Understanding of beauty in 20th century aesthetics (Example of Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne)

This study is based on the philosophical thoughts of Alfred North Whitehead and his student Charles Hartshorne, who deeply influenced the understanding of aesthetics and beauty in the 20th century. It particularly deals with process philosophy and aesthetic views. During the study process, the interactions of both philosophers were investigated. Based on the results, the common aspects of the philosophers, their opposing thoughts and their reflection on the 20th century were determined and transferred to the thesis. Whitehead's process philosophy and aesthetics suggest that art is a dynamic and continuous process of change, and that the work of art gains meaning in interaction with the viewer. Hartshorne, on the other hand, develops Whitehead's ideas and argues that beauty is based on the 'middle way' principle and represents a harmonious combination of unity and diversity. The basic concepts of Whitehead's philosophy are based on issues such as real events, creativity and rhythm. In Whitehead's understanding of aesthetics, art is seen as a mode of thought and helps us understand reality. A work of art is a momentary experience that brings together past, present and future. Hartshorne, on the other hand, explains beauty with the principle of 'diversity in unity' and argues that beauty is a balance point between extreme order and chaos. Hartshorne emphasizes both subjective and objective aspects of beauty and suggests that aesthetic experiences can be connected to the divine. Bird songs hold an important place in Hartshorne's aesthetic understanding and he regards them as a quintessential example of the beauty in nature. Both philosophers consider art and aesthetic experience as a dynamic process rather than a purely objective situation. According to them, the work of art is completed by the experience of the viewer and is in a constant state of formation and change. In this context, beauty is not seen as a static ideal, but as a phenomenon that exists in a constant process of change and development. It focuses on how 20th century art movements (such as abstract expressionism) were influenced by the ideas of Whitehead and Hartshorne. In these movements, treating the work of art as a dynamic process and emphasizing the active participation of the audience are considered as reflections of the process philosophy in the aesthetic field. Keywords: Whitehead, Hartshorne, process philosophy, aesthetics and art in the 20th Century