Beauty is one of the most important concepts in human culture. It arouses, triggers, and stimulates reactions in our souls and minds that bring us pleasure like none other. While many people may have different opinions on what makes something beautiful, there are a few common denominators that all beauty has to possess. These include being a source of happiness, inspiration, and self-worth. Beauty is also an incredibly complex and multifaceted concept that is impossible to define.
For example, the idea that a symmetrical face is more attractive than an asymmetrical one is based on a universal sense of aesthetics that is shared across cultures and time. This idea can be seen in art pieces such as the Mona Lisa, which have been praised for their beauty but are also controversial because of its portrayal of sexual power and dominance.
A symmetrical face is also considered to be more attractive because of the way it promotes good health, especially in young women. The more symmetry in the face, the less risk of a disease such as heart disease or cancer. It is also believed to be a sign of wisdom and intelligence because of how it shows balance and proportion in a person’s face. While this is true to some extent, beauty is not just about symmetry and proportion but also includes other factors such as facial expressions and even the tone of voice.
In philosophy, there have been many ideas about what beauty is. Most philosophers before the eighteenth century treated beauty as an objective quality. For example, Augustine wrote that “form ever follows function” (De Veritate Religione, 247) and Plato’s account in the Symposium and Plotinus’s in the Enneads connect beauty to a response of love and desire.
However, during the eighteenth century, philosophers such as Hume and Kant realized that something crucial was lost when beauty was viewed as purely subjective. When beauty is purely relative, it loses its ability to inspire us and becomes an empty experience.
For this reason, many thinkers of the eighteenth century revived a discussion on beauty and tried to find a more satisfactory explanation for it. Kant’s account is centered on the goodness and well-being of mankind, but this was not enough to fully explain beauty. For example, he was not able to account for why some people feel inspired by the beauty of nature and others do not.
The philosophy of beauty has continued to develop through the twentieth century, and in this century, there is more interest in the concept than ever before. This is largely due to the fact that we are in a period of cultural and economic transition. People are rethinking traditional norms of gender and appearance as they look towards more equality and acceptance of diversity. In addition, there is a growing awareness of the need to protect our environment and our natural resources.
This new perception of beauty is creating a more holistic approach to design, which can be seen in how some of the most popular brands are approaching their visual identity. In particular, they are focusing on the importance of the customer experience and the ways that beauty can improve business. A recent study from Temkin showed that customers who have a positive emotional experience with a company are six times more likely to buy, 12 times more likely to recommend, and five times more likely to forgive a mistake.