Beauty is often viewed as a subjective thing, something that only the individual can decide what is beautiful to them. However, it’s important to know that there is a science behind beauty and how the brain perceives it. Professor Semir Zeki of University College London is a neuroaesthetics, which means he studies how the brain processes beauty and what makes us like or dislike certain things. According to him, we have a basic biological concept of beauty that developed long before our species appeared: “Beauty is a pleasure-giving activity, and we enjoy it not just when it occurs in other humans but also in animals and plants.”
The classical conception focuses on an object as whole, with the notions of proportion, harmony, and symmetry being central to this idea. It is a primordial Western concept, and one that is still very much present in neo-classical art and architecture. It is not surprising, then, that it was the main goal of much of the Renaissance art.
But beauty is not just about pleasure: it is a function of how well an object serves its purpose. As a result, some philosophers have treated it as an instrumental activity. The empiricists, such as Locke and Hume, emphasized that it is possible to judge the intrinsic qualities of objects and their relationship to pleasure by using one’s senses.
This view of beauty was criticized by Santayana for its tendency to attribute subjective states, or at least one’s own feelings, to an object that cannot have these. For example, a painting might be beautiful even though it isn’t realistic because it follows its own internal logic. However, a cubist painting might not have this integrity because it violates the rules of realism and contains an extra eye.
For others, the criterion for what is beautiful is an objective one: a person’s appearance and physique should be healthy and proportionate. Similarly, it is considered beautiful when a piece of architecture or artwork demonstrates the right balance between aesthetic harmony and functional purpose.
As the twentieth century progressed, the focus of beauty shifted to more practical, socially valuable goals. For example, some philosophers argued that beauty is important because it provides a sense of unity and order in the world that would otherwise be chaotic without it. This is a highly complex argument and it can be debated, but there is some merit to it.
Many people today struggle with how they see themselves and what other people think of them. As a result, they work hard to change their bodies and make them look more appealing to others. While it is not wrong to want a healthy body, people should also understand that true beauty comes from the inside out. Ashley Pennewill of A Clean Mind Coaching & Counseling believes that finding inner peace and loving who you are is the key to beauty.
Many people get caught up in judging others, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy. This is why it is so important to remember that no one is perfect. Instead, we need to learn to love and accept our own flaws and celebrate what is unique about each person.