The philosophical tradition has several different conceptions of beauty. Some philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle held different views. Others, such as David Hume, argued that beauty is purely subjective. In any case, beauty remains a key aspect of human life and should be celebrated and appreciated. Here are some examples of the many different definitions of beauty. Let’s consider each one in more detail. To begin, there is no one universal definition of beauty.
According to George Santayana, beauty is a form of pleasure. As a result, the value of beauty is often expressed in terms of the object or experience that causes the pleasure. While the ‘use’ of a thing can determine its value, beauty is not just the pleasure it gives to its user. Its ‘purity’ is subjective and therefore a form of pleasure. As such, it is important to distinguish between the innate beauty of something and its artificial appearance.
Free beauty refers to a form of beauty that is detached from its practical use. In this case, the experiencer is not particularly concerned with the object’s existence. In the early twentieth century, the philosopher Clive Bell defined “absolute beauty” as “the arrangement of colors and lines”. He defined the definition of beauty within the context of a formalist conception. The concept of beauty was also a major source of controversy. Despite a wide range of reasons, the concept is still widely debated today.
Plato was a prominent figure in classical culture. His political system characterized justice as the relation between a part and its entirety. Plato’s conception of beauty, known as the Symposium, is a key Socratic text that has influenced neo-Platonism and the idealist conception of beauty. It is difficult to find a universal definition of beauty, because no single human is the same. Whether we define beauty as a definite form or as an overall quality, it is important to understand its underlying meaning.
Dazed Beauty is another new media outlet pushing innovative ideas in beauty. The magazine was launched in late 2018 and is art directed by Ben Ditto, who is also the creative director of Ditto Publishing. The publication also features interviews with designers who make beauty a part of their everyday lives. In this time of climate crisis and political turmoil, beauty is even more important. If we want to improve the world we live in, we need to focus on aesthetics, and the role of design.
Kant’s treatment of beauty is a classic example of hedonism, and Plotinus’ ecstatic neo-Platonism is another example. The unity of an object and its calling out love is also key features of Plotinus’ ecstatic neo-Platonism. Similarly, some philosophers view beauty in terms of its value, while others associate it with its function.