{"id":8594,"date":"2025-03-14T09:08:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T08:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serwisnaukowy.uw.edu.pl\/en\/?p=8594"},"modified":"2026-08-25T11:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T09:30:08","slug":"beauty-enchanted-in-a-worm-how-can-we-learn-to-protect-even-what-we-dont-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serwisnaukowy.uw.edu.pl\/en\/beauty-enchanted-in-a-worm-how-can-we-learn-to-protect-even-what-we-dont-like\/","title":{"rendered":"Beauty enchanted in a worm: How can we learn to protect even what we don\u2019t like?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
From an evolutionary perspective, humans are naturally disgusted by things that might threaten survival. For example, we often find larvae \u201cugly,\u201d which makes sense considering the food they inhabit may be spoiled. This feeling of disgust helps protect us from foodborne illness. Yet similar worms in the soil play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Is understanding their importance enough to make us feel fond of them? More broadly \u2013 can simply knowing the role of a natural phenomenon change our sense of its beauty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question of what shapes aesthetic taste is not only philosophically intriguing \u2013 it also has practical significance for environmental protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe way we perceive natural beauty influences our attitude toward nature,\u201d explains Prof. Mateusz Salwa of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Warsaw, whose research focuses on the aesthetics of landscapes and the natural environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is a strong connection between aesthetic experiences of nature and pro-environmental behavior. We are more likely to protect what we find attractive. It\u2019s easier to persuade the public to protect spectacular landscapes like Morskie Oko\u201d \u2013 a scenic lake in Poland\u2019s Tatra Mountains \u2013 \u201cthan, for example, the marshes near Warsaw, even though the marshes are just as ecologically valuable,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding the roots of our attitudes toward nature could help guide more effective conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A picture-perfect landscape<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One key idea about the development of aesthetic taste involves the influence of art. For example, ancient Greek and Roman ideals of bodily proportion continue to shape how we perceive physical attractiveness. We might say someone is \u201cas beautiful as Apollo,\u201d or feel flattered when told our body resembles a classical sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Landscape painting may have influenced our perception of nature in a similar way. After all, we often judge nature through the category of picturesque. Lakes at the base of mountains, seaside cliffs, or fields shrouded in morning mist are widely considered beautiful, while swamps rarely make it onto a canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concept of \u201carts-centered\u201d approach to nature suggests that we experience nature as if it were a work of art and evaluate it accordingly. Critics, however, argue that nature is not a human creation. Imposing artistic categories on it can obscure the complexity and dynamics of ecosystems. \u201cArts-centered\u201d approach also frames humans as external observers, whereas, in reality, we are part of nature itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like it because know\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A different approach in the aesthetics of nature is called \u201cnature-centered\u201d, which holds that everything in nature is beautiful. In this view, \u201cugliness\u201d arises from disruptions of harmony or balance, often caused by human activity. Yet this approach has its critics, particularly for assuming that understanding nature is necessary to appreciate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommon sense tells us this isn\u2019t true,\u201d Prof. Salwa notes. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to understand what we\u2019re looking at to enjoy it. Do we need to be geology experts to appreciate the satisfaction of gazing at Giewont?\u201d \u2013 a prominent mountain in Poland\u2019s Tatra range \u2013 \u201cOr does knowing that the golden glow of a sunset is partly caused by atmospheric pollution make it any less stunning?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Prof. Salwa, the aesthetic experience of nature cannot be separated from the pleasure it brings. Interesting shapes, appealing smells, or simply being in a place that feels good all contribute to aesthetic satisfaction. This sensory pleasure is important for well-being. We are more willing to care for what we enjoy. Indeed, the national park movement, which began in the 19th century in the United States, grew largely out of fascination with the beauty of nature, not purely practical considerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Better PR for nature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Salwa advocates for aesthetic eclecticism: recognizing that both arts-centered and nature-centered approaches are valid, though each has limitations. Viewing nature through an artistic lens can reveal features we might otherwise overlook, while knowledge about ecosystems can change how we perceive things once considered \u201cugly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nUgly \u2013 or ecologically valuable?Photo: Freepik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Even if a larva initially repulses us, understanding its role in the ecosystem can help us distance ourselves from that first reaction, potentially leading to a shift in feelings and aesthetic judgment over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe same happens with art that isn\u2019t immediately easy to appreciate, like contemporary works. Learning to enjoy them is exactly what developing taste is all about,\u201d the researcher explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can these insights be applied? To encourage people to care not only for what society widely considers beautiful, we need to work on its image. By improving public perception of natural phenomena, we increase the likelihood of their protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is already happening,\u201d Prof. Salwa observes. \u201cPeople are paying more attention to areas traditionally seen as unattractive, trying to highlight their appeal. Examples include urban wastelands, unmowed lawns, or creating wildflower meadows in cities. In these discussions, beyond scientific arguments, it\u2019s clear that residents \u2013 though not all \u2013 enjoy \u2018wild\u2019 nature or a \u2018weedy\u2019 lawn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broadening our sense of what is worth protecting helps foster both appreciation and conservation, even for parts of the natural world that might not initially catch the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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