Why do we appreciate beauty?

While we know that certain attributes of man are simply artifacts of evolution, we also posit simple rules that evolution goes by. In short, you don't get more than you need and if you no longer need it, it tends to either be changed into something helpful or it goes away.


So what about man's appreciation of the beauty of nature, of dance, of music, of a sunset or rise, is beneficial to man in an evolutionary sense?

Hey, OP. This is a great question, one I've pondered for years. I just watched an episode of Nature and Wild! last night on PBS, and they reminded me that we are not the only species that appreciate beauty and dance. For instance, there are many bird species that either have developed great, even ostentatious, displays of beauty and/or elaborate dances to attract mates during breeding time. These developments are thought to show the females that the males are genetically healthy, thus good mates. Perhaps humans developing beauty initially came about to attract mates, as well. Most great writers, composers and artists created their best and/or lion's share of their work before they find a mate (get married), afterward there is often a steep decline in their creative productivity. It seems our appreciation of beauty is greater than other species (no surprise as many of a mental faculties are greater), and creating it may be linked to the motive of simple procreation...

Yet that doesn't explain our wonder at seeing Niagra falls - frozen in sublime beauty, or that sunset I spoke of. This must surely have little to do with courtship and reproduction, If a bird is so sucessful that it can have a huge tail and still thrive then it must be a more than suitable mate (many species have the male as the most ostentatious). If it can build the nicest nest, then it has he luxury by virtue of it's skill or strength to find it's food and still find time for a beautiful nest.


But, what about that changing of the leaves in fall?


It is said that man's appreciation of flowers may stem from their ability to comprehend that flowers lead to fruit and there is of course beauty in food evolutionaryily speaking.

I have a hard enough time defining beauty let alone why we appreciate it...but here is my go

Mans appreciation of beauty is an aggregate of consciousness...its a part of being aware of being aware. Like asking the question "what is the purpose of life"...that is just our consciousness running wild, asking invalid questions. All these processes interacting and building up to something much bigger then the sum of its parts. Mans appreciation of beauty is not necessarily an evolutionary trait as much as a trick or mistake of consciousness if you will. I honestly do not believe there is an evolutionary benefit to this, I really feel its more of a byproduct of the evolutionary benefiting processes of our consciousness...

But damn am I happy to have it!!!!

(You know what they say: )

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

~PEACE~

Dopamine my main man.

Zaehet Strife said:

Dopamine my main man.

Click to expand...

There is a song titled with your name Mr. Strife.

Trivium- Strife

[youtube]IIvSXocE6YY[/youtube]

Youre (Zaehet) Strife, and this song is called Strife. You might like the song if you like Rock.

Im just saying, and Im thinking of you (whenever I hear that song).

~PEACE~

Nevaeh420 said:

Im thinking of you (whenever I hear that song).

~PEACE~

Click to expand...

[video=youtube;umDr0mPuyQc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc[/video]

Zaehet Strife said:

[video=youtube;umDr0mPuyQc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc[/video]

Click to expand...

Haha, youre funny.

Why cant I think about you (guys)? I talk to you guys enough. Some of you are tatooed on My heart. Its not like I worship any of you, I dont worship anyone, not even Myself. You guys are My online friends and I sometimes think of you guys when Im not online. Its not like Im obsessed or anything, but I do think of you guys on ocassion.

~PEACE~

Cause when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get sprung son

canndo said:

While we know that certain attributes of man are simply artifacts of evolution, we also posit simple rules that evolution goes by. In short, you don't get more than you need and if you no longer need it, it tends to either be changed into something helpful or it goes away.


So what about man's appreciation of the beauty of nature, of dance, of music, of a sunset or rise, is beneficial to man in an evolutionary sense?

Click to expand...

It all comes together as man started with mathematics, all harmony can be shown through interval. I have studied aesthetics in this respect for years. Harmonics, in physical evolution is attractiveness and results in breeding.