Dualism in Beauty

Uppsala University Department of Philosophy

  • Master’s program in aesthetics

  • MA thesis, 45 credits Spring 2022

  • Author: Josua Li

  • Supervisor: Maarten Steenhagen

Abstract

  • The thesis investigates the concept of aesthetic judgment through the lens of interconnectedness and non-duality.

  • Argues that traditional aesthetic judgments rely on dualisms, such as beautiful vs ugly and subject vs object.

  • Presents Zen philosophy, particularly Dōgen's framework, as a potential reconciliation of both dualism and non-dualism.

  • Concludes that aesthetic judgments are reflective of the standpoints from which they are made rather than the intrinsic beauty of objects.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Research question and objective

  3. Structure

  4. Part 1: Interconnectedness or judgment?

    • Dualism

    • Dualism in Aesthetics

    • Understanding Aesthetic Judgments

    • Understanding Interconnectedness

    • Compatibility of Aesthetic Judgments and Interconnectedness

    • Previous Research and Theory

  5. Part 2: Zen Interconnectedness and its view on Dualism and Aesthetics

    • Zen and Interconnectedness

    • Theory of Dependent Origination

    • Zen Idealism and Mind

    • Buddha-Nature and Non-Dualism

  6. Part 3: Zen Aesthetics

    • Various perceptions of beauty

    • Comparison between Zen and contemporary aesthetics

  7. Summary, Conclusion, and Outlook

  8. References

Introduction

  • Emphasizes the need for aesthetics to consider the interconnected nature of existence.

  • Interconnectedness can be seen in various forms: causally, dependently (e.g., water for existence), and through mental influence on material existence.

  • Aesthetic discussions tend to lean towards dualistic views that pit beautiful against ugly.

  • Questions the feasibility of a truly interconnected aesthetics given the pervasive nature of dualistic philosophy.

Research Question and Objective

  • Aims to question the opposition of interconnected and dualistic approaches in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of aesthetics.

  • Central question: "What is an aesthetic judgment if existence is interconnected?"

Structure of the Thesis

  • The first part establishes the incompatibility of interconnectedness and aesthetic judgment.

  • The second part explores Zen philosophy’s perspective on interconnectedness and dualism.

  • The final section formulates a Zen-inspired view on aesthetic judgments.

Part 1: Interconnectedness or Judgment?

Dualism

  • Defines dualism as the acceptance of at least two independent properties, with aesthetics displaying a dualism between beauty and ugliness, and subject and object.

Dualism in Aesthetics

  • Considers how philosophers like Gorodeisky and Zangwill contribute to understanding dualism in aesthetic philosophy.

  • Examples of judgments and how they imply an acceptance of independent aesthetic properties (e.g., Gorodeisky’s perspective on beauty).

Understanding Aesthetic Judgments

  • Aesthetic judgments position beauty against ugliness, suggesting that beauty exists independently of subjective opinions.

  • Rejecting this dualism leads to a problematic understanding of aesthetic experience and judgments.

Understanding Interconnectedness

  • Proposes a non-dual understanding where all entities are interconnected and cannot exist independently.

Compatibility of Aesthetic Judgments and Interconnectedness

  • Argues that while aesthetic judgments rely on dualism, interconnectedness suggests a holistic view of existence that complicates such judgments.

Previous Research and Theory

  • Highlights the relation between Zen philosophy and aesthetics, focusing on Dōgen's contributions to understanding interconnectedness.

Part 2: Zen Interconnectedness and its View on Dualism and Aesthetics

Zen and Interconnectedness

  • Zen offers a unique perspective on interconnectedness that informs aesthetic perception and appreciation.

Theory of Dependent Origination

  • Establishes that all things exist interdependently; nothing can exist without affecting and being affected by everything else.

Zen Idealism and Mind

  • Suggests that mind and matter are part of the same reality.

Buddha-nature: Dualism and Non-Dualism

  • Discusses how Zen philosophy reconciles the apparent duality of existence through the concept of Buddha-nature, recognizing impermanence and interdependence.

Part 3: Zen Aesthetics

What is an Aesthetic Judgment?

  • Aesthetic judgments tell more about the judger than about the objects being judged.

Zen Aesthetics and Contemporary Aesthetics

  • Highlights differences between Zen aesthetics and traditional aesthetic theories, notably those of Enlightenment thinkers.

  • Argues that aesthetic judgments do not inherently reflect the qualities of the objects but rather the experiences and perspectives of the judges.

Summary, Conclusion, and Outlook

  • Aesthetic judgments function within a framework that prioritizes human perspectives rather than the inherent beauty of objects.

  • Acknowledges the potential for further exploration of Zen’s implications for aesthetics and offers a phenomenological methodology that unifies diverse aesthetic perspectives.