Throughout history, there has been a great deal of debate regarding the nature of beauty. It is one of the most controversial subjects in literature. Many scholars have attempted to define the nature of beauty. But the true definition is ambiguous.
A common theory of beauty is the classical conception. The classical theory is based on the idea that a thing should present itself in a harmonious whole. A good example of this is the neo-classical sculpture known as the Canon. In this case, the parts of the sculpture are integrated into a whole that is coherent and balanced. The art of architecture and music are also based on this notion.
Other theories include the hedonist conception, which sees beauty as a matter of value and pleasure. The object is defined in terms of how it arouses an emotional response in the observer. Those who believe in a more modern view of beauty de-emphasize moral beauty in favor of subjectivist, objective beauty.
Another is the constructivist view of mathematics. Those who adhere to this view see mathematics as a creation of human reason. This is the opposite of the Realist view, which is based on the notion that mathematics is a natural phenomenon.
Other approaches include the ancient Greeks and the medieval philosophers, who considered beauty to be the ultimate value. Aristotle and Plato disagreed on the nature of beauty. The latter was a dissident in the classical culture, but he had some interesting ideas to say about it.
The oldest theory of beauty dates back to the beginning of Western civilization. This concept was evident in the art of architecture, music, and sculpture of the classical period. The classicists also took a look at the way in which things are perceived by the mind. For instance, some people are color-blind, and the same object may be seen as a different color under different circumstances. Similarly, the same object may be seen as different colors at noon and midnight.
However, the most important factor in determining what is considered beautiful is not the content of the object, but the subjectivity of the person viewing it. The ability to perceive a thing as beautiful is referred to as a “sense of taste.”
The modern view of beauty also differs from the classical conception in three main ways. It gives more weight to the contribution of the observer, ignores the apparent “beauty” of mathematics, and neglects the incredible beauty of nature.
The classical concept of beauty is often embodied in the art of architecture, music, and literature. The ancient treatment of beauty often emphasized the pleasures of beauty, and paid tribute to the virtues of beauty.
The’magic wand’ of the classical concept is a neo-classical sculpture known in classical aesthetics as the Canon. This piece of art was viewed as a model of the harmony of proportion. In this case, the idea was that an object should be able to take the form of a sphere, in a harmonious proportion, without breaking or deviating from its own shape.