What is Beauty, Really?
Simply, the beautiful is that which pulls us toward it (attracts us), and the ugly is that which pushes us away (repels us). Simpler yet, beauty is need all dressed up in sheep's clothing. Ugly is fear all decked out in 'solitary', 'desolate' and 'hapless' garb. So, rather than saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder', we can just nail it down to 'beauty is the desirable', which is naturally in the eye of the beholder. It is fascinating to see how many view beauty as a reality in its own right. I bet Plato is turning in his grave hearing me downgrade his universal "Forms of Beauty" to a simple animal imperative - need (biology). What a wet blanket I am Oh, ditto for those other treasures, 'good', 'right', 'truth', 'virtue', 'God',... you name it. They too originate in need and his son desire. (Yes, son not daughter, for son correlates with need and desire).