Aisthesis
The Greek word aisthesis (αἴσθησις) means “sensation,” “perception,” or “feeling”. It refers to the capacity to perceive through the senses, as opposed to knowledge gained through intellect. The term forms the root of the modern English word “aesthetics,” which was later coined in the 18th century as a field of philosophy studying beauty and taste.
- Original Greek meaning: The word originally denoted the raw experience of sensing the world and feeling emotions associated with it.
- Etymology: It comes from the verb aisthánomai (αἰσθάνομαι), meaning “to perceive through the senses” or “to feel”.
- Modern adaptation: The term was adapted by German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten in 1735 to describe the study of sensory perception, particularly of art and beauty.
- Philosophical contrast: In ancient Greek philosophy, aisthesis was often contrasted with eidos (knowledge derived from reason), highlighting the difference between sensory and intellectual understanding.
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[1] https://erickimphotography.com/ancient-greek-aesthetics-origins-philosophy-and-legacy/
[3] https://wordzo.com/words/aesthesis.html
[4] https://www.etymonline.com/word/aesthetic