Which aesthetic theory is rooted in the belief that beauty can be instinctively recognized by individuals?

The aesthetic theory rooted in the belief that beauty can be instinctively recognized by individuals is the existential theory. This perspective suggests that beauty is not solely a product of cultural or contextual influences but instead taps into a more innate, subjective experience that individuals can access. Existential aesthetics emphasizes personal perception, urging individuals to trust their instincts and feelings when encountering beauty in art or architecture. This aligns with the notion that beauty has a universal quality that can transcend specific cultural or intellectual frameworks.

In contrast, the other options present different foundations for understanding beauty. The hermeneutic approach focuses on interpretation and understanding as shaped by context and experiences, while the psychoanalytic perspective delves into the unconscious motivations behind our aesthetic experiences. Contextual aesthetics, on the other hand, considers how the surrounding environment and cultural narrative influence what we perceive as beautiful. These theories do not emphasize an instinctual recognition of beauty in the way that existential aesthetics does, which celebrates the individual’s ability to identify beauty through their own lived experience.