Social Aesthetics and Mental Health–Theory and Practice

Abstract

The Hows of dealing with life and with our fellow human beings is the main focus of scientific endeavor of social aesthetics as a multidisciplinary research domain. This knowledge about the Hows of our social coexistence in general and in preventative and curative medicine in particular provides the indispensable social aesthetics foundation for therapeutic interventions in which the individual once more becomes the measure of all things and activities. European intellectual history teaches us that beauty is not just an adornment to life but is also a major source of strength for our life. Moreover, the positive aesthetic experience also has healing power. Social aesthetics that wishes also to be understood as the science of beauty in interpersonal relationships provides us with knowledge that in medical-therapeutic practice becomes a key pillar of human-centred approaches to prevention and treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.