How is beauty measured?

Answer 1

in $/hour for models, for the rest of us in chocolate & flowers

Answer 2

beauty, my dear, is an immeasurable quality. You just can't attach numbers to it. And, although one can compare this against that and tell which is more beautiful, the relativity of beauty is also based on your standard. Change your standards and criteria, the beauty pageant winner also changes. And that standard is different from one person to the next. Beauty is, ultimately, in the eye of the beholder.

However the REACTION to beauty can be measured. We can do it using brain scans or polls and surveys. That's just about how far you get. You just know how many people think this is more beautiful than that or how a thing of beauty affects this sort of person compared to that sort of person. A thing of beauty is known by its effect.

Answer 3

several different ways. Some consider simplicity to be a main ingredient of beauty. Symmetry is usually a factor (also a concise rendition, which could be considered simplicity). Then there is the grandiose variety (a matter of taste).
In American scientist magazine there was an article by a plastic surgeon who fixed peoples faces that had been mangled by some means or another. The recipients just wanted the use of their faces back and left the shaping to him, so he tried to come up with the perfect face and ran into the 'golden ratio'. The spread of the eyes in relation to the nose in relation to the mouth etc...
And Joe Cocker sang "You are so beautiful to me, can't you see?"

Answer 4

It can't.

At least not universally. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" : )

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edit:

If you're simply talking about plain old biological physical attractiveness, beauty is measured by prototypicality. Basically the more symmetrical and "average" (spatial-wise) a face looks, the more attractive it'll be!

This is demonstrated by the fact that, "when many faces are combined into a composite image (through computer morphing), people usually view the resulting image as more familiar, attractive, and beautiful than the faces that were combined to make the composite." (taken from wikipedia)

Answer 5

Physical beauty is only skin deep, though it gets instant attention. Real beauty lies in the personality which is long lasting.

Answer 6

outer or inner beauty - what ever it is
It is measured by each individuals conscious and subconscious knowledge. But no body can express exactly what they measured as it is.

Answer 7

Have you ever looked at a rainforest, and tried to ask which tree is more beautiful than the next?

Answer 8

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So different strokes for different folks.

Answer 9

By something skin-deep, provided one considers it worth measuring!!

Answer 10

beauty my dear is in the eye of the beholder.
each person has their own idea of beauty - and the amazing thing is - they are all right !

Answer 11

i believe beauty is mesured, not within the "eyes of the beholder," but what people don't see, our emotions, our fears, our hopes, our dreams and our personality.