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Old Jul 15, 2004, 11:19 pm   #1 (permalink) (top)
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Molten Ash
 
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Location: L.A. or Portland
Posts: 99
Can any one provide a scientific explanation...

Why do virtually all human beings consider sunsets, ocean horizons, the grand canyon, flowers, scenic vistas, etc. to be beautiful?

The old generic Darwinist responses don't work at all here. For example, it is absurd to contend that an australopithecus who thought the sunset looked nice had a reproductive advantage over the australopithecus who thought it looked ugly. So you'll have to try harder.

The point that beauty is subjective is better, but does not address the challenge directly. Beauty may well be subjective, but that does not explain the consensus regarding natural beauty.

Finally, the scientific minds may object that there is no consensus or that I can't prove it. Of course I can't prove it. But I would be shocked if those scientific minds don't honestly consider a sunset with irridescent hues saturating the sky to be appealing to the senses. Or the freshness of a spring misty rain to smell pleasant.

So the question stands: why do virtually all human beings consider sunsets, ocean horizons, the grand canyon, flowers, scenic vistas, etc. to be beautiful?


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