Beautiful Places – Philosophy of Beauty

Beauty is commonly defined as a subjective feature of objects which makes these objects enjoyable to see. These objects could be nature, art, landscapes and works of fine art. Beauty, along with personal preference, is probably the most significant part of aesthetics, possibly the most important branch of visual philosophy. Philosophy of aesthetics is divided into three main branches: aesthetics as it applies to human psychology; aesthetics as it applies to art; and aesthetics as it applies to the physical sciences. The three branches are justified by reference to the three broad areas of aesthetic psychology, aesthetics as it applies to the sciences, and aesthetics as it relates to the physical sciences.

One can easily understand beauty through the prism of human psychology. Humans look for beauty in things and the things they do not see can either disappoint or inspire them. This then becomes a psychological basis for beauty. For instance, a beautiful body can attract people due to its beauty, tall and slim body is considered beautiful by some, a round shape is considered beautiful by others. Beauty then is a subjective aspect of human psychology.

There are many aesthetic ideals across the cultures of Europe. These ideals can be seen in architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. Some of these European ideals can be seen in architecture such as: Classical ideals – classical architecture, which has a classic design and minimal ornamentation Baroque ideals – renaissance architecture which features very ornate baroque details and complex architecture Medieval ideals – castles and palaces which are usually over one hundred years old Modern ideals – the concrete skyscrapers of modern day London and the concrete apartment blocks of Milan and Paris