You know the feeling. When taking a calm and collected look at nature, one begins to feel a certain kind of peace within. The words are hard to
describe, but there is a profound sense of understanding and connection one feels to what they are seeing. All the troubles that usually occupy the
mind are thrown into the abyss as feelings of warmth and fascination fill the core of your body. You feel at home.
Aesthetics is a branch of Philosophy that is rarely explored in this forum, and I thought it would be interesting to delve into it using a topic we
can all relate to – Natural Beauty. So, what is Natural Beauty? I would define it as the atmospherically appealing display of any organic
construction present in the open environment. Of course, this is a subjective definition and others are free to form their own.
Nevertheless, it seems that when it comes to admiring and appreciating Natural Beauty, every observer can take something positive out of the
experience. There is a metaphysical quality to perceiving the visual stimuli that meets your eyes, and this is what I am interested in exploring.
Some important questions to consider:
* What is your definition of natural beauty?
* What sensations do you experience when witnessing cute animals, vibrant plants and attractive landscapes?
* What segment(s) of your view triggers this sensation? Is it parts or the whole?
* What are the metaphysical implications of your experience?
* What is the "quality" consistent in all the occurrences of natural beauty?
Some quotes on nature and beauty:
“In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous.” ― Aristotle
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” ― Albert Einstein
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.” ― Sylvia
Plath
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely
healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ― Rachel Carson
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can
ever learn from books.” ― John Lubbock
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” ― Gary Snyder
* * * * * *
Further reading:
*
Aesthetics - Wikipedia
*
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
*
Stanford Encyclopedia
*
Quotes about nature
edit on 9/11/2012 by Dark Ghost because: altered title, formatting