由於人在從事藝術創作與欣賞時，充分展現人的知、情、意生命本質；同時審美教育因其可使受教者之理智、情感與意志三者協調，致使審美教育的教材「藝術」具全人意涵，職是之故，藝術具全人意涵。雖然美學思想家對藝術的本質與特質各有不同主張，但在藝術的全人意涵基礎下，可將藝術的本質定義為「藝術是一種人出於其生命特質自由意志（意）所產生之具有目的性的創造活動，這種創造活動是一種精神活動，融合人之理性（知）與感性（情）之生命特質，既能反應客觀現實又能表現主觀理想，既有內容又重視形式。所創造之作品既具詩意又具歷史性，既能開顯藝術存有的真，又能開顯藝術存有的美」。從上述藝術的本質意涵中，可推演出藝術具有下列九項特質：1.藝術創作與欣賞，其審美趣味具非功利性之目的。2.藝術作品是出於藝術家人為的創作，而非現成之物或器具。3.藝術家所使用之藝術語言必須能引起欣賞者之共鳴。4.藝術具有審美價值，能喚起創作者與欣賞者之美感。5.藝術具有教育價值。6.藝術具有倫理價值。7.藝術具有淨化及醫療身、心、靈之價值。8.藝術具有娛樂價值，能帶給創作者與欣賞者愉悅。9.藝術具有知識價值，能開顯真理。

When people are creating and appreciating artistic works, Intellect, Emotion and Will, three essences of life, can be fully revealed; at the same time, since the aesthetic education can balance the Intellect, Emotion and Will of learners, the ‘art’ of its teaching materials is thus full of Holistic indications. Art therefore indicates Holism.Though aesthetic thinkers view differently on the essentialities and qualities of art, the essence of art can be defined, on the basis of Holistic indications, as ”Art is an autotelic and purposive act of creativity, which is done out of the attribute of human free will (will). This act of creativity is a spirit-oriented one and fuses essences of rationality (intellect) and sensibility (emotion), reflecting objective facts and subjective eidolons, emphasizing not only content but format. The artistic work thus created is both poetic and historical, manifesting the truth and the beauty of art itself.From the above-mentioned essential indications of art, nine qualities of art can be deduced:1. The aesthetic interests in the creation and appreciation of art bear a non-utilitarian purpose.2. Artistic works are created by the artists, but not some already-made appliances.3. The language the artists use must be able to arouse the consonance of appreciators.4. Art has aesthetic values and is able to arouse the aesthetic sense of both creators and appreciators.5. Art has the educational value.6. Art has the ethical value.7. Art can contribute to the purification and healing of the body, mind and spirit.8. Art has the value of entertainment, bringing about pleasures for creators and appreciators.9. Art has the value of knowledge, revealing the truth.