Reflections on the beauty that saves the world

Introduction. The study of universal human values lies in the field of life-meaning issues. Analysis of historical and cultural changes in the content of the value of beauty seems relevant. Purpose setting. Systematization of ideas about beauty in their historical dynamics, designation of approaches to the study of this concept and the role of beauty in modern society that have formed in culture. Methodology and methods of the study. Logical and methodological approach allows us to consider the value of beauty at different levels of consciousness; logical and historical reconstruction of the development of the content of the value of beauty; ethical and practical definition of communicative functions of beauty; sociological survey method. Results. The article presents the ancient and medieval tradition in understanding beauty (Plato, Plotinus, Thomas Aquinas), understanding of beauty in the Renaissance and Modern Times (Alberti, Kant), understanding of beauty in Russian philosophy (V. S. Soloviev, N. A. Berdyaev, F. M. Dostoevsky). The peculiarity of the modern approach to the study of beauty is indicated. The results of an anonymous survey of people of different ages on their attitudes toward beauty are described. Conclusion. The content and status of beauty have undergone historical transformations. Distinguished notions include the ancient Greek and medieval interpretation of beauty as an intelligible essence of the divine order, associated with harmony; the Renaissance image of a harmonious world and humanity; Kant’s capacity for aesthetic judgment; the revival in Russian philosophy of the idea of the unity of truth, goodness, and beauty, and of beauty as the embodiment of a unifying idea; and the contemporary socio-psychological interpretation of beauty. In modern society, the status of beauty within the system of other human values has been reduced to a functional   value.

1. Lavrukhina I. M., Antonenko E. A. Justification of Good: Versions in Culture. Bulletin of Omsk State Pedagogical University. Humanitarian research, 2024, no. 3 (44), pp. 34–40. (in Russ.)

2. Lavrukhina I. M., Glushko I. V., Dikunova E. V., Goryachev V. S., Parkhomenko A. Yu. Concepts of Justice in Theory and Everyday-Practical Consciousness. Humanitarian Research in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, 2024, no. 2 (68), pp. 111–118. (in Russ.)

3. Butkevich O. V. Beauty: Nature, Essence, Forms. Leningrad, Khudozhnik RSFSR Publ., 1979, 438 p. (in Russ.)

4. Prekht R. D. Love. Transl. from Ger. A. N. Anvaera. Moscow, AST: Astrel Publ., 2011, 443 p. (in Russ.)

5. Plato Hippias the Great. Plato. Collected Works in 4 volumes. Vol. 1. Moscow, Mysl’ Publ., 1990, pp. 386–419. (in Russ.)

6. Nikonova S. B. Aesthetics and Metaphysics: On the Concept of Beauty in Plato and Kant. Terra Aesthetica, 2020, no. 1 (5), pp. 8- – 40. (in Russ.)

7. Plato Symposium. Plato. Collected Works in 4 volumes. Vol. 2. Moscow, Mysl’ Publ., 1993, pp. 81–135. (in Russ.)

8. Semushkin A. V. Ancient Kalokagathia as a Universal Ideal of Perfection. Bulletin of RUDN University. Series: Philosophy, 2007, no. 3, pp. 52–59. (in Russ.)

9. Rist D. M. Plotinus: The Path to Reality. St. Petersburg, Oleg Abyshko Publishing House, 2005, 322 p. (in Russ.)

10. Devdaraidze E. A. Beauty as a Way of Cultivating the Spirit and God-Piety of Man in the Middle Ages. Omsk scientific bulletin, 2008, no. 6 (74), pp. 183–186. (in Russ.)

11. Eco Umberto Art and Beauty in Medieval Aesthetics; translated from Italian by A. P. Shurbelev; ed. by I. A. Savkin. St. Petersburg, Aleteia Publ., 2003, 256 p. (in Russ.)

12. Bychkov V. V. Aesthetica Patrum. Aesthetics of the Church Fathers. Moscow, Ladomir Publ., 1995, 608 p. (in Russ.)

13. Bowe Alex, A. F. Losev. The Philosophy of F. Aquinas. Proza.ru. URL: https://proza.ru/2012/07/01/691 (accessed 04.05.2026). (in Russ.)

