What is beautiful?

Answer 1

Perspective, and the freedom therein!

Answer 2

There are a few things that are NOT in the 'eye of the beholder', so to speak. At least among humans.

Cross-cultural studies of art reveal that there are certain things which are almost universally regarded as attractive. These are usually very basic elements, such as vertical lines and gentle curves. Some of the reason for this has been discovered in neurology - the human brain simply responds better to these kind of stimuli.

Some theorize that the reason for this derives from human evolutionary development. A forest full of trees also contains a lot of vertical lines, and these could be genetically associated with safety - those who like the forests survive while those who like sitting in an open plain are lion-bait. Whether or not this is so, however, the correlations still seem to exist.

Beyond this biological programming, there seems to be a great degree of personal preference. But I don't think saying, 'beauty is what makes you happy' (as some do) encompasses it well. Take, for example, works of art:

There are plenty of artistic works which are described as 'beautiful' but also 'horrible'. Much of nature, too, though beautiful, is more often associated with awe and intimidation than happiness (the view of a huge mountain, for example). And from the opposite direction, I'm not sure it's right to say that everything that makes you happy is beautiful. I can think of a variety of ugly and crude things that make me happy (some children's crayon drawings).

What's a better description? I'm not sure. I often associate beauty with perfection, whether it's perfectly good or perfectly bad. But I don't think that works a whole lot better, to be honest.

Answer 3

The sky is beautiful because of the Stars, Moon and the different colors up in the Clouds, the Rainbows in the Spring, that is beautiful.

Answer 4

If beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, then everything is beautiful.

Answer 5

isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder? it better be. otherwise we'd all be fighting for the same beautiful people.... i think it's good to have different 'tastes'

Answer 6

Every living thing on this planet is beautiful.

Answer 7

Beautiful : possessing great charm and very attractive; appealing, desirable; handsome; elegant; lovely; fair; charming; graceful; pretty; delightful; fine.
(of the weather) pleasant; clear.

Translations :

Afrikaans: mooi
Albanian: i bukur m., e bukur f.
Anglo-Saxon: wlitig
Arabic: جميل (jamil)
Breton: brav, kaer
Bulgarian: красив, прекрасен
Chinese: 漂亮 (piàoliàng, piao4liang4), 美 (měi, meili, mei3li4)
Danish: smuk en, smukt et, smukke pl.
Dutch: mooi
Esperanto: bela
Estonian: kaunis ilus
Fijian: totoka
Filipino: maganda
Finnish: kaunis
French: beau m., belle f.
Faeroese: vakur m., vøkur f. vakurt n.
Frisian: moai, kreas
German: schön
Greek: ωραίος m. (oréyos), όμορφος m. (ómorphos)
Hindi: ख़ूबसूरत (khūbsūrat), सुन्दर (sundar)
Icelandic: fallegur, fagur
Indonesian: indah, cantik, ayu, molek, cakep
Italian: bello
Japanese: 美しい (うつくしい, utsukushii), 綺麗 (きれい, kirei), 素敵 (すてき, suteki)
Latin: pulcher, formosus m., bellus m.
Old Norse: fagr
Persian: زیبا (ziba)
Polish: piękny
Portuguese: belo m., bela f., bonito m., bonita f.
Russian: красивый,прекрасный
Scots Gaelic: àlainn, bòidheach, brèagha, fèilleil, grinn, maiseach, rìomhach, sgèimheach
Spanish: hermoso, bello, lindo
Slovak: krásny m., krásna f., krásne n.
Swedish: vacker
Tajik: نیلوفار (nilufar)
Tamil: அழகிய [azhagiya]
Telugu: అందమైన
Turkish: güzel
Urdu: خوبصورت (khūbsūrat)
Vietnamese: đẹp, đẹp đẽ

Answer 8

When you say is something beautiful, you are calling something else ugly.

Answer 9

It is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 10

affirmation of yourself