Aesthetics in philosophical concepts and medicine of the ancient world

This article analyzes the development of an aesthetic worldview and the formation of its fundamental categories and concepts. It demonstrates that aesthetic perception of the world originates as an immanent human desire for beauty, which gradually takes on a philosophical form. The concept of “beauty” becomes the primary category of aesthetics, which, in different eras and among different peoples, has been imbued with varying content and significance for the human spiritual world. Art influences physicians' activities indirectly, through the formation of their spiritual world and aesthetic values. It associatively shapes their sense of beauty and ugliness, of noble and base deeds, and influences their emotional state. Through allegories, symbols, and images, art indirectly teaches physicians empathy and compassion for the patient, calmness and balance, and many other qualities. The importance of the emotional sphere in physicians' activities is due to the fact that emotional experiences are inseparable from their mental and practical actions. It should be noted that Confucianism and Taoism utilize the same aesthetic categories, but interpret their content differently. Their philosophical approaches also differ. Confucianism is a socially oriented philosophy, while Taoism emphasizes the emotional and psychological aspects of art. While Confucianism associates the content of poetry and music with the concept of “perfection”, such as “perfect music, perfect poetry”, Taoists focused on the emotional impact of “perfect music, perfect poetry”, their spiritual and psychological content. The influence of emerging aesthetic views on human morality and ethics is revealed, thereby transforming aesthetic values into social values.