The topic of beauty has been one of the most popular subjects of debate in the literature. This is not surprising given the fact that it provides pleasure, perceptual experience, and can provide a basis for intellectual activity. Beauty also has a great effect on the world around us. It plays a significant role in politics, commerce, and climate crises. Throughout history, however, the meaning of beauty has changed.
One definition of beauty is that it is an objectified pleasure. For example, a woman looking at a realistic portrait of herself might feel an emotional response to the painting. Similarly, a piece of music might evoke an emotional response. A film might be seductive. Even a person watching a semi-pornographic film might find the experience of viewing a scene beautiful.
Another definition of beauty is that it is a compound, or a whole that lacks parts. During the Renaissance era, plumpness was seen as a sign of wealth. However, in the twenty-first century, the definition of beauty is much different. Many artists have little intellect in their work.
In the eighteenth century, a philosopher named David Hume argued that beauty is subjective. He said that the aesthetic judgments of an individual are largely dependent on their own tastes and feelings. On the other hand, Berkeley emphasized the importance of practical activity and intellection when defining beauty.
Thomas Aquinas outlined three qualifications for beauty. First, it should be suited to use. Second, it should be of harmonious proportion and third, it should have integrity. These qualifications were influenced by the ancient Greek philosophers Socrates and Aristippus.
An ancient hedonist, Aristippus of Cyrene, also argued that beauty is a pleasure. He praised the beauty of love, longing, and wonderment. His account of beauty is more direct than that of Plato.
In the classical era, the concept of beauty was used to define a sculpture called ‘The Canon’. The canon was held as a model for harmonious proportion. Despite the formalism of the classical conception, the building process of the canon was exploitative.
Whether or not beauty is subjective is a controversial subject. The classical philosophers disagreed about this. Some, like Locke, believed that colors vary from person to person, whereas others, such as Santayana, claimed that the experience of beauty is very profound.
Another ancient philosopher, Aristotle, viewed beauty as a craft. He ascribed less danger to beauty than Plato. Aristotle believed that beauty was a combination of qualities that give meaning to a living thing. Unlike Plato, Aristotle argued that the qualities that make a living thing beautiful need not be harmonious.
Finally, many philosophers believe that beauty is a matter of suitedness. This is a particularly interesting theory. Specifically, some think that a person is not suited to appreciate a particular object. Others, such as Kant, argued that a spectator’s emotional response is more important than the aesthetic qualities of the object.
Defining beauty is a complex process, but there are some common threads that can be observed in different theories of beauty. For instance, the definition of beauty can be defined by gender, race, age, and body shape.