Beauty Inspires Love or Lust?

[Lote-Tree]

Following from the thread "Power of Beauty"

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24929


I think there is two types of beauty.

One that inspires love and admiration in us and the other inspires lust only.

I have to figure out the difference yet. But I believe one is based on the symmetry of the form and the other on the exaggeration of that form...

Does Beauty Inspires Love or Lust?

What do you think Chaps and Chappesses?


1. Beauty Inspires Love in us
2. Beauty Inspires Lust in us
3. Beauty Inspires both Love and Lust
4. Neither because I am blind :-)
5. Neither because Beauty does not interest me





Regards,
Lote

[kathycf]

I'm afraid that I voted "neither, because I am blind". I think love should be about many things and appearance should be way down on that bottom of that list.

In other words, beauty may inspire an attraction to a person, but the person's inner self should inspire love. :)

[andave_ya]

I said both love and lust because I am inclined to agree that there are two kinds of beauty. True beauty inspires love, and by true beauty i mean beauty that isn't conscious of itself. The other type of beauty is that which is aimed at drawing attention to oneself by both male and female.

[kilted exile]

I voted that it inspires lust. It is the little idiosyncracies and personality itself which inspires love.

If I see a woman at a bar who I consider beautiful the only one of the emotions in my head at that time is lust, I know nothing about her so how can I love her.

[Moira]

I've also voted that it inspires lust. Because beauty alone could never inspire love..... admiration yes, but not love.

[Virgil]

I think there is two types of beauty.

One that inspires love and admiration in us and the other inspires lust only.





I voted that it inspires lust. It is the little idiosyncracies and personality itself which inspires love.

If I see a woman at a bar who I consider beautiful the only one of the emotions in my head at that time is lust, I know nothing about her so how can I love her.

Well, are we talking about only visual beauty? What is the definition of beauty? Beethoven Symphony number 9 is beautiful and it neither inspires love or lust.

[Lote-Tree]

Well, are we talking about only visual beauty? What is the definition of beauty? Beethoven Symphony number 9 is beautiful and it neither inspires love or lust.

We are talking about Beauty in the context of human beings - Human Beauty :-)

And yes Symphony 9 is beautiful :-)

[Nossa]

I voted that it inspires both. I personaly don't apply to this choice actually, but this IS what happens right before my eyes all the time. I believe that beauty is to be admired, appreciated and loved, not to associate it with something that can be inspired in both humans and animals, I mean I believe animals don't appreciate the beauty of nature or any work of art, but still they have the same instinct that we like calling it "lust" as human beings.
I believe that it's not about Beauty persay..it's about how one deals with it.

[Bakiryu]

Being judge all my life because of my lack of phisical beauty, i do not care for it. Seeing a beautiful person to me is the same is the same as seeing a person others consider ugly. I don't judge.

[kathycf]

I actually liked voting for the "neither-I'm blind" option. ;)

I think love should be blind...not in the sense that people should love anybody blindly, but in the sense that true love stems from qualities that cannot be seen, only felt.

I am sure that seems sappy, but I believe it. I don't think there is anything wrong with admiring physical beauty, but it really should not be the be all and end all of what love is about.

[motherhubbard]

I voted that it inspires lust. It is the little idiosyncracies and personality itself which inspires love.

If I see a woman at a bar who I consider beautiful the only one of the emotions in my head at that time is lust, I know nothing about her so how can I love her.

I had to agree. I’ll add the beauty like lust is fleeting. I think that if one’s focus is on physical beauty or lust they are just as temporal as their focus. Love reveals tremendous human beauty.

[Virgil]

I actually liked voting for the "neither-I'm blind" option. ;)

I think love should be blind...not in the sense that people should love anybody blindly, but in the sense that true love stems from qualities that cannot be seen, only felt.

I am sure that seems sappy, but I believe it. I don't think there is anything wrong with admiring physical beauty, but it really should not be the be all and end all of what love is about.

I took your logic and voted the same.

[Adolescent09]

The interpretation of beauty into love or lust can only be determined by the characteristics of the beautiful scene/person/landscape being judged. For instance, if, as the OP indicated 'Angelina Jolie is beautiful'... then yes, this is a statement that may be backed by a logical reaction or opinion. It is pretty much universally acknowledged that Angelina Jolie is beautiful (even if I don't place her acting in the same respect)...

As for a logical interpretation of a beautiful scene, I believe the words 'lust' and 'love' might be a bit too engrossing and remotely inspired if not silly and effeminate. I construe lust for love-making and love for a highly emphasized liking of a 'beautiful' thing. Upon witnessing an aesthetic sight I might crack a smile or be chimerically whimsical but I won't feel sexually stimulated or prone to kiss the ground.

