Why is beauty so important?

[tonyrey]

I completely agree with this; I think that the phrase “ugly souls may enjoy ugly music” to be very questionable. I don’t think that anyone is capable of gauging a soul’s beauty, nor as meltzerboy has so articulately put it, finding beauty in music is rather subjective.

“rather” implies “not entirely”…

 

[johnnyjones]

Before I wrote a book on the collapse of Western civilization…I spent many hours studying the lyrics and origons of Rap Music…and I was shocked at the common thread that ran through the early Rap scene…(no matter what race or nationality)…the “singers” were all FATHERLESS from an early age.

I personally don’t like rap. Even if the “song” isn’t anti-authority, it often sounds like it. But, this was said of hard rock in the early days. It might have been a beautifully written love song but the screaming hard guitars turned uninformed listeners off.

I think there is a certain sub group of people who bind to a particular genre of music and adopt it’s worldview. A good remainder simply shrug it off as artistic expression. I’ve grown to know that artistic expression is sometimes a term used as a guise for immoral garbage.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Seems to me there’s beauty and beauty, even physically.

For instance, there are the 'conventionally beautiful"; like the Fox News women or a lot of movie personalities (I don’t much notice the men). They tend to be not only very symmetrical in feature, they seem almost to all look alike. So it seems there is a kind of “immediate” impression of beauty in people that are almost otherwise indistinguishable. It’s like the beauty of perfectly symmetrical columns in a Greek temple. Almost like well-designed packaging; made to create a basic impression of beauty to all, more or less equally.

But then it seems (again, we’re talking physical only here) there is another sort. Many times in my life I have been struck by someone’s beauty, and wondered why it struck me. There was always some kind of intriguing thing that was different. Perhaps the way the eyes are set or structured. Something about the shape of the smile. The symmetry is still there, but there is something unusual that sets off the whole effect better than the “template beauty” we’re so used to seeing commercially.

And actually, one of those “intriguing things” can change the whole impression. A person can create the impression of beauty by one thing, while everything else about them does not have that effect.

Perhaps there’s a difference between what is “beautiful” and what is “attractive”. And one’s view of “attractive” might be highly idiosyncratic in the beholder.

 

[meltzerboy]

Seems to me there’s beauty and beauty, even physically.

For instance, there are the 'conventionally beautiful"; like the Fox News women or a lot of movie personalities (I don’t much notice the men). They tend to be not only very symmetrical in feature, they seem almost to all look alike. So it seems there is a kind of “immediate” impression of beauty in people that are almost otherwise indistinguishable. It’s like the beauty of perfectly symmetrical columns in a Greek temple. Almost like well-designed packaging; made to create a basic impression of beauty to all, more or less equally.

But then it seems (again, we’re talking physical only here) there is another sort. Many times in my life I have been struck by someone’s beauty, and wondered why it struck me. There was always some kind of intriguing thing that was different. Perhaps the way the eyes are set or structured. Something about the shape of the smile. The symmetry is still there, but there is something unusual that sets off the whole effect better than the “template beauty” we’re so used to seeing commercially.

And actually, one of those “intriguing things” can change the whole impression. A person can create the impression of beauty by one thing, while everything else about them does not have that effect.

Perhaps there’s a difference between what is “beautiful” and what is “attractive”. And one’s view of “attractive” might be highly idiosyncratic in the beholder.

And perhaps the “attractive” need not consist of visual physical features at all, but instead involve personality, body movement, tone of voice, and so on, which interact with the beauty of the visual stimulus or even offset it?

 

[Pugsly]

And perhaps the “attractive” need not consist of visual physical features at all, but instead involve personality, body movement, tone of voice, and so on, which interact with the beauty of the visual stimulus or even offset it?

I think your right about “beauty” being varied in its appreciation by various people. One person might see great beauty in non-physical aspects like a person’s character.

