Whether beauty is an objective concept or a subjective one is a subject of debate. This article will examine the main ways in which this question has been explored in the twentieth century. Then we will consider how the topic has been addressed in social justice movements. Finally, we will consider how it has been regarded by philosophers.
The classical conception of beauty is typically Aristotelian in that it treats beauty as a matter of harmonious proportions, as well as a matter of relations between parts. It is sometimes expressed in mathematical ratios, and sometimes interpreted as a matter of symmetry. However, it is important to note that this conception is not universally accepted. It was, for example, criticized by British empiricists who argued that colors are not objective and depend on the perception of the mind. It is also important to note that Aristotle disputed Plato’s view of beauty.
In the nineteenth century, the concept of beauty was widely considered to be associated with pleasure. In the early twentieth century, beauty became an increasingly important element in the arts. However, many thinkers were uncertain how to reconcile beauty with the era of wars, genocide, and wastelands. In the early twentieth century, Clive Bell wrote that beauty is found in the arrangement of lines and colors.
In the twentieth century, beauty was also associated with capitalism, especially in the context of a new wave of revolution. The French revolutionaries viewed beauty as a symbol of power and wealth, and as a result, the arts became a tool for sabotage and destruction. Aside from the aesthetic quality of an object, the prestige of the artist influenced the appreciation of a landscape. It was also common to dedicate great art to furnishing homes of wealthy people. Eventually, the beauty associated with modern art became subject to sabotage and direct destruction.
The hedonist conception of beauty is a more subjective one. Rather than focusing on the aesthetic qualities of an object, the hedonist sees the connection between pleasure and beauty. A beautiful object is one that has value, as well as a loving attitude. It can be a natural object, such as a flower, or an art object, such as a painting. The hedonist conception also defines beauty as a’spiritual experience’ that connects the object with the community of appreciation.
Santayana, on the other hand, emphatically defines beauty as pleasure. Beauty is something that can be experienced without regard for the object that causes it. It is an experience that can lead to a feeling of profound meaning. This experience can be a form of transcendence. It may also be a form of delight.
The idea of beauty is not limited to the aesthetic realm, but also encompasses the idea of contemplation. It involves finding something salient in a world that is otherwise drab or dull. It also involves letting go. This process takes place through experience and meditation. The idea of beauty is also a realisation of an inexorable mathematical law.