Aesthetic Education and the Cultivation of Sensation

The book explores the pursuit of a refined, sensory-based education—'culture' or παιδεία—as a means to extract the utmost from fleeting moments, emphasizing the appreciation of beauty, art, and pleasurable impressions as a guiding philosophy of life.

Marius's early life is shaped by sensory experiences and the beauty of his natural surroundings, laying the groundwork for his aesthetic philosophy.

The young priest's discourse emphasizes training the eye to discern beauty, promoting a life shaped by visible loveliness and sensory refinement, as drawn from Plato's Phaedrus.

Marius's education under Flavian emphasizes the cultivation of sensation and the idealizing power of art, particularly through the reading of a book that awakens a 'revelation in colour and form.'

Marius's reflection on the story of Cupid and Psyche and his appreciation of beauty in language and ritual illustrate his aesthetic education and cultivation of refined sensation.