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”
Our Philosophy
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An Ancient Tradition for Composing a Beautiful Life
The Beautiful Soul is a philosophical ideal that emerged in late eighteenth-century Germany, centred on the cultivation of character through the pursuit of beauty.
Developed by the poets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, this tradition drew deeply on classical philosophy. It affirmed Plato’s belief in the unity of beauty, goodness, and truth, alongside Aristotle’s conception of eudaimonia—human flourishing attained through a life of reason, wisdom, and virtue. Its proponents believed that the appreciation and creation of beauty shape the mind, cultivate character, and elevate the spirit, drawing us ever closer to this ideal of human excellence.
Although the Beautiful Soul can never be perfectly realised, striving towards it inspires continual self-improvement and the fulfilment of our highest potential.
The philosophy of the Beautiful Soul offers an enduringly optimistic vision of human life: by cultivating ourselves through beauty, we may discover profound meaning and lasting happiness while contributing to a more enlightened society. .
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A Vibrant Conversation Space for Social and Intellectual Exchange
Salon culture began in sixteenth-century Italy and flourished in eighteenth century France. Salons were gatherings devoted to the art of conversation where people came together to discuss ideas in a spirit of friendship and goodwill. They were hosted by salonnières—extraordinary women who opened their homes and created spaces for intellectual and cultural exchange.
Salonnières advanced principles of equality, tolerance, fellowship, and freedom of expression within their salons. Salon culture played an important role in the emergence of the European public sphere and contributed to major intellectual and artistic movements.
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Beautiful Souls are Cultivated within Salons
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, German-Jewish salonnières enacted the philosophy of the Beautiful Soul within their salons. They fostered communities in which individuals could improve themselves through beauty in art, music, and conversation. The salon became a space in which self-cultivation and shared reflection advanced Enlightenment thought, Renaissance humanism, and Platonic ideals.
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For ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, beauty was a universal value inseparably connected to truth and goodness. Romantic thinkers such as Friedrich Schiller and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe understood beauty as a formative force that awakens moral sensibility, harmonises rational and emotional faculties, and ennobles life itself.
In contemporary culture, beauty is often reduced to physical appearance, reflecting a superficial and individualistic conception of value. Restoring the classical definition of beauty, and the ideals it represents, would contribute to a more enlightened society.
Beauty matters because it fosters happiness, meaning, and human connection. A beautiful landscape can evoke serenity and contentment, while music offers consolation in the face of suffering. The beauty of literature and theatre expands our ability to see the world from perspectives beyond our own. In becoming receptive to beauty, we cultivate empathy and deepen our understanding of the human condition. To develop the ability to perceive and create beauty advances human flourishing and social harmony.
Our Background
Founder Justine Kolata is a writer educated at Yale University (B.A) and the University of Cambridge (Ph.D.) Her first book, In Pursuit of the Beautiful Soul, examines the philosophy of the Beautiful Soul and salon culture. Her forthcoming book, Beauty Will Save the World, explores why beauty matters and how beauty can enrich our lives as a universal good. Drawing on her scholarly research into beauty and classical ideals, and her experience organising salons since 2013, she founded The Beautiful Soul to revive the practice of this philosophical tradition.
Our Books
“The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me
with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth.”
Beautiful Soul Salons
Salons to awaken the soul and discover the poetry of living.
We create bespoke salons that revive the art of conversation.
Salons are intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching gatherings where curious minds exchange ideas and explore life’s greatest questions. Inspired by classical Platonic ideals of beauty, our salons combine thoughtful conversation with curated cultural experiences to elevate the mind and nourish the spirit.
Private salons can be arranged for groups and hosted at a client’s residence or at our event space.
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Learn about our clients’ interests and objectives.
Develop a salon theme and conversation topics tailored to those interests.
Create a bespoke conversation menu to guide and enrich discussion.
Curate complementary cultural experiences, such as classical music performances or lectures.
Manage all event logistics, including invitations, guest correspondence, catering, and supplier coordination.
Design an elegant setting, including tablescapes and decorative details.
Provide an experienced salonnière to moderate the conversation and encourage thoughtful participation.
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Private Salons
Host bespoke gatherings for families, friends, or colleagues, fostering deeper human connections through curated conversations.
