The perception of beauty is a cultivated skill from "summary" of The Sense of Beauty by George Santayana
Beauty is not an intrinsic quality in things, but a gift of their presence that we receive through our senses. It is, in a sense, a form of sympathy between us and the world, a resonance between the forms of things and the forms of our minds. However, this resonance is not always immediate or natural; it requires a certain cultivation of our senses to fully appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. The perception of beauty is not a passive act, but an active engagement with the world around us. It is a skill that must be honed and refined through practice and education. Just as an artist must train their eye to see the subtle nuances of color and form, so too must we train our senses to perceive the beauty that lies hidden in the everyday. This cultivation of our aesthetic sense is what allows us to see beauty where others may not. It is the ability to discern harmony in the midst of chaos, to find order in the midst of disorder. It is the capacity to appreciate the delicate balance of proportions and the subtle play of light and shadow that give a work of art its depth and richness. Moreover, the cultivation of our aesthetic sense is not just a personal endeavor, but a social one as well. It is through our interactions with others and our exposure to different cultures and traditions that we expand our understanding of beauty and develop a more refined taste. By engaging in dialogue and debate, we are able to challenge our preconceptions and broaden our horizons. In the end, the perception of beauty is not a fixed or immutable quality, but a dynamic and evolving one. It is a skill that grows and deepens with time and experience, and one that enriches our lives in countless ways. As we continue to cultivate our aesthetic sense, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and new ways of seeing the world around us.
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