Beauty is a term that encompasses many different aspects. It can be a physical characteristic, such as hair or eyes, a style of clothing, or an aesthetic quality such as art or music. It can also be an emotional aspect of a person, such as positive self-image or confidence.
The concept of beauty has been explored in depth throughout history and was particularly popular during the twentieth century, especially in the area of philosophy. It is a common practice in society to ‘appreciate’ or ‘value’ beautiful things and people.
Classical definitions define beauty in terms of proportion or harmonious relations among parts that evoke pleasure. A beautiful face, for example, should have perfect symmetry. This symmetry can be achieved by ensuring that the eyes and lips are proportional to each other, or by making sure that they are in good balance with the rest of the body.
Aristotle and Plato, for instance, regarded beauty as an objective property of things. Consequently, they argued that what is beautiful should be consistent with the properties of nature, which are generally considered to be symmetrical and orderly.
Another approach to the concept of beauty takes a more subjective view. George Santayana wrote an influential essay on the topic in 1896 that argues that a judgment of something as beautiful is based on a response to its inducing certain sorts of pleasure.
Unlike the classical conception, however, Santayana argued that this pleasure could not be reproduced by reproducing the object itself: it was impossible to say something had beauty unless the person who was perceiving it had experienced the thing as having such qualities.
A similar approach is taken by Hume, who argues that there is no such thing as an objectively good or bad thing: the only thing that can be judged is what produces pleasure to the observer. This is the same line of thinking that Kant took, though Kant’s account was more adamantly subjectivist than Hume’s.
One of the major objections to this line of thought is that it is hard to imagine an objectively beautiful thing. For instance, if we look at the same landscape under different conditions, we may see a range of colors. This is a problem because it implies that there are things that are truly beautiful under all circumstances, and things that are not beautiful under any circumstances.
This line of thought has been challenged by a number of philosophers, including Umberto Eco and Alastair McEwen in their book “History of Beauty.” They argue that the idea of ‘objective’ beauty is an illusion that is used to explain how things are seen.
It is important to remember that all humans are unique and have different strengths and weaknesses. Taking time to discover and appreciate what makes you special will enable you to experience true beauty in yourself.
The ability to break free of societal expectations and find your true beauty is an incredible gift that can unlock the door to a happier life. Using this power for the greater good will make you a better and stronger person. Finding a balance between work and play, finding inner peace and enjoying what you have are all key elements that can help to create a sense of self-beauty.