Beauty is a concept that can be difficult to define or describe. It can refer to qualities that appeal to the senses, such as physical appearance or art, but it can also mean intangible qualities, such as kindness or compassion.
Beauty in Art and Craft
A beautiful work of art is a work that not only serves the purpose it was intended to serve, but also evokes a positive experience for the viewer. It expresses something about the artist’s thoughts and feelings or connects the artist with the observer through a shared appreciation of the art.
Nature as a Source of Beauty
The human mind has an amazing ability to see into the world around it and to see what is truly beautiful. It can see things that we may not be able to see on our own, such as the colors of flowers, trees, and sunsets.
When we see these natural wonders of the world, it makes us happy and content. In addition, we feel connected to the natural world and to each other, which is essential for healthy living.
Science and Philosophy of Beauty
While scientists still don’t understand what makes some things beautiful and others not, they do know that there are certain patterns that appear in the brain when we view objects that we consider to be beautiful. This is especially true when it comes to the human face, where symmetry is considered to be more attractive than an asymmetrical face.
In addition to this, scientists have found that symmetrical faces rate as more desirable than asymmetrical ones when it comes to mate selection across cultures and even across species.
Aristotle and other philosophers agree that to be considered beautiful, an object must be arranged according to certain principles, such as proportion, harmony, and symmetry. This is the classical conception of beauty that dominated much of Western culture until about the mid-twentieth century.
This notion of beauty has been subject to many criticisms throughout history. Historically, it has been associated with sexuality and racial inequality, but it has also played an important role in social movements for women’s rights and against racism.
The Aesthetic Principles of Beauty
Almost everyone believes that to be beautiful, an object must be arranged in accordance with proportion and symmetry. This is a basic tenet of the classical aesthetic, which is embodied in Western art and architecture.
It also carries with it a number of philosophical and theological precepts that were developed over time. Aristotle, for example, teaches that beauty is a form of perfection. The first requirement is integrity or perfection, which means that the object must be free from defects. The second is due proportion or consonance, which means that the object must be in accordance with a larger whole.
In the twentieth century, the concept of beauty began to lose its significance and importance. As a result, the arts often abandoned their traditional goal of beauty and began to focus more on practical tasks.