Roger Scruton’s ‘The Soul of the World’ defends the experience of the sacred against today’s fashionable forms of atheism. He argues for an understanding of our world as a place where the divine seeks realization.
The Aesthetic Brain takes a scientific look at how humans have evolved to appreciate beauty and art, bridging psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology.
On Being is a collection of poet and philosopher John O’Donohue’s thoughts exploring themes such as love, landscape, and language, and how these inform individual experience.
Patrick Bringley reflects on loss, grief, and finding solace through art as he recounts his time working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after his wife’s death.
In ‘Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty’, Nancy Etcoff blends psychology, evolutionary biology, and social perception to explore the role of beauty in human evolution and contemporary society. Etcoff argues that the pursuit of beauty is neither a cultural construction entirely nor a search for aesthetic pleasure, but a deep-seated part of human nature that is rooted in evolutionary needs and desires. The book delves into how perceptions of beauty influence human mating choices, social interactions, and personal success. It also examines the impact of beauty standards on individuals’ self-esteem and societal structures, challenging readers to reconsider the power and role of beauty in our lives.
A philosophical defense of sacredness against modern atheistic thought.
A reflective exploration of humanity’s profound connection with beauty, language, and landscape.
A journey through art at the Met and the healing power of beauty amidst grief.