Subjectivity and objectivity

12/1

Is beauty universal or individual? Well, this is difficult to answer. It is obvious that some people find "X" beautiful, while others abhor "X" and instead find beauty (quite provocatively) in "Y". This, of course, drives those who prefer "X" mad. Both groups, however, agree that "Z" is undoubtedly atrocious while W is unquestionably beautiful. What the heck am I saying? Some beauty seems to be subjective, but certain things either have universal beauty or un-beauty (whatever the opposite of beauty is). So what might the answer be?

I tried to reconcile beauty’s duel appearance with a compromise of sorts. I argue that beauty is objective; it is an ultimate standard or desire. Beauty in itself is perfect and constant. Humans, on the other hand, are not. Human perception of beauty is, to a certain extent, subjective. Some people can see beauty in things like snakes and spiders, creatures I see worthy of extermination. But who am I to say they are wrong? Is there anything inherently wrong with a spider or snake? No. I simply don’t like them for whatever reason. Yet, there are things no sane person would ever consider beautiful. No witness to a murder has ever described their horrific scene as beautiful. Nor does any individual or culture allow for any recognition of beauty in rape or theft. 

So, beauty is objective and man’s perception of beauty is at least slightly subjective.