From Beauty to God

Group 2

Minutes by: Ephraim C. Onwuzulu

Beauty is the inherent goodness in the created beings [Genesis 1]. On the other hand beautiful is an attribute given to a being by the beholder. Based on this principle the groups made their contribution as follows:

Our idea of beauty:

1.      Beauty is something desirable in itself

2.      Something that attracts, that draws human attention to it.

3.      Properties of a being that make it desirable.

4.      The characteristics and uniqueness of every single being.

Therefore, beauty is that property, a being possesses that makes it desirable in itself. It is an inherent goodness that differentiates a being from others.

The following images appeal to the group as beautiful:

1.      Natural order: the order of created things: landscapes and beautiful sceneries.

2.      A breastfeeding mother

3.      Life experiences and people’s smiles

4.      The spontaneity and naturalness of children

5.      Artistic paintings and music

Summary of the reading

            For Plato, things are beautiful (or good) and lovable because they participate, in varying degrees, in an ultimate and divine beauty which is the final goal of all human desire. It begins as physical but goes beyond physical to spiritual beauty which leads to the ultimate beauty (God). One who is able to transcend the physical beauty with the eye of the mind will be able to bring forth not just mere images of beauty but the reality itself because he has seen the reality.

Comments of the group:

            The varying degrees of beauty in created beings testify to the author of beauty. From the created realities man can arrive at the notion of the absolute beauty, the source of all beauty, beauty in itself (God). In this way beauty is not only physical but also spiritual. It is transcendental. Our first contact with beauty is with our senses (physical). But since beauty is also transcendental, it draws the attention of the mind to look beyond what is presented to the senses and search for the source of beauty itself. Therefore, from the beauty of the created beings man can arrive at the notion of the absolute beauty (God).

Contributors:  Owuor Eric, Ekugba Chikezies; Utazi Chiemeka, Muza Simbarashe; Mukuka Chilufya, Onwuzulu Ephraim

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Group 1

Question:

What are the things that appeal to you as ‘beautiful’? Do you see and love beauty in nature, created things, arts, etc.? Share with the group your own sense of ‘beauty’ (what is ‘beauty’ for you?). Give comment after reading a text on “The ascent of the mind from beauty to God”

Response:

Our sharing began by acknowledging that beauty is very commanding hence it always has to be affirmed in its various appearances. Further, acknowledgment was made that all the beauties of this world makes our earth a mosaic of beauty. This mosaic blends both the natural and molded beauty. By natural we mean as exhibited by mountains, water sources, creatures such as animals, human beings etc. while molded beauty we mean works of art made from human touch e.g. artifacts, music etc.

 Beauties whether natural or molded are meant to be attractive but from our group sharing there are conditions that facilitate the attractiveness of beauty:

-          Beauty of an object does not depend on us while other views held firm to the statement that ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.’

-          The presentation or simply how well arranged is the particular object of beauty

-          For others doctored beauty from art work is more appealing because it adds to the shortfalls of the natural ones in that it can combine things to make one – mosaic (e.g. painting)

-          The natural-ness of beauty whether in human beings or art works - those entities where the natural-ness permeates the object tend to attract more and better appreciated than artificial ones for example in our chapel natural plants for flowers speak more than ones made out of plastics.

-          The apparent deception of beauty of this world or even possibility of not being intrinsically beautiful leads to various categorization, hence the standpoint of an individual plays a bigger role in one appreciating beauty. The human disposition whether geographical or psychological lead to various perception of what is beautiful.

Comments:

-          The particular beauty of this world does not satisfy our desire simply because it’s limited, even after appreciating it our minds still ask for more. This fact of wanting more from particular beauties eludes us. Such inadequacy presupposes that these beauties point to something other than themselves thus beyond themselves. Therefore, we agree with Plato that the multiplicity of beauty on earth indeed indicate their participation in the ultimate and divine beauty which is the final goal of all human desires. We can then conclusively affirm that our desire for what is beautiful here on earth will only be met in the divine beauty or absolute beauty.

-          We also realize that these particular beauties undergo corruption for instance the beautiful ice-canopy of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania which is threatened to lose that beauty because of apparent climate change. However, even when the beauty of this world is corruptible and deceptive does still point to an everlasting beauty. In fact, Plato in the dialogue symposium points out those earthly beauties has some realities that are immanent in their very corruptible images. It’s the experience of these realities that leads us to the absolute beauty – God. With this in mind can we then speak of the possibility of beauty as transcendence in immanence? Or better still our experience of a transcendent God in our human immanence?

Members: (Steven, Augustine, John, Mehari, Tirfe, Joseph)
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Group 3

What are some of the things that appeal to you as ‘beautiful’? Do you see and love beauty in nature, created things, arts, etc.?...the accent of the mind from beauty to God.

From the sharing, the following came out as that which appeals as beautiful: some plants, flowers e.g. with yellow colours; animals such as cats, chameleons and butterflies; fine-looking views of mountains, forests and water bodies. Breathtaking sceneries, sunsets as well as sunrise as it reflects on the water bodies are so spectacular. The sky and different types of clouds also appeal to the senses as beautiful. On the other hand some good paintings, mosaic and carved images are so thrilling and appealing to the senses. The above mentioned realities lead one to see and even to love beauty.

From the sharing about the sense of beauty, one aspect of beauty is that which is attractive and catchy. In addition to that, another member described beauty as something interesting and exciting. It was also noted that beauty is something which makes one to reflect and be ‘possessed’.  Beauty was also described as a quality in something or someone that makes the admirer’s concentration to be captured and even taken beyond the object itself.  

The beauty around us stimulates our minds making them transcend to the cause of such beauty. This leads to the contemplation of the absolute beauty hence communion with the creator who is the ultimate cause. On the other hand, since the beauty we see around participates in the divine beauty (God), which is our ultimate goal, it helps us come to know God, appreciate him and to be united with him.