Final answer:
Aesthetics is the term used to describe the critical judgment of beauty and taste within a culture or individual, and it includes the subjectivity of these judgments as well as their rootedness in wider societal values and ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe critical judgment, discernment, or appreciation of what is fitting, harmonious, or beautiful prevailing in a culture or personal to an individual is aesthetics. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with matters of beauty, art, and taste. It includes the analysis of aesthetic judgments and values, which are often subjective but rooted in cultural and personal backgrounds. Philosophers like Hume and Kant have pondered upon whether aesthetic judgments can be justified and if they involve specific rules or rationales. While judgments of beauty can involve personal preferences and responses, they can also be influenced by broader societal values and ideals, as Kant suggests.
People justify aesthetic judgments based on both sensory observations and a more nuanced discernment that may not adhere strictly to rules or conditions. Works of art are not only experienced via sensory perception; they also come to be evaluated within their historical and cultural contexts. Thus, aesthetic theory intersects with various aspects of society and individual experience, showing how judgments of taste and beauty play significant roles in the expression.