Occasional reflections on neglected themes

Every culture in every age has indulged ideas concerning beauty – what it is, what it’s for, and why it matters. 

It’s not a subject we hear much about in our day. School children are too busy with math and science to be troubled by side-issues such as beauty, so it’s no wonder that, as adults, we don’t give much thought to beauty, either. 

Yet the idea of beauty remains. Generally speaking, folks these days have embraced the view that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Our age of tolerance could hardly tolerate a different opinion. 

But to establish one’s views on important questions – and, historically, beauty has been regarded as such – on nothing more than the spirit of the age is never a good idea. People have not always regarded beauty in this merely subjective way. Ideas of beauty have always been present, in every culture and society known to men.

This suggests that something we can agree on as “beauty” actually exists, although definitions may – and do – vary wildly.

But even a little reflection should lead us to set aside the completely foolish notion that, where beauty is concerned, it’s a simple matter of “to each his own.” Consider the practice of “sexting,” for example. Teens who engage this activity doubtless find it beautiful in some ways, whether graphic or literary. Parents and school administrators, however, disagree. Their views tend to prevail, at least, officially (and rightly so).

Or consider the way one maintains his lawn and landscaping. In some communities, strict covenants require a certain level of maintenance, in order to ensure a degree of “beauty” designed to preserve property values throughout the community. There is little room for a merely subjective approach to lawn care in such situations.

So beauty exists, and it does not consist merely in what anyone desires to think of as beautiful. Such a view does not negate the role of taste or preference in things beautiful, but it does impose some parameters which, at the least, must be further defined

But so what? What difference, if any, does beauty make?

Two questions suggest themselves concerning this neglected them: What is beauty, or, put another way, how can we know beauty when it confronts us? And, second, does beauty matter, and, if so, in what ways?

Considerations of beauty are woven into the warp and woof of everyday life. Our taste in fashion, our approach to conversation, the forms of culture we engage, even the ways we do our work and conduct our relationships – all these are informed, to a certain extent, by our understanding of the nature and importance of beauty.

It would seem, therefore, that the question of beauty deserves rather more attention than what it typically receives, or, rather, what most of us typically give it. We shall return to the two questions above in due course.

For now, your thoughts are welcomed.

Related texts: Genesis 1.31; Psalm 27.4; Mark 14.3-9

A conversation starter: “I’ve been thinking about beauty lately. Do you think beauty matters?”

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.