Historically, the concept of beauty has sparked controversy. It is a complex and ambiguous term. The definition of the concept of beauty varies greatly from one person to the next. Although there are a number of different opinions about what constitutes beauty, the best way to define it is to rely on the mind’s eye.
Some of the earliest philosophers sought to quantify the concept of beauty. Aristotle argued that a living thing must display order in its arrangement of parts. Kant attempted to explain the concept of beauty in terms of disinterested pleasure. However, he had obvious elements of hedonism in his treatment. A more encompassing view of the concept of beauty was offered by Plotinus. Unlike Aristotle, Plotinus regarded beauty as a Form of Forms. He also observed that beauty is not reducible to physical attributes.
A similar argument is made by Plato. He argues that beauty is a reflection of God’s glory. He equates it with love and response. It is a good thing, because it is God’s will that a living thing should be beautiful. He even goes so far as to say that all things bear the marks of the Creator. In fact, he asks an interesting question in De Veritate Religione, asking whether things are beautiful because they give us pleasure or whether they are beautiful because they serve a purpose.
In the twentieth century, many thinkers struggled with how to reconcile the idea of beauty with the advent of modernity. The age of war and genocide led some to worry about the sanctity of beauty. Others were concerned about its ability to distract from more urgent matters.
The classical conception of beauty is embodied in classical and neo-classical sculpture, architecture, and music. It is also present in other forms of art, such as drama and dance. Aside from these forms of art, beauty can be represented in fiction. It can be the inspiration for a film or music video.
Other examples of beauty are in the form of mathematical ratios, like the golden ratio. Euclid used this example to illustrate the idea of beauty. He argued that the ratio of a line divided into two unequal parts was a good way to identify beauty. Similarly, Locke argued that color was a subjective response. He also said that colors vary according to the mind of the person experiencing them.
In the twentieth century, the concept of beauty was often paired with the concept of morality. For instance, Arthur Danto referred to the abandonment of beauty as the “age of indignation” in his 1992 book The Abuse of Beauty. During the 1990s, feminist-oriented reconstruals of beauty also emerged. In addition, the concept of beauty was revived in the work of art critic Dave Hickey.
The concept of beauty has been a subject of debate since time immemorial. Some philosophers associate beauty with the idea of use, while others eschew such associations. The true definition of the concept of beauty is a complicated matter.