What Makes You Beautiful?

True beauty in philosophy is generally understood not merely as a subjective preference ('in the eye of the beholder') but as an objective, or intersubjective, value often linked with truth, goodness, and harmony.

Historically, it is defined as a quality that brings us closer to reality or the divine, moving beyond superficial aesthetics to a deeper, more profound experience. It reflects the reality that beauty is not about appearance, but is a matter of authenticity and values.

But, why focus on a philosophical perspective? Well, I would argue that philosophy has much to say on the matter and is multifaceted in its insight: it addresses the question in a challenging way. Moreover, it recognises that physical beauty is (largely) a matter of genetics, whilst inner beauty is built upon character and cultivated through choice. We must not conflate them, whilst appreciating that they can indeed co-exist.

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the philosophical perspectives that are helpful in evaluating true beauty:

The Classical and Medieval View (Objective & Ordered)

Order and Proportion: Aristotle and the Pythagoreans viewed beauty as consisting of symmetry, proportion, and harmony - measurable, mathematical ratios, such as the Golden Ratio. It can be thought of as both literal and metaphorical.

Transcendental Value: Medieval philosophers, particularly Thomas Aquinas, ranked beauty among the 'transcendentals' (along with truth and goodness). Beauty is defined by three conditions: integritas (wholeness/perfection), consonantia (due proportion), and claritas (radiance or clarity).

Goodness in Action: Socrates and later Platonists argued that beauty is inseparable from the good; true beauty is that which is morally good and virtuous.

The Platonic View (Idealist & Divine)

The 'Form" of Beauty': Plato argued that earthly beautiful things are merely reflections of a higher, divine 'Form of Beauty'.

A 'Ladder of Ascent': In The Symposium, Plato describes a journey from appreciating physical beauty, to soul beauty, to the beauty of laws, and finally to the contemplation of absolute beauty itself.

The Modern and Romantic View (Subjective & Reflective)

Disinterested Pleasure: Immanuel Kant argued that a judgment of beauty is 'disinterested,' meaning it is appreciated for its own sake, rather than for its utility or personal gain.

'Beauty is Truth': Romantic poet John Keats famously equated beauty with truth, suggesting that true beauty is an enduring, profound revelation.

Subjective Universality: Kant acknowledged that beauty is based on a personal feeling (subjective), yet we expect others to agree with our judgment (universal) because it arises from shared human faculties.

Contemporary and Existentialist Views

Transformation and Love: Modern thinkers like Alexander Nehamas describe beauty as an 'invitation to further experiences,' a longing for what we lack. In the philosophy of Viktor Frankl, beauty is not merely an aesthetic, superficial quality, but rather a profound experiential value that serves as a vital bridge to meaning, particularly in the face of suffering. For Frankl, beauty is something we receive from the world through deep engagement with nature, art, or another person. It exists in the spiritual (or noetic) dimension.

Inseparability from Depth: Nietzsche suggested that true beauty is often born from 'terrible depth,' where struggle and pain reveal deeper truths about existence.

Community Builder: Nehamas argues that beauty creates smaller communities of shared, passionate appreciation, born of common values.

Finally...

True beauty is the harmonious, structured, and radiant quality of a thing that compels us toward love, contemplation, and a deeper understanding of reality. It leads us far beyond physical beauty, which is illusory and temporal in nature, and calls us to reorientate our perspective.

To appreciate, and connect, with another human soul is to recognise the sacredness of that relationship. As Carl Jung said, 'The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.'

Part of that transformation is to bring to consciousness that which is beyond the instinctual - an unrepeatable, yet unmistakable epiphany of the heart.

That is beauty.