What makes something beautiful? The term beauty is used to describe a characteristic of objects that make them pleasant to look at or touch. It applies to all kinds of objects, including landscapes, sunsets, people, and works of art. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that explores how we view beauty. The subject is fascinating because beauty can be found everywhere. Here are some ways to recognize beauty in a variety of objects:
Forms. In the classical world, symmetry was a sign of beauty. Beauty is the symmetry of parts towards the whole. A sculpture or painting can be beautiful because it has symmetry, but a painting isn’t beautiful if it doesn’t have it. A sculpture, called ‘The Canon’ by the Greek artist Polykleitos, has this trait. While this may seem like a contradiction, it is important to note that beauty is a universal form.
Aristotle’s view of beauty differed from Plato’s. He viewed beauty as existing in the “forms,” a world of ideal objects that are non-physical and non-material. While Aristotle also held an “objective” view of beauty, his definition is somewhat different from Plato’s. In contrast, Aristotle defined beauty in terms of the art object’s characteristics, not the observer’s experience.
Moore, a former designer, was the head of art at Publicis in London. He emphasizes the importance of beauty in design and how this can lead to successful business. Beauty is especially relevant in today’s world of political unrest and climate crisis. With this in mind, Moore encourages us to re-think our role as problem solvers in the modern world. So, what are we looking for? What’s beautiful? Let’s have a look!
Schiller uses the terms beauty, play, and art interchangeably. Beauty is the experience of integrating and ascending to a higher realm. While Schiller is less concerned with transcending physical reality than with integrating nature and spirit, beauty is a universal experience. As such, it is more important to understand the intention of an artist when composing art. This is the only way to truly understand the meaning and value of beauty. The purpose of beauty and its significance in our culture is important.
Whether we are interested in a fictional character or an everyday object, beauty is present in all things, from a nautilus shell to a full blooming eucalyptus tree. Even if it is inanimate, its complexity speaks to the human imagination and inspires wonder. The process of scientific inquiry is itself a form of beauty and wonder. The beauty of our world is a reflection of our own culture.
Throughout history, there have been various attempts to define the concept of beauty. Kant’s treatment of beauty has elements of hedonism, while Plotinus’ ecstatic neo-Platonism focuses on the unity of objects and the way beauty calls out to love. Yet other philosophers have associated beauty with use and usefulness. It is difficult to define the concept of beauty in a purely utilitarian way, but the notion is there.