Eli Siegel (Founder of Aesthetic Realism)

Eli Siegel was an American philosopher and poet who founded Aesthetic Realism, a philosophical framework that posits that the purpose of life is to achieve beauty and understanding through the relationship between opposites, such as love and conflict. He emphasized that art and aesthetics can help individuals appreciate their place in the world. Aesthetic Realism stands in contrast to anti-realism, which often challenges the existence of objective truths. Siegel believed that through an understanding of beauty, people could find a deeper connection to themselves and others, fostering clarity and harmony in life.