However, I still hold to the idea that BEAUTY is an objective reality. It is an ordered structure that reflects God’s own order. For example, ELECTRICITY conducts through various mediums…ie…water, copper, gold, steel…etc. Just because ELECTRICITY can follow various paths doesn’t mean that it can follow any path.

The same is true of BEAUTY…just because various people appreciate various aspects of BEAUTY’S ORDER doesn’t mean that BEAUTY is thus intrinsically disordered. No, Beauty must have certain qualities and quantities of ORDER for it to be recognized by a functional conscience.
I am reminded of the prisoner who claims that just because he lied and stole and manipulated…and had to kill of few people…he is STILL a good person because atleast he’s not a child molester…for example. In this case…an appeal to some order is made to show that what appears to be a disordered life is actually held together by some beautiful ethic and underlying order…eg…the Theives Code…etc.

 

[tomarin]

Seems to me there’s beauty and beauty, even physically.

For instance, there are the 'conventionally beautiful"; like the Fox News women or a lot of movie personalities (I don’t much notice the men). They tend to be not only very symmetrical in feature, they seem almost to all look alike. So it seems there is a kind of “immediate” impression of beauty in people that are almost otherwise indistinguishable. It’s like the beauty of perfectly symmetrical columns in a Greek temple. Almost like well-designed packaging; made to create a basic impression of beauty to all, more or less equally.

But then it seems (again, we’re talking physical only here) there is another sort. Many times in my life I have been struck by someone’s beauty, and wondered why it struck me. There was always some kind of intriguing thing that was different. Perhaps the way the eyes are set or structured. Something about the shape of the smile. The symmetry is still there, but there is something unusual that sets off the whole effect better than the “template beauty” we’re so used to seeing commercially.

And actually, one of those “intriguing things” can change the whole impression. A person can create the impression of beauty by one thing, while everything else about them does not have that effect.

Perhaps there’s a difference between what is “beautiful” and what is “attractive”. And one’s view of “attractive” might be highly idiosyncratic in the beholder.

Beauty doesn’t even have to be perfect to be beautiful. The Japanese have an entire aesthetic school that values and seeks out the imperfections that make beauty a bit less sterile, called wabi-sabi, translated as “lonely and rustic” (I think).

I don’t know if that’s related to the second part of your post?

 

[meltzerboy]

Beauty doesn’t even have to be perfect to be beautiful. The Japanese have an entire aesthetic school that values and seeks out the imperfections that make beauty a bit less sterile, called wabi-sabi, translated as “lonely and rustic” (I think).

I don’t know if that’s related to the second part of your post?

And isn’t the beauty found in art (painting, sculpture, architecture, music, literature, dance) connected in part to its LACK of sterile perfection?

 

[tomarin]

And isn’t the beauty found in art (painting, sculpture, architecture, music, literature, dance) connected in part to its LACK of sterile perfection?

Are you saying beauty always derives from imperfection (in art at least)? I think that’s a bit of an overbroad generalization. It certainly does sometimes but different eras have different standards of beauty so I wouldn’t say always.

I think beauty from at least a touch of imperfection is to be some degree a learned response that is discovered by people with a focused and hardy eye.

 

[meltzerboy]

Are you saying beauty always derives from imperfection (in art at least)? I think that’s a bit of an overbroad generalization. It certainly does sometimes but different eras have different standards of beauty so I wouldn’t say always.

I think beauty from at least a touch of imperfection is to be some degree a learned response that is discovered by people with a focused and hardy eye.

No, I intentionally stated that the beauty in art is connected IN PART to imperfection, not totally. The imperfection gives art its human quality as opposed to a machine-like perfection.

 

[Paddy_Walker]

Lately I’ve been wondering why we value beauty, in people and in things, so highly. If it’s only skin-deep as we say, why do we seem to regard it so highly and privilege it? Why for example are the people who read the news on television almost always so good-looking? Is our tendency to be beguiled by beauty a flaw of some sort?

