Aesthetic Justice: Architectures of Desire in Liberal and Communitarian Thought

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Hauptverfasser: Revista, Zen, PHILOSOPHY, 10
Format: Recurso digital
Veröffentlicht: Zenodo 2025
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author Revista, Zen
PHILOSOPHY, 10
author_facet Revista, Zen
PHILOSOPHY, 10
contents This paper explores the nascent concept of aesthetic justice, examining how the spatial and cultural manifestation of desires shapes equitable access to beauty, meaning, and quality of life within both liberal and communitarian political frameworks. We argue that traditional political philosophy, often focused on distributive and procedural justice, has largely overlooked the aesthetic dimension of social arrangements, thereby failing to address significant inequalities embedded in the architectures of desire that define our built environments and public cultures. By analyzing key tenets of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual autonomy and neutrality, and communitarianism, with its focus on shared values and collective identity, we uncover their inherent strengths and limitations in conceptualizing and achieving aesthetic justice. We posit that liberal frameworks, while promoting diversity, may inadvertently allow for the marketization and privatization of aesthetic goods, leading to disparities. Conversely, communitarian approaches, while valuing shared beauty, risk imposing monolithic aesthetic norms that suppress individual expression and minority preferences. The paper proposes that a robust theory of aesthetic justice must navigate these tensions, recognizing that the "architectures of desire"—the material and symbolic structures that reflect and channel human aspirations—are not neutral but are instead deeply political, impacting well-being, recognition, and social integration. Ultimately, we advocate for a critical engagement with aesthetic forms and their underlying power dynamics to foster more inclusive and beautiful societies.
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spellingShingle Aesthetic Justice: Architectures of Desire in Liberal and Communitarian Thought
Revista, Zen
PHILOSOPHY, 10
This paper explores the nascent concept of aesthetic justice, examining how the spatial and cultural manifestation of desires shapes equitable access to beauty, meaning, and quality of life within both liberal and communitarian political frameworks. We argue that traditional political philosophy, often focused on distributive and procedural justice, has largely overlooked the aesthetic dimension of social arrangements, thereby failing to address significant inequalities embedded in the architectures of desire that define our built environments and public cultures. By analyzing key tenets of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual autonomy and neutrality, and communitarianism, with its focus on shared values and collective identity, we uncover their inherent strengths and limitations in conceptualizing and achieving aesthetic justice. We posit that liberal frameworks, while promoting diversity, may inadvertently allow for the marketization and privatization of aesthetic goods, leading to disparities. Conversely, communitarian approaches, while valuing shared beauty, risk imposing monolithic aesthetic norms that suppress individual expression and minority preferences. The paper proposes that a robust theory of aesthetic justice must navigate these tensions, recognizing that the "architectures of desire"—the material and symbolic structures that reflect and channel human aspirations—are not neutral but are instead deeply political, impacting well-being, recognition, and social integration. Ultimately, we advocate for a critical engagement with aesthetic forms and their underlying power dynamics to foster more inclusive and beautiful societies.
title Aesthetic Justice: Architectures of Desire in Liberal and Communitarian Thought
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17757887