The Secret Power of Beauty
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Book Overview
The notion of beauty is elusive: we love the things we find beautiful, and yet we are inarticulate when we try to communicate this love, or describe its essence. as beautiful, and yet we know also that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. concrete and the sublime. also to celebrate its mysterious and at times mythical power. complementary interpretations, leading us from Hogarth's belief that the essence of beauty lies in shapely curves, to Kant's discourses on the meaning of pleasure. response both to beauty and to happiness. As he shows, the ability to truly recognise the beauty that surrounds us in the everyday could enable us to deepen the enjoyment of our lives.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0140294724
ISBN13:9780140294729
Release Date:August 2006
Publisher:Penguin Putnam
Length:171 Pages
Weight:0.25 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.1" x 7.8"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Grade 12 and higher
Customer Reviews
1 rating
defining the undefinable
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
John Armstrong catalogues the approaches philosophers and artists have made towards beauty. It's a topic that has puzzled me for a long while. I can remember when I was young watching a movie and being unnattracted to the leading lady at the outset, but by the end of the movie I was enchanted, captivated. And then I wondered why, of all the great melodies, rhythms and orchestration of 'The Nutcracker' ballet it is the 'Waltz of the Snowflakes' that is special for me. There are ways of thinking about these puzzles in this book that had not occurred to me. But there aren't any answers. Mostly I liked what I read - but as soon as evolutionary biology gets a foothold I start squirming. It's not that I oppose evolution (change does take place after all) but it seems to me that the theory of evolution is misapplied by people either foolishly or else scurrilously. And let's face it - many 'unattractive' people are the heart of wonderful families, and many 'attractive' ones are total duds. I liked this book, but much more I enjoyed and valued Mr Armstrong's 'The Conditions of Love'.
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