What do you think?

beauty is how we choose things, we always choose the beauty, surely.

 

[SweetLambs]

I’ve never been attracted to the mainstream concepts of human beauty. Perfect proportions, very buff (for guys) or very slender (for women), makeup, “perfect hair” (whatever that means), etc. don’t say a thing about you. I think in people, I see beauty as more of a whole-person thing rather than just skin deep.

Some of the most beautiful people that I can think of have imperfect teeth, but a beautiful smile because they really mean it when they do. They’re always smiling and laughing and have a very unique sense of humor. Their faces light up with a love for life and a passion for what they do, and their whole presense exudes kindness and a desire to help people. They are extremely intelligent (not that brains are necessary for beauty) but they look at the world in such a childlike way, in awe at the little amazing things that most people take for granted. I doubt any of these people would be viewed as very beautiful physically, but to me, their hearts and personalities shine and that is what makes a person beautiful and a joy to be around.

If I marry one day, I want a guy like that- not some buff bodybuilder without a heart and brain (no offense to the bodybuilders that do possess them ). And I hope that men are looking for women like that as well. Looks are meaningless when you get right down to it.

 

[tomarin]

If I marry one day, I want a guy like that- not some buff bodybuilder without a heart and brain (no offense to the bodybuilders that do possess them ). And I hope that men are looking for women like that as well. Looks are meaningless when you get right down to it.

(bold added by Tomarin)

Looks are not unlike money: they don’t mean anything yet they don’t hurt either.

 

[tomarin]

No, I intentionally stated that the beauty in art is connected IN PART to imperfection, not totally. The imperfection gives art its human quality as opposed to a machine-like perfection.

I agree. A vase with a crack in it is a lot more interesting to me than a perfectly smooth one. A slowly rusting truck is more interesting (from an aesthetic standpoint) than a perfectly new one.

Added: on the other hand, why does that not work for Mozart? Almost all of his music seems perfect to the note. And it wouldn’t be improved if the musician performing it hit a sour note once in a while.

 

[meltzerboy]

I agree. A vase with a crack in it is a lot more interesting to me than a perfectly smooth one. A slowly rusting truck is more interesting (from an aesthetic standpoint) than a perfectly new one.

Added: on the other hand, why does that not work for Mozart? Almost all of his music seems perfect to the note. And it wouldn’t be improved if the musician performing it hit a sour note once in a while.

I think the humanity of Mozart’s music is built into its perfection so that his compositions, while perfectly symmetrical and ordered, do not sound mechanical but rather naturally beautiful.

 

[circumferential]

A man and his dog, both tired and hungry were walking home. The was a fiery sunset to their left. One of them stopped for a moment and gazed at the beautiful sight. The other, driven only by basic instincts could not free his thoughts of rest and food.

A couple were making love when the husband said something which made the wife feel unattractive. Her sex drive went instantly from 10 to 0.

The pursuit of beauty is the strongest instinct in man. It is a spiritual instinct which causes the experience of awe. It features in almost every decision we make from what car we drive to what we wear, how we order our environment to even our sense of justice. It affects our sense of shame and our sense of humor. In fact it would probably be impossible for us to imagine a world without beauty. Beauty brings meaning to the world. Because of it man could enjoy existence to a much greater degree than any other creature/. It is why we can worship God.

Some say that what makes us different from other animals is intelligence. I am convinced it is our ability to appreciate beauty.

By the way, someone said that we never destroy beauty but that is untrue. Beauty does not always attract. Sometimes it challenges us too much or reminds us of some ugliness within us. When this happens we sometimes try to destroy it if we cannot ignore it. Beauty can inspire the worst envy.

 

[meltzerboy]

As Keats says in his poem “Endymion,” ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.’

