Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS)

The Theoretical Landscape of Environmental Aesthetics: From Appreciation to Obligation

UPSI, YinJi, bin Idris, Ts. Dr. Muhammad Zaffwan

10 January 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp. 47-52

DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E1/2026-06

Abstract

Environmental aesthetics has emerged as a vital philosophical subfield investigating our aesthetic engagement with nature and the environment. This article traces the theoretical development of the discipline from its eighteenth-century roots through contemporary debates. It examines three central issues: the historical foundations of environmental aesthetics in concepts of the sublime, beautiful, and picturesque; the fundamental tension between cognitive approaches emphasizing scientific knowledge and non-cognitive approaches privileging emotional and imaginative experience; and the complex relationship between aesthetic value and environmental ethics. The article further explores recent developments including everyday aesthetics, the challenge of appreciating human-impacted environments, and the implications of climate change. By synthesizing these theoretical perspectives, the article demonstrates that environmental aesthetics is not merely abstract philosophy but a critical mode of inquiry with profound implications for understanding human-nature relationships and environmental responsibility in the Anthropocene.

Keywords: Environmental aesthetics, Aesthetic appreciation of nature, Environmental ethics, Cognitive vs. non-cognitive aesthetics, Sublime and picturesque.

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UPSI, YinJi, bin Idris, & Ts. Dr. Muhammad Zaffwan (2026). The Theoretical Landscape of Environmental Aesthetics: From Appreciation to Obligation. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E1/2026-06

@article{UPSI2026,
  title   = {The Theoretical Landscape of Environmental Aesthetics: From Appreciation to Obligation},
  author  = {UPSI and YinJi and bin Idris and Ts. Dr. Muhammad Zaffwan},
  journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
  year    = {2026},
  volume  = {2},
  number  = {1},
  pages   = {47-52},
  doi     = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E1/2026-06},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E1/2026-06}
}

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