While many philosophers have identified beauty with its suitability for use, some have argued that beauty is a secondary quality. Similarly, the ancient hedonist Aristippus of Cyrene associated beauty with pleasure, and Socrates stressed that beauty is in fact an experience. Whether beauty is a subjective quality or objective, we should be aware of it. If we are unable to understand what beauty is, it may be a problem of the mind or a misunderstanding of reality.

As long as we recognize that beauty is subjective, we should still be able to find the art in the works of others to be beautiful. After all, the point of beauty is to appeal to our senses. We cannot allow art critics to dictate what we should and shouldn’t consider beautiful. This constant tension exists in the world of art. Therefore, the question of what is beautiful depends on individual preference and cultural background. Here are some ways to define beauty.

According to Plotinus, beauty is a quality of a thing that is a form. Forming is the quality of having a particular shape, characteristic of a certain kind of object. Beauty is a way to experience pleasure, and it gives us pleasure, meaning, and satisfaction. While Plotinus’ account of beauty is primarily a matter of aesthetics, the definition of beauty depends on the particular philosopher’s personal philosophy.

Beauty standards in the West are a reflection of class, with whiteness viewed as the most beautiful race. This process of selecting the “perfect” race has a lot to do with the status of the consumer. Consequently, cosmetic surgery and other procedures are expensive, compared to facials and braces. It is also a reflection of the society that holds up those who are considered beautiful. However, it has also become a source of power and influence for many individuals, not just elites.

The 1990s saw a renewed interest in beauty, partly due to the work of art critic Dave Hickey. Women’s perspectives on beauty and taste were also very popular at this time, and several theorists attempted to address the infamous antinomy of taste. By taking a broader view of beauty, a better understanding of beauty can help us better understand the complexities of the world we live in. So, we should be careful not to underestimate the power of beauty.

Ancient philosophers and scientists debated the definition of beauty. The classical conception of beauty describes it as an arrangement of integral parts that form a coherent whole. Consequently, it is the primordial Western conception of beauty. Classical architecture, sculpture, literature, and music embody this conception of beauty. The ancient philosopher Plotinus writes that beauty consists of a state of wonderment, delicious trouble, longing, and love. And the trembling he speaks of is an expression of beauty.

Political entanglements of beauty also throw into question the traditional theories of beauty. Beauty has political and economic associations that often conflict with social justice. While a classical conception of beauty is ideal in a vacuum, it is useless when the building process is cruelly exploitative. In the twentieth century, beauty became a political concept. The politics of beauty became a subject of moral critique and political destruction. Beauty also became linked to capitalism, as it has today.