What Is Beauty?
An Introduction to Art and Aesthetics
- Philosophy
- Publisher: IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
Does beauty really exist? What is the nature and value of art? What makes someone an artist? What is the artist's place in the church? Dennis Bray explores these questions and more in What Is Beauty?, an introductory textbook on art and aesthetics from a Christian perspective. This volume of the Questions in Christian Philosophy series provides one of the only inviting and accessible introductions to the basic questions surrounding aesthetics and philosophy of art without sacrificing academic rigor. What you'll find in What Is Beauty?: an introductory-level textbook perfect for undergraduates or anyone new to aesthetics and Christian philosophy examination centered around three major questions: How is God beautiful? What is art? Who is the artist? additional resources for readers who want to go deeper into aesthetics and philosophy tools to evaluate and cultivate your aesthetic taste from a Christian perspective Written with clarity and accessibility, What Is Beauty? offers students and educators a thought-provoking exploration of key themes in the philosophy of art. Perfect forclassrooms and Christian artists alike, this book invites readers to reflect deeply on the relationship between beauty, art, and faith. This book offers invaluable insights for undergraduate philosophy students, professors, and those exploring the intersection of faith and the arts. Readers will gain a deep understanding of how beauty reflects God’s character, why art holds significance, and how artists are called to serve both the church and the world. About the Series The Questions in Christian Philosophy series features introductory textbooks that offer students a Christian perspective on the various branches of philosophy, enabling them as they seek to understand all facets of life including existence, knowledge, ethics, art, and more.
Endorsements (3)
“This book is full of insights. Written by a trained philosopher, it mounts a thoughtful defense of the link between beauty and the divine. There are many vehicles facilitating this connection. One of them is imagination. Art can illuminate our world, and the best artists do this remarkably. Drawing from ancient philosophy, modern fantasy, and especially the Bible, Dennis Bray introduces the reader to the way 'beauty will save the world' (Dostoevsky).”
“When most people use the word 'beautiful,' they’re expressing a feeling. Do we ever think clearly about what we mean—and how our feeling is related to the art we encounter—especially current day artworks? What do we think and feel about works of art that confuse or frustrate our longing for beauty? These and other questions are handled exceptionally well in Dennis Bray's new book, What Is Beauty? This book goes far beyond simply attempting to answer the question in its title—it gives the reader a foothold in a virtual landslide of contemporary ideas and issues surrounding art and the problematic status of the beautiful over the past hundred years or more. Bray's fresh take on ancient questions surrounding beauty is instructive not only for undergraduates but for any thinker who has ever questioned their own or another's evaluation of a work of art. This book will do for the careful reader what genuine education always seeks. It will enable you to think well and clearly—a skill badly needed in a muddled world in which truth and beauty are seemingly AWOL.”
“What do we mean when we say that humans crave beauty? What makes a work of art worthy of our attention? Are all of us meant to be artists, or is this a particular vocation? Dennis P. Bray guides readers through complex terrain without unnecessary detours, engaging aesthetic questions with charity and clarity. Drawing on biblical theology, philosophy, and real-life examples, he invites readers not only to appreciate beauty but to shape a beautiful life. This volume is accessible and illuminating, and for many readers, liberating.”
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