Aristotle viewed beauty not as a purely subjective experience but as an objective and quantifiable attribute. He believed that beauty could be measured and understood through specific principles inherent in its form and structure.
In his philosophical treatise, Metaphysics, Aristotle clearly articulated his definition, stating that the chief forms of beauty are:
- Order: The harmonious arrangement and proper sequence of elements within a whole.
- Symmetry: The balanced and proportionate relationship among the different parts.
- Definiteness: The clarity, precision, and distinctness of form, leaving no room for ambiguity.
According to Aristotle, these qualities are especially demonstrated and evident within the mathematical sciences, implying that beauty possesses a logical, measurable, and almost scientific foundation. He considered beauty to be directly tied to the accurate proportions and coherent organization of components, making it an assessable characteristic rather than an ethereal or ungraspable concept.
