Now be honest with yourself. What
were you thinking when you read this title? Cheerleaders? Hollywood
actresses? Porn stars?
How we define beauty exposes a lot
about us. There are many things that are directed by, controlled by, and we
articulate by, our definition of beauty. George Santayana wrote "A Sense
of Beauty", which is considered an important contribution to the
philosophical discussion of beauty. Graham Harmon has further defined beauty.
But they are both coming from wrong presuppositions. To argue whether beauty is
subjective or objective is starting from a wrong foundation. To talk about
external appearance, on whether ones opinion on that is subjective or
objective, is remarkably vacuous. This would be similar to discussing the
beauty of the paper bag that holds a diamond.
I cannot even to begin to explain
just how shallow and empty it is to place value on external appearance. Why
focus on something that is fleeting, certainly no more than 40 years, when ones
soul will last forever. We ignore the health of the eternal soul, to enrich the
body that fades so quickly. With that in mind, I'll end with a photo
which sums up true beauty.
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