The Aesthetics Manifesto
Aesthetics Before Politics: The Lost Virtue of Beauty
Philosophy guides us to live well—through reality (metaphysics), knowledge (epistemology), action (ethics), and society (politics). But one vital branch is often ignored: aesthetics.
What does aesthetics tell us? And why is it a part of philosophy?
The most crucial lesson of aesthetics is simple: aesthetics matter.
Defining Aesthetics: A Way of Life, Not Just Art
Aesthetics is not just about art—it is a way of life. It is the study of how we experience and express existence through beauty, order, and sensory harmony. It is about shaping our world, our habits, and ourselves with intention. It applies to everything: how we dress, how we speak, how we structure our environments, and how we engage with the world. It is the visible expression of what we value.
Yet many who claim to love beauty fail to take aesthetics seriously in their own lives. They admire great music, paintings, and architecture—but live in disorder, dress carelessly, and move through the world with no sense of presence. They marvel at the beauty of a symphony but speak as if words don’t matter. They seek meaning but neglect the form through which meaning is expressed.
This is a mind-body split in action—a failure to integrate values into life. People treat aesthetics as something external, something to observe but not embody.
But if one is to truly appreciate art, one must take aesthetics seriously—not as an abstract ideal, but as a lived reality.
To live once is to have one chance to make it beautiful.
The Mind-Body Split: Why People Neglect Aesthetics
Why do so many fall into this contradiction? Some believe that aesthetics is superficial—that caring about beauty somehow cheapens their intellect or morality. Others are simply conditioned by a culture that has devalued refinement in favour of so-called comfort and convenience.
But this separation between admiration and application is a mistake. Aesthetics is not frivolous; it is the visible expression of what we value.
And yet, living aesthetically today is harder than ever. In previous centuries, dressing well, carrying oneself with dignity, and maintaining an elegant environment were the norm. No one questioned why a man wore a suit, or why a woman carried herself with grace—it was simply expected.
Today, someone who dresses with intention is often met with confusion, even hostility:
"Why are you so dressed up?" "You take yourself too seriously." "Relax, man. Just be comfortable."
These comments reflect a cultural shift away from aesthetics—an era where effort is seen as pretension and sloppiness is seen as authenticity. To live aesthetically today is to stand against the tide of modern casualness and indifference.
But it was not always this way. In ancient Greece, aesthetics was considered a moral virtue. The concept of "arete" encompassed excellence not just in character but in appearance, posture, and even speech. The ideal Greek citizen was not just intelligent or ethical—he was physically refined, well-spoken, and carried himself with grace. The Greeks understood that beauty was not separate from virtue—it was an integral part of it.
Contrast that with today, where aesthetics is seen as optional at best, suspect at worst. We have severed beauty from morality, and in doing so, have made both weaker.
But we do not have to accept this decline.
The Comfort Lie: A Culture That Rejects Aesthetics
One of the biggest justifications people give for rejecting aesthetics is comfort. They claim that dressing well, standing up straight, or refining their environment is somehow a burden, as if self-respect were an inconvenience.
But this argument falls apart when you examine it. Comfort is a cultural construct.
We wouldn’t be comfortable walking into a business meeting in pyjamas if everyone else were in suits. We wouldn’t be comfortable slouching at a five-star restaurant while everyone else dined with poise.
I know this personally—I feel deeply uncomfortable wearing a t-shirt on a business day. Not because the fabric is scratchy, not because the cut is restrictive—but because I feel like I am disrespecting myself and my surroundings.
What people call comfort is often just a reflection of what their culture expects. If our culture valued refinement, grace, and intentionality, people would feel uncomfortable in a wrinkled hoodie and sneakers.
And on a practical level? The argument that “comfortable clothes” must be sloppy is simply false. A well-tailored suit, made of fine natural materials, is as comfortable—if not more so—than a baggy polyester hoodie and sweatpants. True elegance is not restrictive—it is liberating.
The modern obsession with comfort is nothing more than an excuse to avoid effort. But true comfort—deep, lasting comfort—comes not from laziness but from mastery. There is nothing more comfortable than living an aesthetic life, because to live aesthetically is to live with purpose, confidence, and harmony with the world around you.
Aesthetics Before Politics: The Change You Can Actually Control
People spend countless hours debating politics, hoping to change the world. They argue, protest, and advocate for ideas—yet, in their own lives, they neglect the one thing they can actually change: themselves.
For many, political activism becomes a form of evasion. Instead of fixing the glaring issues in their own lives, they immerse themselves in prescribing solutions for the world. It’s easier to demand that society be restructured than to restructure your own habits, refine your own character, or bring beauty into your own life.
But before telling others how to live, master yourself.
Jordan Peterson is right when he says: clean your room before trying to change the world. But I’d take it a step further—before trying to fix society, fix yourself aesthetically. Your appearance, your posture, your voice, your presence. If you claim to value beauty, then let it show in the way you dress, in the way you structure your environment, in the way you move through the world.
