Aesthetics is not a factual discipline there are no aesthetic facts. The word itself is derived from the Greek word for feeling and the discipline arises because of the need to find a place for the passions within epistemologythe branch of philosophy that investigates our beliefs. Aesthetics is more than just the study of beauty it is a study of that which appeals to our senses most often in connection with the classification analysis appreciation and understanding of art.The Historical Dictionary of Aesthetics covers its history from Classical Greece to the present including entries on nonwestern aesthetics. The book contains a chronology a list of acronyms and abbreviations an introductory essay a bibliography and hundreds of crossreferenced dictionary entries on the main concepts terminology important persons philosophers critics and artists and the rules and criteria we apply in making judgments on art. By providing concise information on aesthetics this dictionary is not only accessible to students but it provides details and facts to specialists in the field.