In the most basic sense, beautiful is whatever excites the keenest pleasure to the senses and stirs emotions through those senses. However, it is also a term that can be applied to a wide range of aesthetic experiences and activities: a work of art, the perfect meal, a loved one’s smile, the sound of a bird singing. While different philosophers may view beauty in different ways, a broad array of experiential dimensions are consistent across these theories (see table below).
In addition to pleasure and surprise, some philosophers have also highlighted the importance of an object’s utility and the degree to which it tells a story. For example, Kant and Plato argued that an object can only be considered beautiful if it is utilitarian, while Aristotle viewed the quality of an object’s beauty as dependent on its ability to inspire awe and wonder.
Aesthetics are important to our daily lives, and a growing number of studies have shown that the appreciation of beauty can be a positive emotion in its own right. For instance, the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that experiencing beauty can have a positive effect on mental health. The same study found that people who ranked more things as being “beautiful” also reported being happier, lower levels of depressive symptoms and less loneliness.
Similarly, the WELL building standard encourages projects to incorporate beauty according to their own context. This includes highlighting local artists, cultures and materials that make a space uniquely beautiful and enjoyable for the occupants. This type of design integrates functional design fundamentals – such as acoustics, lighting and materials – with aesthetic elements that impact human senses – like loudness, texture and physical movement.
When it comes to the face, facial symmetry is generally believed to be a key factor in perceived attractiveness. For example, many people favor a heart-shaped or V-shaped face that appears to be balanced and harmonious. However, there is a lot of variation among individuals in terms of which facial features they find most appealing, and this can be influenced by culture or personal preferences.
The facial features that are typically analyzed include the eyes, nose, mouth and ears as well as the chin and neck. The Golden Ratio is a popular measure of facial attractiveness, and it refers to the proportion of the face’s width to its height. A perfect ratio would be an ideal balance of these features, but this measurement can be subjective and difficult to determine for individual faces.
While the exact definition of beauty varies across cultures, most agree that there are some universally appealing characteristics. These include a pleasing shape, harmony and proportion, and the ability to evoke emotions. Beauty is also often associated with the concept of awe, and research shows that awe correlates strongly with beauty perceptions. Additionally, studies have found that people who rated the most beautiful images and music were also more likely to experience positive emotional responses. The most common effects were enjoyment and a feeling that the stimulus told a story.