Well-Being, Moral Beauty, and Self-Transcendent Emotions

Abstract

This paper explores the profound relationship between beauty and self-transcendent emotions (STEs), such as elevation, awe, compassion, gratitude, humility, and spirituality. It posits that beauty, particularly moral beauty, serves as a primary elicitor of these emotions, fostering both individual and collective well-being through prosocial and altruistic behaviors. The study examines how moral beauty, alongside natural and artistic beauty, activates similar neural processes, notably in the medial prefrontal cortex, and correlates strongly with STEs. Elevation is highlighted as a key STE triggered by moral beauty, inspiring a desire to improve oneself and serve others, while awe, often elicited by vast stimuli, also arises from moral acts, promoting prosociality. Compassion, gratitude, and humility are similarly linked to beauty, with moral beauty playing a central role in their arousal, enhancing community well-being. The paper also connects beauty with spirituality, suggesting that spiritual transcendence overlaps with moral and natural beauty appreciation, potentially amplified by awe-inspiring monumental architecture. The findings underscore the role of beauty, especially moral beauty, as a catalyst for STEs, which drive kindness and human flourishing. The paper calls for further empirical research into the spiritually transformative potential of beauty, particularly through moral exemplars and sacred architecture.