Beauty is a Double-Edged Sword When it Comes to Judging People's Inner Beauty.
We're often told that we get the body we deserve when we think "ugly" thoughts or neglect our needs. For instance, wrinkles may be seen as signs of someone's true nature - if they look unkind or spiteful, their face will harden accordingly. Similarly, some argue that inner beauty is like eternal youthfulness that no amount of Botox can erase.
But this notion is rooted in a flawed concept: our perception of beauty is deeply intertwined with how we perceive people's behavior. If someone looks evil to us, we're more likely to notice wrinkles and assume they've aged poorly. On the other hand, if an elderly woman smiles warmly at us, we see her inner kindness reflected in her face.
This phenomenon has its roots in ancient Greece, where the word "kalos" was used for both physical beauty and moral character. The pseudoscience of phrenology and physiognomy later capitalized on this idea, using it to justify discriminatory practices like racism and eugenics.
Today, the beauty industry perpetuates this flawed concept by promising that certain products or treatments can unlock "inner beauty." However, true inner goodness has nothing to do with physical appearance. It's also not a moral obligation to be healthy - everyone deserves access to healthcare, regardless of their moral character.
So what's the solution? To start, let's redefine our language and break free from this outdated notion that beauty is linked to morality or behavior. Instead, we can reserve words like "beauty" for more abstract concepts, such as art, nature, or experiences that bring us joy.
Philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Iris Murdoch argue that true beauty must be appreciated for its own sake, without any personal gain. In this sense, what the beauty industry sells us is merely appearance or cosmetics - not actual beauty.
Ultimately, focusing on true inner goodness can help us develop a more nuanced understanding of ourselves and others. And who knows? It might just bring a radiant glow to our faces, too.
We're often told that we get the body we deserve when we think "ugly" thoughts or neglect our needs. For instance, wrinkles may be seen as signs of someone's true nature - if they look unkind or spiteful, their face will harden accordingly. Similarly, some argue that inner beauty is like eternal youthfulness that no amount of Botox can erase.
But this notion is rooted in a flawed concept: our perception of beauty is deeply intertwined with how we perceive people's behavior. If someone looks evil to us, we're more likely to notice wrinkles and assume they've aged poorly. On the other hand, if an elderly woman smiles warmly at us, we see her inner kindness reflected in her face.
This phenomenon has its roots in ancient Greece, where the word "kalos" was used for both physical beauty and moral character. The pseudoscience of phrenology and physiognomy later capitalized on this idea, using it to justify discriminatory practices like racism and eugenics.
Today, the beauty industry perpetuates this flawed concept by promising that certain products or treatments can unlock "inner beauty." However, true inner goodness has nothing to do with physical appearance. It's also not a moral obligation to be healthy - everyone deserves access to healthcare, regardless of their moral character.
So what's the solution? To start, let's redefine our language and break free from this outdated notion that beauty is linked to morality or behavior. Instead, we can reserve words like "beauty" for more abstract concepts, such as art, nature, or experiences that bring us joy.
Philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Iris Murdoch argue that true beauty must be appreciated for its own sake, without any personal gain. In this sense, what the beauty industry sells us is merely appearance or cosmetics - not actual beauty.
Ultimately, focusing on true inner goodness can help us develop a more nuanced understanding of ourselves and others. And who knows? It might just bring a radiant glow to our faces, too.
I was laughing so hard, I spilled my coffee all over my keyboard 
. Anyway, back to this beauty thing... I think it's kinda deep how our perception of people affects what we see when we look at them. Like, have you ever noticed that some people just look older or younger than they actually are? 
It's like, our brains are trying to make a connection between their face and who they are as a person... 
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say the students will do well without him." Not that people are doing badly because they have flaws, but that we need to focus on the inner qualities that make us who we are 
... as a parent, I want them to see beyond the surface level and focus on being kind and compassionate towards others 
. But yeah, it's crazy how much the beauty industry is capitalizing on this flawed idea 
... let's focus on promoting self-love and self-acceptance over physical "beauty" standards 
.
. Like, what even is the point of trying to judge someone's "inner beauty" based on their face or wrinkles? Newsflash: those same people are still gonna be beautiful from the inside out regardless of what we think about them 
It's all just a bunch of hooey if you ask me. What we should be focusing on is cultivating kindness, compassion, and empathy – not trying to buy it with some face cream or fancy spa treatment 
.
It's like, beauty is subjective, but maybe it's also more than just physical appearance...
I don't buy it. We need to start talking about true beauty - the kind that comes from within 
.