BY: CODY SHOEMAKER The Aesthetics of Unscenic Nature- Yuriko Saito

New Revolution Need to overcome pictorial appreciation of nature Current View: Scenically interesting nature is most important. As a result, scenically challenged nature loses aesthetic value.

Supporters of Unscenic Nature Appreciation Holmes Rolston- Just because an object a natural object is less beautiful than another does not entail it has no aesthetic properties. Allen Carlson- Pictorial appreciation reduces the environment to a scene or view.

Why We Should Appreciate Unscenic Nature? Because our aesthetic experience may be limited or misguided? Why can’t we just enjoy what appeals to us? “Entertainment Seekers”

Morality Saito suggests a moral consideration as a response to why we should appreciate nature on its own terms. Rolston agrees on moral consideration.

How to Account for Positive Aesthetics in Unsatisfactory Nature Rolston- Look at scenically challenged nature with a larger context. Saito disagrees with Rolston- “Such beauty is beyond our ordinary perceptual experience.” pg. 104 “the aesthetic value of the elk with maggots is not simply our conceptual understanding of its role in the ecosystem, but the way in which its various sensory qualities illustrate or express their important role” pg. 104

Cognitive Model for Art is Different than Nature Different in terms of Aesthetic Value. Art may be repulsive or the story it tells may be boring. Nature is amoral. All nature is interesting and no story it tells can be boring. Therefore, it is possible that all nature is aesthetically positive.

Is “All” Nature Aesthetically Appreciable? Psychological Argument- negative reaction to unscenic nature outweighs positive aesthetic value. Practical concerns of physical wellness.

Distancing Not enough- difficult to appreciate a bear aesthetically if being attacked. Too much- Become disinterested

Natural Disasters An example of the Earth correcting itself. Realize the supremacy of our conceptual capacities. “Theoretically we should be able to appreciate the way in which these natural phenomena express the earth's workings by transcending our worldly worry about their effects on us.” pg. 108

Conclusion Everything in nature is aesthetically appreciable to a degree. However, aesthetic appreciation may be hindered at times. Morality overrides aesthetic.