“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.”
This clear and unambiguous declaration was originally expressed by Plato, one of the greatest of the ancient Greek philosophers, in the 4th century BCE. For as long as man has kept records, the perception and meaning of beauty has been the subject of endless arguments which, even after the passage of several millennia, remain unresolved. Many of the Greek philosophers, including Socrates and Aristotle, believed that perception of beauty was strictly subjective, so that different people will have different concepts, depending on their own interpretations. But there were others, mainly the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers of the period, including Seneca and Epictetus, who were convinced that the concept of beauty was a function of both Subjective perception (eurythmy), as well as Objective appearance (symmetry); the actual physical attributes of the subject. Similar interests in understanding beauty were also in existence in other ancient cultures. The ancient Chinese, tended to support Plato’s subjective approach as evidenced the view expressed by Confucius:
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Over the succeeding centuries, the
debate of whether or not the concept of beauty is subjective, objective or
both, has continued to rage on unabated. It involved people of every
generation and culture, without ever reaching consensus. This should not be a
surprise since the perception of beauty means different things to different
people, and objectively, it is impossible to ever arrive at standard and
universal values. It is left to each individual to be his own arbiter and to
hold strong views when challenged. Because of this, we often encounter
situations where one person finds an object attractive and appealing, and another
person may find it ugly, boring or uninteresting. This dichotomy is very
clearly implied in the following very popular old Arab saying:
“Even the monkey, in the eyes of his mother,
is more beautiful than a gazelle”
Psychologically, the perception of Beauty, like that of the arts and taste, is considered a matter of aesthetics and as such, cannot be accurately quantified. The term is most commonly used to describe those objects that provide perceptions of satisfaction and pleasure, and produce deep feelings of joy and fulfillment. These feelings are precipitated by the body’s release of catecholamines which will often linger on long after the experience is over. But, as the developmental psychologist insist, the perception of beauty is not merely an exercise of emotional satisfaction. It plays a very subtle and fundamental role in choosing the next generation. By identifying and choosing beauty, which implies symmetry, nature is in fact, securing a better quality of offspring.
The very highly regarded 18th century Scottish philosopher and essayist, David Hume, tried to explain his view on beauty in a balanced, subjective manner when he commented:
“Beauty is no quality in things themselves. It exists only in the mind which contemplate them; and each mind will perceive a different beauty.”
He was confirming the fact that beauty has no fixed identifiable characteristic of its own, but is a reflection of the particular mind’s perception. His assessment has received almost unanimous acceptance worldwide, and continues to be as relevant today as it was in the past. This for example, will explain why there is such a widely different spectrum in the standard of acceptance of the female beauty requirements among the several racial groups. The Caucasian sees her beauty in her figure, form and appearance, the Chinese look for delicate features and pure, unblemished skin. The Arabs instead, are more concerned with the lightness of color and smoothness of skin, while the African appears to favor darker color of skin and prominent facial features, and the inhabitants of the Indian continent are more readily moved by facial features embellished with adornments. Indeed, from any point of reference, beauty is but a reflection of what the mind’s eye chooses to perceive.
The Lebanese-American poet and author, Khalil Gibran, described his response to beauty in exquisite simplicity when he noted:
“Beauty is not in the face.
Beauty is a light in the heart.”
But in saying this, he was drawing attention to the significant differences between seeing beauty and feeling beauty. The former refers to the objective appearance such as color, form and stature, while the latter relates to the inner subjective responses which create deep emotional responses that cannot be seen. This inner beauty is reflected in our whole being, provides the feelings of wellness, induces a sense of positivity and self-confidence, and leaves a feeling of joy shining inside.
Even more than this, Paulo Coelho, the internationally recognized, Brazilian lyricist and novelist, in commenting on the effect of inner beauty, observed:
“Outer beauty is inner beauty made visible; and it manifests itself in light that flows in the eyes.”
He was adamant that the inner beauty of any object should always be considered the true beauty. The outer form and appearance may vary depending on its external situation and the individual’s reception and interpretation, but the true beauty comes from within, a reflection of his inner self. Before we chose to grant the privilege of deciding an object deserves the title of beautiful, we must always determine whether it is beautiful because it gives delight, or whether it gives delight because it is beautiful. He emphatically chooses the latter, for the feelings begin deep within the person’s spirit. Beauty therefore must not only be seen, but it must be felt!
Beauty, therefore, can never be entirely subjective, for if this was the case, then when everyone automatically agree that an object is beautiful, then the word will have no more meaning then a common approval. But beauty is more than this, since it requires the involvement of the subconscious mind and the inner spirit working together to create it. A perfect rose or a dramatic sunset will remain only perfect objects if seen through the eyes of a camera’s lens. But they become beautiful because they instill in the person a physical and emotional response that can only be experienced in the moment but not reproduced. Helen Keller, the gifted and incomparable American author and social activist, who overcame a debilitating loss of speech and hearing during childhood, to become a highly respected and successful public figure, speaking from a very personal and deeply sensitive position, described this feeling in these emotional terms:
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt in the heart.”
This indeed, is the true concept of beauty. Although it not readily describable, nor can it be categorized, visualized or validated, It is nevertheless, one of nature’s ways of ensuring the continuation and strengthening of the species.
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