Beauty is a quality attributed to items that arouse pleasure. It is a combination of qualities – some arbitrary, and others more important – that give meaning to an object and give a feeling of satisfaction. Unlike ugliness, it is an objective property that is largely unrelated to the individual who experiences it.
The concept of beauty can be seen in many forms, including art and science. Although the most obvious definition would be the visual experience, it can be seen as a combination of aesthetic and practical qualities. For example, a brightly colored object will be admired. At the same time, jaundice can cause a yellow cast to the world.
Some ancient thinkers considered beauty a manifestation of the spirit or a spiritual substance. Others, such as the Greek philosophers, thought it was an objective reality, based on the form and proportion of an object. In the early twentieth century, however, the idea of beauty came to represent capitalism. And the same concept of beauty also became associated with aristocracy.
Many controversies have emerged regarding the definition of beauty. Some philosophers believe that the best way to judge something is through a mathematical equation, a simple yet effective way of making sure that a thing is actually beautiful. Another view is that it’s a subjective quality, based on a combination of a person’s aesthetic sense and the pleasure it brings them.
One of the most popular debates is whether or not beauty is objective. Most philosophical accounts of beauty have been devoted to establishing its objective nature, which is in fact a matter of debate. A few of the most prominent theories include those of the ancient Greeks and the Renaissance.
The most common argument is that beauty is an objective quality, while others suggest that it’s a function of the human mind. The most common objections to this approach are that we don’t understand what we’re looking at, and that we have no ability to objectively evaluate aesthetic properties such as shape, color, or size. These are all valid concerns, but it’s impossible to deny that some things are indeed beautiful.
In the twentieth century, a number of artists pushed against traditional notions of beauty, notably Picasso and Schoenberg. They were followed by contemporary designers such as Paula Scher and Alan Moore. As the 1990s approached, an interest in the subject revived, partly in response to the work of art critic Dave Hickey.
Other ancient and modern treatments of the same aforementioned are worthy of mention, such as that of Plotinus. His famous treatise on beauty focuses on the ecstatic pleasures of the experience and describes it in a variety of ways.
The modernist movement, which dominated the design scene in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, rejected this austere conception. It likewise dismissed any use of chaos or disorder. But it was also a product of the era’s desire to rethink aesthetics.
While it’s impossible to determine if beauty is objective or subjective, the most important thing is to understand the various ways in which beauty can be measured.