 

[randirhoades]

Hi Friend,

God made us physically attracted to each other, thus, our soul mate. And I was taught it was not wrong to be attracted to someone, not lusting. But we get in trouble when we value the physical more than what is inside. An unattractive person could have the most beautiful soul and if given the chance they could be looked at as the most “beautiful” person you ever knew. For example; My Uncle has always been regarded by others in my family and I hate to say this “an unattractive man”. Yet, my Aunt has been married to him for almost 48 years and has made me wish I could find someone just like him. He has a beautiful soul and heart and treats my Aunt like she is gold. Their children are beautiful to look at and have the same kindness. So his unattractiveness did not hinder their children’s beauty.

So, I think putting too much stock on beauty is unrealistic. What matters is on the inside and people should look deeper into souls and how they really are. Because nine times out of ten they will be a great person.

 

[billcu1]

Lately I’ve been wondering why we value beauty, in people and in things, so highly. If it’s only skin-deep as we say, why do we seem to regard it so highly and privilege it? Why for example are the people who read the news on television almost always so good-looking? Is our tendency to be beguiled by beauty a flaw of some sort?

What do you think?

I think that beauty is a sign of development of the virtue of truth. Of course beauty is a karmic thing in the observer. Aristotle says that beauty is the totality of things are in harmony to the point that no one thing shows itself unjustly. Aesthetics is a wonderful philosphy IMO.

 

[billcu1]

Hi Friend,

God made us physically attracted to each other, thus, our soul mate. And I was taught it was not wrong to be attracted to someone, not lusting. But we get in trouble when we value the physical more than what is inside. An unattractive person could have the most beautiful soul and if given the chance they could be looked at as the most “beautiful” person you ever knew. For example; My Uncle has always been regarded by others in my family and I hate to say this “an unattractive man”. Yet, my Aunt has been married to him for almost 48 years and has made me wish I could find someone just like him. He has a beautiful soul and heart and treats my Aunt like she is gold. Their children are beautiful to look at and have the same kindness. So his unattractiveness did not hinder their children’s beauty.

So, I think putting too much stock on beauty is unrealistic. What matters is on the inside and people should look deeper into souls and how they really are. Because nine times out of ten they will be a great person.

Inside is beauty as much as the outside. Creation is beautiful. Especially before the fall. I often think in the animal world one has to die to be eaten to keep another alive. That must be beauty. I am not a perfect being or whatever god is though.

 

[draco_cupri]

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html

DECLARATION ON
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
NOSTRA AETATE
PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

1. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense.

Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry.

vaniquotes.org/wiki/Six_opulences

Bhagavad-gita As It Is
BG Chapters 7 - 12
BG 10.1, Purport:

The word bhagavān is explained thus by Parāśara Muni: one who is full in six opulences, who has full strength, full fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty and renunciation, is Bhagavān, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While Kṛṣṇa was present on this earth, He displayed all six opulences. Therefore great sages like Parāśara Muni have all accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

---

The six opulences possessed by God, attributed mythically to Krishna, but derived by the Hindus through much study and meditation, belong by right to Jesus. To enumerate them directly,

Strength
Fame
Wealth
Knowledge
Beauty
Renunciation.

Now it is already commonly accepted as Catholic Doctrine that God possesses all strength — that is the doctrine of Omnipotence. Similarly, all knowledge — the doctrine of Omniscience. We also know that Jesus possessed all renunciation, since,

Philippians 2:5. . . Christ Jesus: 6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. 8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

Jesus could have chosen to be born like Solomon was, into the palace of a King, with fame and wealth at His command. He chose, rather, to be born instead into obscurity and poverty, notwithstanding that Joseph was actually the rightful heir to the throne of Judah (hence the genealogy of Saint Matthew). Jesus Himself is the Most Beautiful Being there ever was or ever can be, being Himself the Transcendent Source and Reservoir of all True Beauty. But to fulfill the prophecy of Isaias,

Isaias 53:2. . .there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him:

He did not manifest His Transcendent Beauty while on Earth, except perhaps in the Transfiguration. When He returns in His Glory, then, we shall see Him as He is. Amen!