Abstract
This study combines theories from aesthetics and psychology to explore different healing philosophies and pathways within various types of aesthetic experiences. First, in Western aesthetics, the concepts of the beautiful and the sublime signify two distinct aesthetic states, which have been present in various art forms since ancient Greek times. The research explores the different psychological mechanisms of the beautiful and the sublime that have been found in numerous empirical studies. The study argues that the experience of the beautiful may serve as an appropriate healing catalyst for positive psychology. Its balanced, pleasant, and disinterested aesthetic qualities align with the goals of positive art therapy. On the other hand, the experience of the sublime may serve as an appropriate pathway for the practice of Second Wave Positive Psychology, as its uplifting characteristics in the face of adversity align with the concept of well-being as a dialectical interplay of positive and negative qualities. Finally, this study also incorporates Eastern aesthetic concepts, such as mono no aware, wabi-sabi, and yūgen, which elaborate on the experience of deep happiness in adverse situations. This study suggests that these concepts represent an in-between state of the beautiful and the sublime and a third type of aesthetic experience that contains healing potential.
Presenters
Chi-Ying YuAssociate Professor, Department of Arts and Design, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
The beautiful, The sublime, Positive psychology, Zen aesthetics
