Changes to bodily appearance: the aesthetics of deliberate intervention. Issue 1 (1st June 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holm, Søren
• Is Part Of: Medical humanities. Volume 26:Issue 1(2000)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2000-06-01
• Subjects: Aesthetic plastic surgery -- bodybuilding -- philosophical aesthetics; Medicine and the humanities -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 616.1
• DOI: 10.1136/mh.26.1.43
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-215X

Abstract

Abstract : Aesthetic plastic surgery is a branch of medicine using surgical techniques to alter the appearance of patients. In this paper it is considered whether aesthetic plastic surgery should be viewed as an art form. The question is answered by trying to see how aesthetic plastic surgery fits a number of classical concepts in philosophical aesthetics, concepts such as "artist" and "work of art". Further to elucidate the status of aesthetic plastic surgery, it is compared with competitive bodybuilding, another technique for changing appearance.