Other Definitions
beauty (dict)
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BeautyThis page is about the pleasant phenomenon. 'Beauty' is also a quark (subatomic particle) flavor (the name of an attribute of quarks), and the name of a kind of quark of that flavor. Beauty is the phenomenon of the experience of pleasure, through the perception of balance and proportion of stimulus. It involves the cognition of a balanced form and structure that elicits attraction and appeal towards a person, animal, inanimate object, scene, music, idea, etc. Issue one: Beauty is claimed to be in the eye of the beholder and is also claimed to be 'only skin deep'. However, one's desire to be admired and to be seen as an image of pure 'beauty' can often override other emotions and desires. One's perception of one's self can be entirely different from the image portrayed by others, producing a constant battle against a person and their image, never quite being satisfied by the result. This can lead to serious self esteem issues and body image troubles. It is made far worse by the media in our current modern world, where we are bombared by images of 'perfection' day to day. These images set immensly high standards especially for young girls and can be very detremental to their confidence levels. These images may appear 'beautiful' when in fact they are unrealistic, airbrushed and extremely altered from reality. Issue two: Beauty does not only pertain to people; it is also about landscapes, scenery, sights, experiences and most of all feelings. Beauty and human appearance In the US it has been found that symmetry may be important because it is evidence that the person grew up in a healthy way, without visible genetic defects. One traditional, subtle feature that is considered an indication of beautiful women of all cultures is a waist-to-hip ratio of about 70% (waist circumference that is 70% of the hips circumference.) The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) theory was discovered by psychologist Dr. Devendra Singh of the University of Texas at Austin. Physiologists have shown that this ratio accurately indicates most women's fertility. See also: Physical attractiveness Theories of beauty The earliest theory of beauty can be found in the works of early Greek philosophers from the pre-Socratic period, like Pythagoras. The extant writings attributed to Pythagoras reveal that the Pythagorean school, if not Pythagoras himself, saw a strong connection between mathematics and beauty. In particular, they noted that objects proportioned according to the golden ratio seemed more attractive. Some modern research seems to confirm this, in that people whose facial features are symmetric and proportioned according the golden ratio are consistently ranked as more attractive than those whose faces are not. Different cultures have deified beauty, typically in female forms (the reason for which is probably that most well-known mythologies were conceived of and standardised by heterosexual men). Here is a list of the goddesses of beauty in different mythologies. Even mathematical formulae can be considered beautiful. is commonly considered one of the most beautiful theorems in mathematics. (see Euler's identity) Another connection between mathematics and beauty which played a prominent role in Pythagoras' philosophy was the way in which musical tones can be arranged in mathematical sequences, which repeat at regular intervals called octaves. Beauty contests claim to be able to judge beauty. The millihelen is sometimes jokingly defined as the scientific unit of human beauty. This derives from the legend of Helen of Troy as presented in Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, in which her beauty was said to have launched a thousand ships. The millihelen is therefore the degree of beauty that can launch one ship. Effects of beauty in human society A survey conducted by London Guildhall University of 11,000 people showed that (subjectively) good-looking people earn more. Less attractive people earned, on average, 13% less than more attractive people, while the penalty for overweight was around 5%. See also External Links
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