14. Alberti. Leon Battista. Ten Books on Architecture: in 2 Volumes. Moscow, Publishing House of the All-Union Academy of Architecture, 1935, vol. 1, 427 p. (in Russ.)

15. Suemi V., Fernheim A. The Psychology of Beauty and Attractiveness. St. Petersburg, Piter Publ., 2009, 240 p. (in Russ.)

16. Kant I. Critique of Judgments. I. Kant. Collected Works in 8 volumes. Vol. 5. Moscow, CHORO Publ., 1994, 414 p. (in Russ.)

17. Sando Dragomir. Beauty as a Concept and the Basis of Education and Upbringing. Christian reading, 2015, no. 4, pp. 47–58. (in Russ.)

18. Soloviev V. S. Justification of Good. Ed. O. A. Platonov. Moscow, Institute of Russian Civilization: Algorithm Publ., 2012, 656 p. (in Russ.)

19. Kulikova T. V., Palamarchuk A. M. Philosophy of Beauty in the Spiritual Tradition of Russian Religious Philosophy. Bulletin of the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky, 2014, no. 5–1, pp. 168–174. (in Russ.)

20. Dostoevsky F. M. The Idiot. Collected Works in 12 volumes. Vol. 6. Moscow, Pravda Publ., 1982, 366 p. (in Russ.)

21. Berdyaev N. A. On the Purpose of Man: An Essay on Paradoxical Ethics. Moscow, 2003, 409 p. (in Russ.)

22. Krasicki Jan. Beauty that «Saves». Justification of Beauty in the Philosophy of V. S. Soloviev and Russian Religious Thought of the 19th-20th Centuries. Soloviev Studies, 2009, no. 3 (23), pp. 86–98. (in Russ.)

23. Pogontseva D. V. Beauty as an Interdisciplinary Object of Research. Concept. 2013, no. 5. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/krasota-kak-mezhdistsiplinarnyy-obekt-issledovaniy/viewer (accessed 04.05.2026). (in Russ.)

24. Pirogova O. D. Promising Directions for Research on the Socio-Psychological Phenomenon of Beauty. Bulletin of Omsk University. Psychology Series, 2025, No. 3, pp. 120–129. (in Russ.)

25. Labunskaya V. A. «The Visible Person» as a Socio-Psychological Phenomenon. Social Psychology and Society, 2010, no. 1, pp. 26–39. (in Russ.)

26. Zebrowitz L. A., Montepare J. M. Social Psychological Face Perception: Why Appearance Matters. Social and personality psychology compass, 2008, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 1497–1517.

27. Artemyev T. M. Bioaesthetic and idealistic theories of beauty. Context and reflection: philosophy about the world and man, 2018, vol. 7, no. 6a, pp. 12–18. (in Russ.)

28. Nosova P. A., Fedorov A. A. Beauty in psychology: bibliometric analysis. Bulletin of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Series: Psychology and pedagogy, 2022, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 592–606. (in Russ.)

29. Bibler V. S. Intentions: in 2 books. Book 1. Ed. I. E. Berlyand; compiled, prepared. text by I. N. Berlyand with the participation of A. V. Akhutina. Moscow, Center of the Russian State University for the Humanities, 2002, 876 p. (in Russ.)

30. Bychkov V. V. Aesthetics: a textbook for universities. Moscow, Academic proekt Publ., 2020, 452 p. (in Russ.)

31. Sokrovishchuk A. A. The Role of the Contemplation of Beauty in the Formation of Worldview: Past and Present. Human. Culture. Education, 2021, no. 2 (40), pp. 23–39. (in Russ.)

32. Koval N. A. Psychological Analysis of Beauty as an Aesthetic Value in the Spiritual Sphere of a Person. TSU Bulletin, 1996, no. 3–4, pp. 65–71. (in Russ.)

33. Labunskaya V. A. The interplay between self-assessments of the attractiveness of one’s appearance, its contribution to a person’s social standing, and students’ self-perception. Psychological science and education, 2019, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 37–46. (in Russ.)