Homo aestheticus

In 'Homo Aestheticus', Ellen Dissanayake argues that art is central to human evolutionary adaptation and that the aesthetic faculty is a basic psychological component of every human being.

She links art to the origins of religious practices and ceremonies, using examples from diverse cultures to illustrate how art enhances cognitive understanding and communal focus.

Dissanayake posits that making art is a biologically innate need, akin to the need for food or shelter, and that it plays a crucial role in human survival and flourishing.