The idea of beauty is one of the most enduring and mysterious ideas in human culture. It’s an idea that has been explored in depth by philosophers, writers and artists for centuries and yet, there is no definitive answer to the question of what constitutes beauty. Beauty is something that we feel and that moves us in ways we cannot explain. Beauty evokes feelings of joy and awe in us that bring pleasure we can’t always understand. It’s a feeling that is intangible, yet it can be felt as we look at someone who makes you smile or a sunset that takes your breath away. Beauty is an elusive concept that we try to find in everything we see and experience.
Ancient thinkers began to explore this idea of beauty, and came up with some pretty strange ideas about what made things beautiful. They looked at proportion, symmetry and harmony as key characteristics. These ideas were embodied in classical and neo-classical architecture, sculpture, literature, music, and more.
Plato (427-347 BCE) held an objective view of beauty as a property that was embodied in his domain of Forms. This was an atypical view of beauty because it was not about the observer’s experience. Aristotle (384-322 BCE) also had an objective view of beauty, which was more rooted in the object itself than in the experience of the viewer. He considered beauty to be a property of objects that are harmonious and orderly, whether they are natural or man-made.
As the scientific era required a reappraisal of many concepts, beauty fell out of favor in Western philosophy. But the idea of beauty still exists in Eastern thought and religions, as well as in the hearts of people all over the world.
Today, we are starting to look at beauty in a different way. For example, we have seen the rise of models with perceived disabilities as a result of this change in perception of what is beautiful. Seeing models that have Down syndrome or are in wheelchairs shows that we should not judge a book by its cover and that beauty is much more than the physical appearance of a person.
But if beauty is only about harmony and the awe and joy that it creates, then what exactly is beauty? If we could define it, we would have a clear and solid understanding of it. But it seems that the only way to understand beauty is to actually experience it for yourself. So what are some tips on how to do that? According to Ashley Pennewill from A Clean Mind Coaching & Counseling, the first step is to “clean out your mirror.” This means removing all of the comparisons, accusations, judgement and expectations. Once we have a clear view of ourselves, we can begin to appreciate the beauty that is in everyone. The more you love yourself and your true nature, the more authentic beauty you will radiate. The next step is to take a deep breath and allow yourself to experience beauty in your own unique way.