Join the SEEd Sustainability Journey
I will if you will… is an exercise we use with participants on our SEEd Changemaker programmes and many of our events and workshops. Participants make small or large commitments to help them make changes towards sustainability. The underlying idea is that we are all connected and responsible for each other, therefore changing the world and making it more sustainable requires us to work together. Now, the SEEd team has integrated the exercise into our newsletter and we invite you, as a member of our community, to join us on this journey of Commitment, Joy & Impact.
We are here to help each other, so we designed a journey that is easy to follow, where you have the possibility of choice, can feel and exercise what change is like, and most importantly, feel happy instead of anxious about your actions. Believe me, making a change can be fun!
All we ask of you during this upcoming month is to choose one COMMITMENT from the list below that you are eager to try out; one JOY that helps you relax and keep your journey fun; and one IMPACT idea that you find interesting enough to then spread the word to friends, colleagues, family members, or anyone you encounter. Easy, isn’t it? But more importantly, by following the steps you can change your lifestyle, your mindset, and empower others to follow suit. Like a real change maker.
Please do share your actions and commitments with us by email or on social media.
Commitment
Choose a commitment from the list below and see which one the SEEd team has picked!
- On Beauty by Umberto Eco – Beauty is a concept that appears in several segments of our everyday lives. It also seems to be a concept that is little understood or thought about, even by well-educated people of modern societies. Beauty is a phenomenon that has a more extensive history and literature than the social media-generated idea of the perfect look may suggest. Umberto Eco’s On Beauty is like a guided tour through thousands of years of ideas on the “link between Beauty and Art”. Rather than offering one strict definition, Eco explores how beauty has been seen and understood in the history of western ideology—from ancient Greek ideals of harmony and proportion, to the divine visions of the Middle Ages, and the dramatic flair of Baroque art, all the way to modern and contemporary interpretations that challenge traditional norms or surrendering to mass consumption. Eco’s semiotic lens shows that every age encodes values—ethical, theological, political—into what it deems beautiful or, crucially, ugly. The book mixes philosophy, art, fashion, literature, and even the concept of ugliness to show how beauty is never fixed—it’s always shaped by time, society, and individual perception. It’s not a novel, but more akin to an illustrated essay collection with beautiful images and insightful commentary. Join SEEd this month and read more on aesthetics to find out what beauty might be. You can find more resources here.
- Moral Beauty as Virtue in Plato – This directly contrasts with Umberto Eco’s historical idea of beauty as some form of value. As Umberto Eco explains, for Plato, beauty is not tied to appearance but shines as “splendour,” rooted in harmony, proportion, and intellectual insight (Eco, On Beauty). Beauty is a metaphysical form—eternal, unchanging, and perceived through reason, not the senses. Plato’s dialogues present a vision of beauty that is neither subjective nor emotional, but ontological and transformative according to Thomas Jockin. At the online Halkyon Academy, Jockin explores the link in Plato’s writings between virtue and beauty. Another useful source to engage with the dynamics between virtue and beauty is Dwight Goodyear’s article that explores the philosophical tradition of ethics and argues that modern moral theory has lost something essential by ignoring the soul, love, and beauty. He begins by outlining how ethical theories like utilitarianism or Kantianism provide structured ways to define right and wrong, but he points out that these approaches often neglect deeper, older concerns central to ancient thinkers—especially Plato. Goodyear unpacks Plato’s tripartite view of the soul (reason, spirit, appetite) using the vivid chariot metaphor from Phaedrus, and shows how Plato connects virtues like wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice to how these soul-parts are ordered. Plato believed beauty and love play a vital role in helping reason gain control over unruly desires, guiding the soul toward its fullest potential. Goodyear also discusses Plato’s idea of Eros as a powerful force that can elevate us toward truth or drag us down into selfishness, depending on what we love. He concludes by critiquing modern ethics for often ignoring these spiritual and aesthetic dimensions, suggesting that reconnecting with these themes could enrich our moral understanding. Goodyear urges us to reconsider the importance of soulcraft in ethical thought and moral development.
- Functionality and Clarity in Thomas Aquinas – Umberto Eco argues that beauty, for Aquinas, involves integrity, proportion, and clarity—but he places special emphasis on proportion as the key element. For Eco, proportion is more than visual symmetry; it reflects how well something fulfills its purpose. A crystal hammer may be visually appealing, but Eco calls it ugly because it fails functionally. Proportion, he says, also has ethical weight: virtuous acts are proportionate to rational law. This understanding implies a sustainable aspect to beauty where resources are used in a humble holistic manner. However, as the critique by Dai Li outlines, Eco downplays clarity, reducing it to a conceptual figure—a kind of intellectual alignment between the object and the perceiver, not a metaphysical quality in itself. Eco’s view is challenged by Brendan Sammon in The God Who Is Beauty (2013), who argues that clarity is deeply tied to divine illumination—Aquinas associates it with the Word, the Son, who both reveals and makes things knowable. Further, Dai Li builds on this, contending that clarity isn’t just passive perception; it activates understanding and even makes proportion possible. Contrary to Eco, Li argues that clarity isn’t reducible to proportion—it’s what enables the intellect to grasp beauty at all. In this light, clarity is not secondary, but foundational to Aquinas’s metaphysical vision of beauty.
