Beauty is a quality or combination of qualities that evokes pleasure or gratification in the mind, usually referring to harmony of form or color, proportion, authenticity, and originality. It is usually regarded as the source of satisfaction and inspiration, and it often takes on the form of a personality.
From the Ancient world to modern neuroscience and psychology, the concept of beauty has fascinated philosophers and artists alike. It has been a subject of intense debate and passionate thinking from the time of Plato until today.
The meaning of beauty is ambiguous, and there are no unifying rules. It can be interpreted in many different ways, and each interpretation has its own appeal to the senses.
Kant’s hedonism, for example, conceives of beauty as disinterested pleasure; Plotinus’ ecstatic neo-Platonism suggests that the object evokes an emotion such as love or adoration.
Aquinas’ account of beauty is based on an empirical understanding of the physical world, and it allows for aesthetic principles to be real in the physical sense. This account satisfies many of the criteria for a unified theory of beauty, and it answers Kant’s humanism in particular.
The concept of beauty is constantly being redefined and questioned, as more people become concerned with appearance, and evolutionary psychologists open new lines of research on how perceptions of appearance affect the body.
Historically, people have viewed the human form as beautiful, with symmetry in the face and the body being desirable traits. But the emergence of women’s rights in modern society has made it even more important for us to find our own beauty and accept ourselves as unique.
It is possible to become very frustrated with the way our bodies look, and this can lead to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, drinking, and smoking. However, there are also other things that can be done to help us feel better about ourselves and create a sense of inner peace.
When we take the time to understand who we really are, and not focus so much on how we look, it can create a feeling of true beauty and happiness. Ashley Pennewill, a coach at A Clean Mind Coaching & Counseling in New York City says that the best way to find our own beauty is by focusing on what we like about ourselves and what makes us happy.
Researchers have found that there are a number of common qualities that are deemed attractive across the globe, including fair skin, lustrous hair, great figure, and confidence. They have also found that people with disabilities, such as Down syndrome or spinal injuries, can be incredibly beautiful.
A number of these studies have used a 1-5 rating scale, where one means “strikingly unattractive” and five means “stunningly handsome.” It has been shown that women with perceived physical impairments are more likely to be chosen over other women for jobs than their non-disabled counterparts. This is a positive step forward, as it can help break down the barriers of society that may be holding many people back.