Beauty is commonly defined as the aesthetic quality of certain objects, which makes these objects aesthetically pleasurable to see. These objects include sunsets, beautiful landscapes, humans in action, works of art and many other items. Beauty, along with aesthetic art, is the leading topic of aesthetics, another of the most important branches of science. The study of beauty and aesthetics developed into a discipline known as aesthetics.
The word ‘beauty’ itself has several meanings. It can mean beauty in the eye of the beholder, beliness, the beauty of form and composition, and the attractiveness of an item or its use. In colloquial usage, beauty is often used as a synonym for elegance, magnificence or the most perfect. Beauty as an aesthetic object is usually related to a feeling of aesthetic balance or harmony in nature and human environments. The word ‘arte’ in French means ‘of beauty’, ‘of the beautiful’ or ‘having beauty’.
The concept of beauty has often been linked to notions of aesthetic art and the idea of proportion in an aesthetic composition. However, one must keep in mind that beauty encompasses much more than the aspects of composition, style or design. It is true that humans are visual beings and aesthetic psychology is directly related to how we see, feel and choose. However, it is more important to remember that beauty encompasses the totality of the human experience, including our psychological and emotional responses to beauty in everyday life.
Some may worry about definitions of beauty. They may compare in beauty with the ideal of beauty, which is supposed to be unattainable for the average person. This definition of beauty is false however, and the definition of beauty varies according to culture, tradition and individual preference. For example, while some people may consider certain facial features or body structures to be attractive, there are others who may find a different set of features to be attractive. Beauty is subjective and each person may define beauty in their own way, which is why beauty remains a subject for ongoing debate and discussion.
It is also true that beauty is influenced by a variety of factors. While many may be concerned with other people’s reaction to them, beauty is typically related to ones internal response to beauty. People tend to love those features that are attractive not only because they resemble their own appearance but also because they contribute to the perception of beauty.
For this reason, we can be content that people will continue to look at us in the mirror until we look like ourselves. This may surprise some people, but they should know that beauty is more subjective than objective. What makes someone beautiful or ugly is really up to each person’s own standards. What makes someone beautiful may be very different from another person.
