered
ordinary or even unattractive by another. This variation suggests that beauty is not an
objective property of objects but a subjective response.
