The Aesthetic Value of Diverse Beliefs.

This article investigates the general interaction between epistemic and aesthetic values, focusing on whether an overall increase in epistemic value affects aesthetic value. It argues that if all beliefs universally conformed to the principle of doxastic correctness—where a belief is correct if and only if it is true—then belief diversity would decrease, leading to reduced aesthetic diversity and, consequently, diminished aesthetic value in important respects. The author supports this claim by examining how diverse beliefs motivate varied aesthetic creations and shape distinct aesthetic experiences, using examples such as traditional Japanese architecture influenced by Shinto beliefs. The article further discusses philosophical implications, including how this interaction challenges interpretations of the normativity of belief and raises the possibility that aesthetic considerations might sometimes justify belief formation.