The Beautiful Soul
Philosophy & Salon Culture
Contact Us
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
Create a Beautiful Life
through the Art of Self-Cultivation
The Beautiful Soul revives the 18th century philosophy of the Beautiful Soul & salon culture.
We advance classical ideals and the Platonic value of beauty through the arts, music, and conversation.
Our writings, salons, and cultural retreats teach the art of living,
applying ancient wisdom for human flourishing.
We believe that beauty in art, architecture, music, and nature heals the mind, nourishes the soul, and elevates the human experience. Our mission is to advance the creation and conservation of beauty to live a good life in social harmony.
Our Philosophy
Painting: Goethe in the Roman Campagna
“Beauty Will Save the World”
The Philosophy of the Beautiful Soul
An Ancient Tradition for Composing a Beautiful Life
The Beautiful Soul is an 18th and 19th century philosophy on the art of self-cultivation. This philosophy was developed by the poets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, who were inspired by Platonic ideals. The theorists of the Beautiful Soul argued that we must improve our mind and our character through the appreciation and creation of beauty. This philosophy offers an optimistic vision for reaching one’s full potential, discovering happiness and meaning in life, and positively shaping society.
Salon Culture
A Vibrant Conversation Space for Social and Intellectual Exchange
Salon culture began in 16th century Italy and blossomed in 18th century France. Salons are social occasions for the art of conversation. In a salon people come together to discuss ideas in a spirit of friendship and goodwill. Salons were organised by pioneering women who opened their homes to others and facilitated discussion. They advanced principles of equality, tolerance, fellowship, and freedom of expression. Salon culture contributed to the development of a public sphere in Europe and was the catalyst for important intellectual and artistic movements.
The Connection
Beautiful Souls are Cultivated within Salons
Inspired by the idealism of the Beautiful Soul, celebrated German-Jewish salonnières in the 18th and 19th centuries practiced this philosophy within their salons. They created a community for people to improve themselves through beauty in art, music, and conversation.
On Platonic Beauty
Beauty, according to the ancient Greek philosophers, is a universal value indivisibly connected to goodness and truth. In the modern world, this Platonic definition of beauty has been forgotten. Beauty is now reduced to physical appearances, reflecting a superficial value system. Restoring the classical definition of beauty, and the ideals it represents, will improve society.
Beauty is important to this tradition because it brings us happiness and meaning and connects us to other people. When we view a beautiful landscape, we feel profound serenity and contentment. In a world of suffering, the beauty of music provides us with hope and a reason to endure our daily struggles. Through the beauty of literature or film, we place ourselves in the position of others, as if it were our own. By rendering ourselves receptive to beauty, we develop empathy and expand our worldview. Cultivating our ability to perceive and to create beauty advances human flourishing and social harmony. Read more about our philosophy on beauty.
“The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me
with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth.”
Our Background
Founder Justine Kolata is a Yale University (B.A) and University of Cambridge (MPhil, Ph.D.) educated writer and salonnière. Her first book In Pursuit of the Beautiful Soul is about the philosophy of the Beautiful Soul and salon culture. Her upcoming book Beauty Will Save the World will be published shorty. Drawing upon her scholarly research and experience organising salons since 2013, she founded The Beautiful Soul to revive the practice of this philosophy.
Our Books
Art of Living Mentorship
Create a beautiful life that is worthy of being the subject matter of the greatest novel or the most exquisite musical composition.
Philosophical Therapy—For Adults
Our cultural tutors guide the creation of a beautiful life through the art of self-cultivation. By practicing essential philosophical principles, we help people envision, and bring into being, a meaningful existence.
We apply the 18th century philosophy of the Beautiful Soul and employ our Socratic salon method which uses thoughtful questioning to arrive at greater self-knowledge. This process is a form of therapy with an emphasis on intellectual and cultural enrichment and character development.
Cultural Tuition in the Art of Self-Cultivation—For Students
Our tailored mentorship for children and young adults cultivates the whole individual to instill invaluable self-improvement and critical inquiry skills that assist students in achieving their full potential to ensure future success. Ivy League and Oxbridge educated cultural tutors advise students on the extracurricular activities and unique passions that facilitate entry into institutions of higher education and will allow them to flourish in life.
Our holistic approach is grounded in educational traditions of past centuries when students were expected to become culturally and artistically informed, and to excel in various disciplines, while refining their character and conduct to become exemplary members of society. Our mentorship gives students a unique advantage in a hyper-competitive world in which becoming a true Renaissance person, who is widely curious and cultured, is the best way to distinguish oneself and prosper.
To organise mentorship for individuals, groups, or companies please contact us:
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
Beautiful Soul Salons
Salons to revive the soul & discover the poetry in living.
We create bespoke salons to foster the art of conversation.
Salons are an intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching form of socialising. They are a perfect way to entertain guests who are curious and eager to exchange ideas on important questions.
Our salons are inspired by classical Platonic ideals of beauty.
Beauty improves health and wellbeing, increases happiness, and advances social relationships. We harness the benefits of beauty to facilitate human flourishing. By creating a beautiful setting, moderating the conversation, and personalising cultural additions, we elevate our clients’ intellectual and social existences.
Our Process:
Understand our clients’ intellectual interests, cultural influences, and aesthetic preferences.
Suggest topics of conversation and an aesthetic for the salon that incorporates these interests.
Create a “conversation menu” with questions that relate to the topic to provide structure.
Confirm cultural additions such as classical music performances, art exhibitions, or poetry readings.
Organise all logistics for the event including sending invitations, corresponding with guests, and coordinating with the caterers and suppliers.
Create a beautiful setting and tablescape.
Run the salon on the day: a trained salonniere moderates the conversation.
Sample Projects:
Private: Create bespoke dinner salons in clients’ homes as a unique socialising experience for their family, friends, or colleagues.
Cultural Organisations: Host salons in museums for patrons around exhibition themes to generate excitement, engagement, and publicity.
Corporate: Provide aesthetic counsel on making office environments more beautiful to increase employee wellbeing and productivity. Organise salon conversations, around the company’s core values, to nurture greater camaraderie and commitment to shared goals.
To engage our service, please contact us:
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
Art of Living Cultural Retreats
Applying the principles of aesthetic philosophy
to create beautiful worlds for art, music, and conversation.
We host Art of Living cultural retreats in a historic Baroque palazzo.
Join us for a beautiful week of art, music, and culture in Tuscany.
Each retreat has a self-cultivation focus such as painting, cooking, music, writing, or philosophy.
An instructor teaches intensive courses in one of these areas during the day. Courses are complemented by bespoke cultural experiences including classical concerts, salons, poetry readings, and formal dinners.
To organise a private retreat for groups or companies please contact us:
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