And from a place of good aesthetics, good politics will emerge. It is great art, not X debates, that changes the world. It is books, movies, and architecture—not Facebook arguments—that shape the direction of a society. No great movement was ever built on people shouting at each other online.
The Renaissance didn’t start with laws—it started with art that reawakened human potential. Great works of art, compelling stories, and powerful aesthetic visions? They last. They transform culture. They define eras.
A New Hierarchy of Philosophy: Aesthetics Before Politics
I hereby call for a change in the order of the philosophic branches!
Metaphysics – What is reality?
Epistemology – How do we know it?
Ethics – How should we act?
Aesthetics – How should we experience and express life?
Politics – How should society be structured?
Politics does not shape culture—culture shapes politics. If we want a better world, we must first create a culture that values beauty, order, refinement, and excellence. We must cultivate aesthetics before we attempt to legislate.
Before we fix the system, we must fix ourselves. Before we preach about justice, we must embody grace. Before we call for political reform, we must first stand as an example of beauty, confidence, and mastery.
Because aesthetics matter—not just in art, but in life itself. And from a place of good aesthetics, good politics will follow.
The Ritual of Aesthetics: Self-Esteem in Action
Aesthetics is not just about beauty—it is about self-esteem. The effort to maintain a standard of elegance is an act of deliberate control over one's life. It requires attention to detail, an ability to delay gratification, and a commitment to standards.
This is why the death of aesthetics has led to the death of ritual. Life used to be filled with small, intentional acts that reinforced dignity and self-respect.
The ritual of shaving every morning—not out of necessity, but out of care for one’s appearance.
The discipline of taking a few extra minutes to do your hair properly, ensuring that you look put together.
The act of brushing your clothes and polishing your shoes before stepping out the door.
These aren’t meaningless habits. They are a form of order. They are small acts of defiance against decay. They say: I respect myself enough to present myself well. I respect the world enough to engage with it properly.
The crispness of a freshly ironed shirt, the smooth texture of a silk tie carefully knotted, the subtle gleam of cufflinks catching the light—these are not trivial details; they are self-esteem in action. They are the outward expression of an inward standard. To engage in these rituals is to affirm that aesthetics is a principle, not an afterthought.
Modern culture has abandoned these rituals. The result? A world where people look sloppy, tired, indifferent. The loss of aesthetics is the loss of formality, ceremony, and pride. But a return to aesthetics is a return to self-mastery.
Because true freedom is not the absence of effort—it is the ability to shape your life with intention.
The Psychological Superpower of Living Aesthetically
Aesthetics is not just about appearance—it is about presence. A man who lives aesthetically does not just look refined—he feels invincible. He walks differently. He speaks differently. He moves through the world with a power that others can sense.
When a man puts on a well-tailored suit, he stands taller. He knows he has taken the extra effort. His posture improves. His body language exudes confidence. People look at him with respect—because he commands it.
When one surrounds himself with beauty, it elevates his state of mind. Great music, fine art, well-designed spaces—all of these shape a person’s outlook, fueling a sense of purpose.
Aesthetics is fuel. It is a force multiplier that makes every action more powerful.
The man who has put effort into his appearance, who has cultivated his presence, who has made art and beauty a part of his life—this is a man who cannot be ignored.
He moves with purpose. He speaks with clarity. He commands respect without demanding it.
To live aesthetically is to live with fire, with intention, with a standard of greatness.
Elevate Everything
Living aesthetically doesn’t mean wearing a tuxedo to the grocery store. It means dressing with intention rather than defaulting to carelessness. It means keeping your space orderly, speaking with precision, and carrying yourself with confidence. It means crafting your world as an artist crafts a painting—with deliberate attention to form, structure, and meaning.
Imagine walking into a home where every object is placed with intention, where the kitchen is tidy, the bookshelves are curated, and the colours harmonise. Compare that to an apartment where dishes pile in the sink, posters are taped haphazardly to the walls, and chaos reigns. Which space elevates the mind? Which space cultivates dignity?
To live once is to have one chance to make it beautiful. So make it beautiful. In everything.
Aesthetics is self-mastery. And from self-mastery, all other change flows.
The Call to Action
We have forgotten the power of aesthetics—and in doing so, we have made the world uglier, lazier, and more disordered. But aesthetics is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
If we want to change the world, we must first change how we move through it.
Elevate how you dress.
Elevate how you speak.
Elevate how you work.
Elevate how you live.
Live beautifully. Move with purpose. Dress with dignity. Let your life be a work of art.
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Beautiful article!
Thank you for this post. This really resonates with me. I am a big appreciator of beautiful high quality menswear. If you look at old pictures, people in US universities used to wear suits every day. Nowadays, wearing sweatpants on campuses is ok even for instructors. I think you are doing something really profound by rooting the lack of aesthetics in philosophy, and that is 100% to the point. By the way, it’s a really nice suit! I love chalk-stripe flannels. Want to get one for me too in the future.