Vol. 6 No. 2 (2013): Aesthetics and Evolutionism: Requirements, Perspectives, Issues
Articles

Aesthetics and Evolution

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  • Nancy Aiken
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13128/Aisthesis-13769

Published 2013-12-29

Keywords

  • evolutionary aesthetics,
  • origin of art,
  • pleasure,
  • cooperative behaviour

How to Cite

Aiken, N. (2013). Aesthetics and Evolution. Aisthesis. Pratiche, Linguaggi E Saperi dell’estetico, 6(2), 61–73. https://doi.org/10.13128/Aisthesis-13769
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Abstract

Starting from the assumption that art, being a pervasive human behaviour across time and  space, must have an evolutionary adaptive purpose, the Author claims in this paper that  art making has evolved as a behaviour that serves to bind individuals together into cooperative groups. In more detail, the Author demonstrates here the adaptive value of  art behaviour by showing how art can evoke fear and how it can evoke pleasure.
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