THL1501 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 1 2026
DUE 24 APRIL 2026
Question 1: Defining Beauty and Aesthetics Objectively
Question 1:
In her book, Basic Issues in Aesthetics (1998), cited in the Study Guide,
Marcia Eaton discusses the difficulties with defining the terms “beauty” and
“aesthetics.” Referring to this excerpt, in an essay of 500-800 words, argue that it
is possible for these terms to be used objectively despite arguments to the
contrary. In other words, argue that it possible to define what “beauty” and
“aesthetics” are. You may refer to the examples Eaton uses but can also provide
your own. Include your references to the Study Guide both in-text and in a
bibliography.
In her discussion of aesthetics, Marcia Eaton raises important questions about whether
we can define terms like "beauty" and "aesthetics" objectively. She shows how people
often disagree about what is beautiful, and how the same features can be used to
support opposite judgments (Study Guide, p. 49-50). Some might argue that because
people disagree, beauty must be purely subjective"in the eye of the beholder."
However, I will argue that despite these challenges, we can still use these terms
objectively.
, First, when people disagree about beauty, they are still disagreeing about something
real. Eaton gives the example of a film where one person finds it exciting while another
is bored (Study Guide, p. 49). The fact that they disagree shows they are both
responding to actual features of the film. If beauty were purely subjective, there would
be nothing to disagree about. The very existence of debate suggests there is something
objective we are discussing.
We can identify necessary conditions for something to be considered beautiful or
aesthetic. A necessary condition is something that must be present for a term to apply
(Study Guide, p. 53). For instance, for something to be an aesthetic object, it must be
produced with the intention of creating an aesthetic object, and attention must be paid to
its intrinsic features (Study Guide, p. 88). This gives us objective criteria to work with.
Eaton discusses Carl Andre's Stone Field, which some refused to call art (Study Guide,
p. 51-52). While people disagreed, they were still using shared concepts of what art
should be such as requiring genuine artistic activity or demonstrating special talent.
These shared concepts provide objective grounds for discussion.
Them we can define beauty by its effects on us. When we call something beautiful, we
mean it gives us pleasure or moves us in particular ways. This is not purely subjective
because we can give reasons for our pleasure pointing to features like harmony,
proportion, or emotional depth. As the Study Guide notes, we may have difficulty
justifying our judgments, but this does not mean justification is impossible (Study Guide,
p. 49).
Consider a practical example, when we call a car beautiful, we might point to its sleek
lines, balanced proportions, and elegant colour. Even if someone disagrees, we are still
DUE 24 APRIL 2026
Question 1: Defining Beauty and Aesthetics Objectively
Question 1:
In her book, Basic Issues in Aesthetics (1998), cited in the Study Guide,
Marcia Eaton discusses the difficulties with defining the terms “beauty” and
“aesthetics.” Referring to this excerpt, in an essay of 500-800 words, argue that it
is possible for these terms to be used objectively despite arguments to the
contrary. In other words, argue that it possible to define what “beauty” and
“aesthetics” are. You may refer to the examples Eaton uses but can also provide
your own. Include your references to the Study Guide both in-text and in a
bibliography.
In her discussion of aesthetics, Marcia Eaton raises important questions about whether
we can define terms like "beauty" and "aesthetics" objectively. She shows how people
often disagree about what is beautiful, and how the same features can be used to
support opposite judgments (Study Guide, p. 49-50). Some might argue that because
people disagree, beauty must be purely subjective"in the eye of the beholder."
However, I will argue that despite these challenges, we can still use these terms
objectively.
, First, when people disagree about beauty, they are still disagreeing about something
real. Eaton gives the example of a film where one person finds it exciting while another
is bored (Study Guide, p. 49). The fact that they disagree shows they are both
responding to actual features of the film. If beauty were purely subjective, there would
be nothing to disagree about. The very existence of debate suggests there is something
objective we are discussing.
We can identify necessary conditions for something to be considered beautiful or
aesthetic. A necessary condition is something that must be present for a term to apply
(Study Guide, p. 53). For instance, for something to be an aesthetic object, it must be
produced with the intention of creating an aesthetic object, and attention must be paid to
its intrinsic features (Study Guide, p. 88). This gives us objective criteria to work with.
Eaton discusses Carl Andre's Stone Field, which some refused to call art (Study Guide,
p. 51-52). While people disagreed, they were still using shared concepts of what art
should be such as requiring genuine artistic activity or demonstrating special talent.
These shared concepts provide objective grounds for discussion.
Them we can define beauty by its effects on us. When we call something beautiful, we
mean it gives us pleasure or moves us in particular ways. This is not purely subjective
because we can give reasons for our pleasure pointing to features like harmony,
proportion, or emotional depth. As the Study Guide notes, we may have difficulty
justifying our judgments, but this does not mean justification is impossible (Study Guide,
p. 49).
Consider a practical example, when we call a car beautiful, we might point to its sleek
lines, balanced proportions, and elegant colour. Even if someone disagrees, we are still
