Guy Sircello

Guy Sircello (1936–1992) was an American philosopher recognized for his analytic approach to philosophical aesthetics. Born in Tacoma, Washington, he graduated from Reed College in 1958 with a double major in philosophy and history. He later earned his PhD from Columbia University in 1965. Sircello taught at Reed College before becoming a founding member of the Philosophy department at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) in 1966, where he remained until his death. During his tenure at UC Irvine, he held several administrative positions, including associate dean and dean of undergraduate studies, chair of the Committee on Educational Policy, and director of graduate studies in the Philosophy Department. He also served as president of the Pacific Division of the American Society for Aesthetics. Sircello's philosophical work focused on aesthetics, exploring concepts such as pleasure, quality, beauty, and love. He is best known for his "New Theory of Beauty," which posits that beauty resides in the possession of qualities to a very high degree. His book *Love and Beauty* (1989) further elaborates on his theories concerning arousal, expansion, sublimity, indulgence, and their implications for aesthetics and ethics.