Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[growthhormone]

What is the link between beauty and the law of conservation of energy? It is a philosophical question. Can anyone see it?

[Frost]

The universe and life as self organizing systems tend toward the state of least action, an this is fundamental to The existence of being. The structural manifestation of this energy conservation directs us toward the state of least action of being, the highest spiritual state. In other words, the structural manifestation of conservation of energy is suggestive of the transcendental.

Or something like that. Just a wild guess.

[Steve3007]

Or perhaps because beauty is associated with symmetry and symmetry is associated with minimal energy states. Symmetry is associated with simplicity - being able to describe a relatively large physical system with a relatively small description. Perhaps simplicity is beautiful because it implies order and the brains that recognize beauty are themselves expressions of order. Perhaps we find things beautiful if we recognize them as essential to our own existence.

[LuckyR]

What is the link between beauty and the law of conservation of energy? It is a philosophical question. Can anyone see it?

See what? The question, or the answer?

[Albert Tatlock]

What is the link between beauty and the law of conservation of energy? It is a philosophical question. Can anyone see it?

Sleep is the link. Sleep conserves energy and sleep can be beautiful. Although I have a feeling that your answer will be even more ridiculous than mine.

[growthhormone]

Or perhaps because beauty is associated with symmetry and symmetry is associated with minimal energy states. Symmetry is associated with simplicity - being able to describe a relatively large physical system with a relatively small description. Perhaps simplicity is beautiful because it implies order and the brains that recognize beauty are themselves expressions of order. Perhaps we find things beautiful if we recognize them as essential to our own existence.

"beauty is associated with symmetry and symmetry"

Beauty has nothing to do with symmetry or asymmetry.

[Steve3007]

Beauty has nothing to do with symmetry or asymmetry.

I disagree.

[Frost]

"beauty is associated with symmetry and symmetry"

Beauty has nothing to do with symmetry or asymmetry.

Even physicists see beauty in the symmetry of the equations of physics.

[Albert Tatlock]

Many people say they think the sunset is beautiful. In what way could a sunset be said to be symmetrical?

[Frost]

Many people say they think the sunset is beautiful. In what way could a sunset be said to be symmetrical?

It's not, but that is irrelevant. The claim was "Beauty has nothing to do with symmetry," not that beauty requires symmetry.

[LuckyR]

Many people say they think the sunset is beautiful. In what way could a sunset be said to be symmetrical?

There's no there there. Beauty has more to do with the firing of neurons in various parts of the brain when certain patterns are detected, than physics and simplistic equations.

[Albert Tatlock]

In what way could a sunset be said to be symmetrical?

It's not,

No, I thought not.

[growthhormone]

"beauty is associated with symmetry and symmetry"

Beauty has nothing to do with symmetry or asymmetry.

Even physicists see beauty in the symmetry of the equations of physics.

The most reliable thing to support a theory/concept is fact not any human being including physicists. There are too many facts that discredit the notion of symmetry being the foundation of beauty

[Frost]

Even physicists see beauty in the symmetry of the equations of physics.

The most reliable thing to support a theory/concept is fact not any human being including physicists. There are too many facts that discredit the notion of symmetry being the foundation of beauty

Such as?

Saying it is not the foundation is not the same as saying it has nothing to do with beauty.

[A_Seagull]

What is the link between beauty and the law of conservation of energy? It is a philosophical question. Can anyone see it?

That's easy!

The law of conservation of energy is a beautiful theory!