What is beauty?

Is it the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa, the vibrant sunflowers of Van Gogh, or the architectural wonders like the Empire State Building and the Burj Khalifa?

Is it found in the delicate lotus flower or the lens of a beauty camera? We all resonate with the idea that beauty is an intrinsic part of life, a connection that extends from within ourselves to the world around us.

Yet, when faced with the question "What is beauty?" we often find ourselves grappling for a definitive answer.

According to Pythagoras, beauty is harmony—a concept suggesting that anything evoking a sense of harmony can be deemed beautiful. Socrates, on the other hand, proposed that beauty is relative, and dependent on functionality, with everything serving its purpose well being deemed good and beautiful.

Delving deeper, the philosopher Kant contemplated the role of feeling in beauty, asserting that beauty is a result of thoughtful contemplation rather than immediate sensory pleasure.

Recent psychological experiments conducted by researchers Pelli and Anne Brielma explored Kant's ideas, revealing that distraction inhibits the full engagement of thought in evaluating beauty.

While distraction did not alter opinions on unattractive images, it did affect the perception of beauty, affirming Kant's notion that the evaluation of beauty necessitates thoughtful consideration.

Further complicating the narrative, the researchers introduced pleasurable activities like tasting candy and petting a teddy bear. Surprisingly, about 30% of subjects reported feeling beautiful during these activities, challenging Kant's assertion.

Upon closer examination, it was discovered that this group recalled pleasant memories during the activities, suggesting that beauty, to them, was intertwined with positive recollections.

Aesthetics, then, emerges as a spiritual need—an individual's subjective state, an expectation, and a pursuit of beauty. The desire for aesthetics, the capacity to appreciate and feel beauty, becomes a conduit for storing the most captivating aspects of the world in our minds.

In essence, the definition of beauty remains elusive, a subjective journey that draws from various philosophical perspectives and psychological nuances, unveiling the intricate relationship between thought, feeling, and the essence of beauty.

Exploring the multifaceted concept of beauty delves beyond the tangible and resonates as a spiritual need—a subjective journey where individual expectations intertwine with a pursuit of aesthetic experiences.

In the intricate tapestry of philosophical musings on beauty, Pythagoras' notion of beauty as harmony echoes a sentiment that extends to the symphonic balance perceived in art, nature, and human expression.

Socrates, with his perspective on the relativity of beauty, adds a layer to the discourse, connecting beauty intimately with functionality. His assertion that everything excelling in its purpose is inherently good and beautiful imparts a pragmatic dimension to the abstract idea of beauty.

Kant's contemplation brings forth the role of thought in the perception of beauty, underscoring that true beauty requires deliberate consideration, challenging the immediacy of sensory pleasure.

Pelli and Brielma's experiments, while aligning with Kant's theories, also introduce the fascinating element of positive memories intertwining with beauty, blurring the lines between perception and personal recollection.

As we navigate this philosophical and psychological landscape, beauty emerges not merely as an aesthetic encounter but as a repository for memories, emotions, and individual narratives.