Salons for Cultural Organisations
Organise salons for patrons of the arts and culture to foster engagement and support fundraising initiatives.
Corporate Salons
Create salons around a company’s core values or key questions to strengthen relationships, encourage reflection, and deepen commitment to shared goals.
Student Salons
Prepare students for university admissions through salon discussions focused on their academic interests and prospective fields of study.
To engage our service, please contact us:
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
Beautiful Soul Children’s Salons
Where children learn to think deeply, converse beautifully, and discover the world of ideas.
Our children’s salons introduce young minds to culture and ideas through the art of conversation.
In an age of AI, the ability to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and form independent judgments will be among the most valuable skills a child can develop.
To counter the detrimental effects of social media, cultivating a love of conversation and genuine human connection is an enduring gift we can give the next generation.
The salon offers children the opportunity to explore ideas, listen attentively to others, and confidently articulate their own views, while exercising civility and decorum.
Oxbridge and Ivy League-educated cultural tutors employ our Socratic Salon Method, using thoughtful questioning and discussion to foster curiosity, intellectual autonomy, and self-knowledge.
No prior study of philosophy is required.
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The idea: Each salon introduces the ideas of a great philosopher, thinker, or artist, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for a younger audience. Topics might include Kant’s Categorical Imperative, Plato’s conception of beauty, or Aristotle’s idea of the good life.
The conversation: Following a short presentation, our cultural tutor leads a lively Socratic discussion, encouraging children to question, reason, articulate their ideas and consider different perspectives.
The music: Each salon concludes with a live classical musical performance chosen to complement and deepen the ideas explored during the conversation.
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An Ivy League- or Oxbridge-educated cultural tutor
A curated philosophical conversation
Live classical music performed by a renowned concert artist
A beautiful and inspiring setting
Refreshments and snacks
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Confidence & Communication
Learning to articulate ideas clearly, speak with assurance, and express oneself thoughtfully.Critical Thinking
Learning to ask questions, reason, form independent opinions, and examine assumptions.Cultural Enrichment
Encountering great works and ideas from philosophy, literature, art, history, and music.Social Connection
Discovering the pleasures of thoughtful conversation, attentive listening, and genuine friendship.A Love of Beauty & Learning
Developing an appreciation for the things that enrich a life: ideas, art, nature, music, and human connection. -
Salon culture began in sixteenth-century Italy and flourished in eighteenth century France. Salons were gatherings devoted to the art of conversation where people came together to discuss ideas in a spirit of friendship and goodwill. They were hosted by salonnières—extraordinary women who opened their homes and created spaces for intellectual and cultural exchange.
Salonnières advanced principles of equality, tolerance, fellowship, and freedom of expression within their salons. Salon culture played an important role in the emergence of the European public sphere and contributed to major intellectual and artistic movements.
The Beautiful Soul Children’s Salon revives this tradition for a new generation.
Upcoming Children’s Salon
When: Saturday October 17, 3–4 pm, Pimlico, London (location disclosed upon registration.)
Ages: 6–12
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: £60 per child
Group size: 10–12 children maximum
Attendance: Children may attend independently, or parents/nannies are welcome to stay.
Cultural Tutor & Musician for this Salon
Justine Kolata is a writer educated at Yale University (B.A.) and the University of Cambridge (Ph.D.). She is the author of In Pursuit of the Beautiful Soul and Beauty Will Save the World, which explore the eighteenth-century philosophy of the Beautiful Soul and the tradition of the salon. Drawing on her scholarly research into beauty and classical ideals, as well as her experience organising salons since 2013, she founded The Beautiful Soul to revive this philosophical and cultural tradition for the modern world.
Louis Schwizgebel is an internationally acclaimed Swiss concert pianist who performs with leading orchestras around the world, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre National de France, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC orchestras.
To enrol your child in our salon programme or arrange a private salon for a special event, 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.
Join us for a beautiful week of art, music, and culture in France or Tuscany.
Each retreat focuses on self-cultivation through disciplines 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 salons, classical concerts, and formal dinners.
To organise a private retreat for groups or companies please contact us:
contact@thebeautifulsoul.co