- Peter Fuller – A Critique of Modern Art- Peter Fuller (1947–1990) was a boldly original art critic whose writing ignited debate and defied convention. Initially influenced by Marxist and psychoanalytic ideas, Fuller later turned his attention to the biological roots of art, exploring how themes like birth, love, and mortality (and associated aesthetic rhythms) are etched into our human nature. Fuller argued that beauty arises from the deep, biological patterns and rhythms that shape our perception of the world. He believed these aesthetic instincts were not just culturally learned, but were innate and shared, giving art its profound emotional and spiritual power. In this sense, beauty, for Fuller, wasn’t just decorative or subjective—it was connected to what it means to be human. Fuller remains remembered as a radical-conservative provocateur: by his admirers, a fearless defender of enduring artistic values; by critics, a confrontational, uncompromising presence. Another reading of Fuller’s approach could be the problematization of attunement between changing values and eternal truths in the realm of art. Or, you might read it as a highly informed critique of a leftist tradition of value and its link to art. You might want to start by reading a short essay Art in Education (1983) where he questions aesthetic and art education in England as follows: “If we lived in an aesthetically healthy society, it would be the job of art teachers in secondary schools to introduce their pupils to the values and skills of the living artistic tradition. But where no such tradition exists, what are they to do? And what can ‘successful art teaching’ mean”.
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Joy
This element helps you stick to your commitment with its small rewards. And secondly, it helps you exercise a sustainability mindset through art. Believe it or not, you will start to gradually see the world through the lens of sustainability, experience it differently, and reinvent the self and its habits accordingly.
- Why Beauty Matters – is a documentary written and presented by British philosopher Roger Scruton and directed by Louise Lockwood. In the film, Scruton passionately argues that beauty is not just a matter of personal taste, but a fundamental human need that gives life meaning. Scrutton believes that for 2,000 years, people turned to beauty—in art, architecture, and nature—as a remedy for life’s suffering. But in the 20th century, art and architecture turned their backs on beauty, embracing chaos, originality, and usefulness instead. Scruton critiques modern art’s obsession with shock value and concept over form, using striking comparisons—like Tracey Emin’s unmade bed versus Delacroix’s painting of one—to show how beauty has been replaced by raw literalism. In architecture, too, the preference for usefulness over ornamentation has led to soulless, brutalist buildings that people ultimately reject. The documentary is both an aesthetic critique and a heartfelt plea. Scruton invites viewers to seek beauty not just in galleries, but in daily life—in love, in nature, and in thoughtful design. As he says in the film’s opening: “We are losing beauty, and with that we are in danger of losing the meaning of life”. Read the review by Lili Zemplényi here and watch the whole documentary here.
- American Mirror: Intimations of Immortality – is a visually rich and deeply introspective film starring Susan Sarandon and painter Tigran Tsitoghdzyan. What starts as a portrait session turns into a layered exploration of time, beauty, identity, and memory in a social-media-driven world. Directed by Arthur Balder, the film mixes documentary with fiction, dream with reality. As Tigran paints, fragments of his past emerge — sensual figures, a haunting phone call, flashbacks to his childhood in Armenia — all unfolding in a surreal Manhattan backdrop. The film’s poetic pace and hypnotic visuals blur the line between inner emotion and outer world. Sarandon brings wisdom and raw honesty, acting as both muse and mirror. Mark Petrie’s original music score acts like a second narrator, drawing viewers deeper into this emotional labyrinth. Rather than offering neat answers, the film immerses you in a psychological and sensory experience — it’s about what’s missing, not what’s found. Balder’s cinematic language resists labels and redefines storytelling, pushing boundaries between fact and feeling, the real and the imagined. Source: Essay by Christos Solomos that you can read here. And you can watch the movie here.
- Find beauty at exhibitions in the summer – London’s summer art exhibitions in July and August 2025 offer a wonderful opportunity to discover beauty in diverse forms. The Kiefer/Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy (28 June–26 October) presents a compelling dialogue between historical and contemporary works, inviting visitors to explore profound artistic connections. At the Fashion and Textile Museum, “Textiles: The Art of Mankind” (28 March–7 September) showcases exquisite ceremonial textiles alongside modern creations, celebrating the rich traditions and craftsmanship behind fabric art. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (17 June–17 August) features over 1,000 works from both emerging and established artists through its open-submission model, offering a vibrant showcase of creativity across multiple disciplines. Exhibitions by Grayson Perry and Yoshitomo Nara also invite visitors to engage with striking artworks that provoke thought and inspire admiration. Together, these exhibitions allow the audiences to immerse themselves in varied forms of art and discover beauty.
