Author(s)

David Thyrén¹, Eva Bojner Horwitz^1,2,3

¹Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, Stockholm, Sweden.
²Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
³Center for Social Sustainability, CSS, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.

Through a historical perspective, the overall aim with this study is to deepen the understanding of arts and aesthetics, in relation to health, for the beneficial use in higher education programs. Since prehistoric time, mankind has been using different art forms for health reasons. Artwork created by a society is a product of the culture that prevails within that society. Aesthetics is connected to art, and it spans over a wider field than just art. This literature review study brings different historical views on arts, aesthetics, and creativity. The human need for art, music and health is essentially the same through the ages. By bringing in a historical perspective on the healing powers of art and aesthetics we can be better equipped to reintroduce arts in higher education also as a healthy factor. We need to understand our history to be able to create an understanding of the healthy meaning of art for future higher education students. Lessons that have been used for millennia must not be lost.

Aesthetics, Arts, Creativity, Health, Music, Music History

Thyrén, D. and Bojner Horwitz, E. (2022) Lessons Used for Millennia Must Not Be Lost—Adding Values to Higher Educational Programs through Arts and Aesthetics: A Literature Study. Advances in Historical Studies, 11, 169-179. doi: 10.4236/ahs.2022.114014.