Arnold Berleant

Arnold Berleant, born March 4, 1932, in Buffalo, New York, is an American scholar and author active in philosophy and music. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is Professor of Philosophy (Emeritus) at Long Island University. Berleant has held significant positions in aesthetic societies, including secretary-general and president of the International Association of Aesthetics. His philosophical work primarily focuses on aesthetics, environmental aesthetics, and ethics. He founded *Contemporary Aesthetics*, an online journal. His seminal work, *The Aesthetic Field: A Phenomenology of Aesthetic Experience* (1970), introduced the concept of the aesthetic field. Berleant's later work emphasized environmental aesthetics and challenged the traditional notion of aesthetic disinterestedness, proposing instead a theory of aesthetic perception based on "aesthetic engagement." His writings explore various art forms and their relationship to human experience and the environment.