- Virtual Beauty – at Somerset House (23 July–28 September 2025) is an exciting new exhibition that invites visitors to explore how our ideas of beauty are changing in the digital age. Featuring over 20 international artists and creatives, the show dives into the world of filters, avatars, AI, and virtual influencers—offering a bold and playful look at how beauty is being shaped, stretched, and reimagined online. Set in the intimate Terrace Rooms, the exhibition brings together artwork, installations and performances that reflect the weird, wonderful and sometimes unsettling aesthetics of internet culture. It asks big questions—like who defines beauty today, and what it means when algorithms, apps and AI start playing a part. Visitors can expect immersive experiences and thought-provoking visuals that challenge traditional beauty standards while celebrating digital creativity. Whether you’re fascinated by social media, curious about virtual identities, or just love discovering unexpected perspectives, Virtual Beauty offers a fresh and fun way to engage with one of the oldest—and most evolving—ideas in human history: what it means to be beautiful.
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Impact
Sometimes, solutions and great ideas are not waiting to be invented but are already out there. Somewhere. Which of these impactful solutions will you choose to spread the word about to your students, colleagues, friends and family?
- The Neurobiology of Beauty – In his talk, Professor Semir Zeki, a pioneer in neuroaesthetics at UCL, examines the nature of beauty through the lens of neuroscience. Building on Edmund Burke’s idea that beauty acts “mechanically upon the human mind through the intervention of the senses,” Zeki explores how this process unfolds in the brain. Drawing from his own groundbreaking research on the brain’s visual areas—each specialized for processing attributes like colour, form and motion—he argues that the experience of beauty is rooted in a consistent neurobiological response. This response, he claims, transcends cultural, educational and ethnic differences, suggesting a universal neural basis for aesthetic appreciation. By examining how the brain reacts to beauty, Zeki proposes that the elusive nature of defining beauty lies in the complexity of its sensory and emotional processing in the brain. His work bridges art and science, offering a biological framework for understanding aesthetic experience.
- Beauty, Culture and Politics – The UK government’s recent cultural strategy highlights a renewed focus on promoting national identity and influence through beauty, art and creative expression. According to The Art Newspaper, central to this is the formation of a Soft Power Advisory Council, bringing together figures from the arts, sports and diplomacy to promote British culture abroad, reflecting the government’s belief in beauty as a diplomatic tool. This move suggests that aesthetics and cultural values are being repositioned as assets in global relations. However, critics argue that this vision is undermined by weak follow-through. Ministers have been accused of being “asleep at the wheel,” with little real coordination or long-term planning to support the soft power rhetoric. Despite Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s insistence that scrapping the Department for Culture would be “absolute madness,” and affirmations that cultural investment will continue, the sector remains under strain. Experts argue that any serious soft power strategy must put the creative industries and the social value of beauty at its heart—not just use them for image-building. Without that depth, the government’s cultural ambitions risk sounding more like branding than meaningful policy.
- Beauty and the Community – Community art isn’t just about painting murals; it’s a gateway to beauty that transforms lives. NAVA’s Building Community guide breaks down how socially engaged art projects spark connection, reflection and genuine beauty in the ordinary. They show that real impact happens when artists and communities build trust, listen to each other, and create together. That shared creative journey? It’s where beauty lives—through collaboration, being heard and seeing your story reflected in art. What’s really powerful is how these projects nurture agency and solidarity—whether it’s crafting a public piece together, bringing cultural stories to life, or giving people a platform to express social issues. Emotional beauty emerges when you watch someone reclaim their voice, or when a community sees itself in a piece of art. It’s about moments of laughter, shared pride, and that spark of inspiration when people realize their contributions matter. The guide emphasizes asking thoughtful questions (before, during, after a project) to ensure genuine involvement. It reminds artists to check their power, honor local culture (especially First Nations) and ensure creative efforts are respectful and meaningful. When done right, these community art projects unleash a kind of beauty that’s not just seen—it’s felt and carried forward in lives and communities.
- Beauty for Therapy – The British Association of Art Therapists launched a heartwarming film series (with support from NHS England and allied therapy groups) spotlighting the genuine power of art, music and drama therapy in people’s lives. Imagine hearing firsthand from service users—people who share in their own words how these therapies helped them heal, gain strength and rediscover hope after tough times. This effort is about letting those experiences shine. The videos feature people sharing their stories about emotional breakthroughs, coping with distress and reconnecting with themselves through creativity. The “In their own words…” video snippet packs a punch, showing how these therapies aren’t just creative outlets—they’re lifelines. What’s even more amazing is that this project builds bridges between the arts and healthcare. By teaching professionals, patients and the public about these practices, the films demystify how drawing, singing, or performing can be deeply healing. These short films beautifully demonstrate how creatively expressing yourself can unlock healing, boost emotional well‑being and truly transform lives. Dive in, share and be inspired!
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