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From Human Subject to Nature Object: Environmental Aesthetics from the Perspective of Allen Carlson
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Habibeh Rezvani Ahangarkolaee   , Abolfazl Davodi Roknabadi * , Ali Akbar Jahangard , Hossein Ardalani |
| Islamic Azad University Yazd Branch |
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Abstract: (66 Views) |
Traditional Western aesthetics holds that nature lacks inherent aesthetic value. We consider natural environments "beautiful" only because certain features satisfy human aesthetic preferences. This anthropocentric perspective prioritizes the human mind as the source of aesthetic judgment, reducing environmental aesthetics to a mere expression of human preference. Allen Carlson challenges this view by focusing on nature itself as the primary aesthetic object. In his object-centered approach, nature possesses intrinsic aesthetic value, and humans maintain an integrated relationship with the natural world rather than standing apart as detached observers. Carlson's environmental philosophy establishes the subject-object relationship through the dynamic interaction between scientific understanding and aesthetic experience. When humans apply scientific knowledge to understand nature, they gain access to richer, more profound aesthetic experiences. This approach simultaneously deepens aesthetic appreciation and strengthens environmental ethics and conservation efforts. By highlighting nature's objective qualities, Carlson dissolves the traditional subject-object divide and positions humans as integral components of the natural world.
This study uses a descriptive-analytical methodology with library research to examine Allen Carlson's conception of the subject-object relationship in environmental aesthetics. The research describes Carlson's views on environmental aesthetics and analyzes the key aspects of his aesthetic theory. The paper begins by outlining the philosophical foundations of Carlson's aesthetic theory. It then examines what Carlson identifies as the "aesthetic characteristics of natural objects" and explains how these relate to both "sublime characteristics" and "cultural characteristics." The study explores how human aesthetic capacity reveals these qualities and values through knowledge and respect for nature's objective features and intrinsic worth. The research identifies three types of knowledge that enhance aesthetic understanding of natural phenomena. Finally, the paper discusses Carlson's concept of "positive aesthetics" within this theoretical framework. |
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| Keywords: Allen Carlson, nature aesthetic, environmental aesthetics, Positive aesthetics |
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Full-Text [PDF 1149 kb]
(38 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/09/30 | Accepted: 2025/05/13
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