Beauty is the combination of qualities that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially sight. It is often used to describe natural and man-made objects, but it also has a strong mental and spiritual connotation.
Historically, the definition of beauty has been a matter of intense debate and passion. Aristotle and other ancient philosophers formulated theories of what is beautiful and how it can be achieved. In modern times, the concept of beauty has been shaped by a number of different philosophical, artistic and psychological approaches.
The classical conception of beauty (found in the Poetics, for instance, and the Metaphysics) is that the arrangement of integral parts into a coherent whole, according to proportion, harmony, symmetry, and similar notions, constitutes beauty. Aristotle argues that “to be beautiful, a living creature, and every whole made up of parts, must… present a certain order in its arrangement of parts” (volume 2, 2322 [1450b34]).
This is an essentially Western conception of beauty, and can be seen in everything from architecture to sculpture to literature to music. It is based in part on a mystical tradition of numeric harmony, exemplified by the Golden Ratio. Moreover, in the ancient Greek era, mathematicians were able to make direct links between certain mathematical proportions and shapes and their relation to aesthetic excellence.
For example, the golden ratio, in its inverse form, has been found to be particularly striking. It is the basis for a number of classical architectural designs, including the famous Doryphoros in ancient Greece.
Aristotle and other ancient philosophers were keenly interested in the connection between the human body and art. Aristotle believed that a healthy body is an important factor in achieving and enjoying beauty, as it can help people look good and feel good.
Another aspect of beauty that has been a focus for philosophers is how it affects the human mind and emotions. Alan Moore, a former designer and typographer, has spent a lot of time studying this topic and has come to the conclusion that beauty has a significant influence on how we think about things.
He has written a book on this topic called The Business Case for Beauty, in which he makes the case that businesses should consider what it is they are trying to achieve and how it is likely to appeal to their customers. He cites a Temkin survey which shows that consumers are more likely to buy from companies that they find attractive and to recommend them to friends.
It is important to note that there are many different views of what is considered beautiful, but the majority of scholars agree on some fundamental principles. Aristotle and other ancient philosophers agreed that beauty is a combination of a variety of different qualities.
In the modern age, some of the most beautiful people don’t fall under the beauty category. They are successful, intelligent, passionate and wise – and they may not be the most physically attractive.
They have something that is innately beautiful about them, which they don’t let the world see, such as their kindness or their sense of humor. This is why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who love and appreciate you for who you are, not what you look like.