How's everyone by the way? :)

[Lote-Tree]

Being judge all my life because of my lack of phisical beauty, i do not care for it. Seeing a beautiful person to me is the same is the same as seeing a person others consider ugly. I don't judge.

But why the picture of beautiful women as your avatar?

[Bakiryu]

it's supposed to be Eve, i got it from deviantART. I merely liked what it portrayed.

[Lote-Tree]

it's supposed to be Eve, i got it from deviantART. I merely liked what it portrayed.

Why not African Eve?

[Bakiryu]

i couldn't find one, but's a good idea, let me try in another website. after all MANKIND DID ORIGINATE IN AFRICA.

[Lote-Tree]

i couldn't find one, but's a good idea, let me try in another website.


You don't have to. I was just pointing out - that's all. I think we are either conciously or subconsciously are drawn towards beautiful things. There is nothing wrong with that.



after all MANKIND DID ORIGINATE IN AFRICA.

:-) This is what reserach points to...

[Stanislaw]

I think the answer can be interpretted as both, based on ones definition of love. There are three different types of love different loves defined in Greek, but really only one in English. In Greek there is extreme love in which you would be willing to die for the person you love, its an extreme respect and kindredship, much like, in my opinion, what true love should be, a willingness to sacrafice oneself for the other. There is also brotherly type love, more of a friendship or respect, not where you are ready to die for the other, but you respect them as a chum. The third type ofcourse is sexual love...need I say more :brow:

I think for this one the word can meen a great deal of things based on how it is used and how much weight the user places on the word.

Like Obi-wan said "Everything is true, from a certain point of view" ;)

[manolia]

If I see a woman at a bar who I consider beautiful the only one of the emotions in my head at that time is lust, I know nothing about her so how can I love her.

Ehmmm..this happens to you before or after drinking scotch whisky? You know when you are not sober (which is often the case in a bar) you tend to find all women beautiful..so you must be careful :lol: :lol:

I agree with you though. My first impulse was that beauty inspires admiration, but since this is not an option in the poll, i'll go with the lust option too ;) .

[kilted exile]

Ehmmm..this happens to you before or after drinking scotch whisky? You know when you are not sober (which is often the case in a bar) you tend to find all women beautiful..so you must be careful :lol: :lol:

I agree with you though. My first impulse was that beauty inspires admiration, but since this is not an option in the poll, i'll go with the lust option too ;) .

Ah yes, the issue of beer goggles is always a conundrum. Is she really beautiful or have I had too much to drink and she is a lot more Bo Diddly than Bo Derrick (to paraphrase a NOFX song). I get around this by applying a simple formula:

If x-(y-2)>3 then it is ok to use my judgement. Where x is a determination of how beautiful I think the woman is on a scale of 1-10 (Yes, I know I'm a pig) and y is the number of drinks I have had.

[muhsin]

I choose number three which says "Beauty Inspires both Love and Lust". Because of so many reasons that am, probably, gonna say when I came back.

[manolia]

Ah yes, the issue of beer goggles is always a conundrum. Is she really beautiful or have I had too much to drink and she is a lot more Bo Diddly than Bo Derrick (to paraphrase a NOFX song). I get around this by applying a simple formula:

If x-(y-2)>3 then it is ok to use my judgement. Where x is a determination of how beautiful I think the woman is on a scale of 1-10 (Yes, I know I'm a pig) and y is the number of drinks I have had.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
and yes you can be a pig sometimes;)

[Virgil]

Ah yes, the issue of beer goggles is always a conundrum. Is she really beautiful or have I had too much to drink and she is a lot more Bo Diddly than Bo Derrick (to paraphrase a NOFX song). I get around this by applying a simple formula:

If x-(y-2)>3 then it is ok to use my judgement. Where x is a determination of how beautiful I think the woman is on a scale of 1-10 (Yes, I know I'm a pig) and y is the number of drinks I have had.

Hey that's a great equation, but can you compute it after 4 or 5 drinks? :lol:

[motherhubbard]

Ah yes, the issue of beer goggles is always a conundrum. Is she really beautiful or have I had too much to drink and she is a lot more Bo Diddly than Bo Derrick (to paraphrase a NOFX song). I get around this by applying a simple formula:

If x-(y-2)>3 then it is ok to use my judgement. Where x is a determination of how beautiful I think the woman is on a scale of 1-10 (Yes, I know I'm a pig) and y is the number of drinks I have had.

This is the best thing I've heard all day. :lol:

[kilted exile]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
and yes you can be a pig sometimes;)

Oink, oink :p


Hey that's a great equation, but can you compute it after 4 or 5 drinks? :lol:

See that is the greatness of the equation, once you become unable to compute it you are generally in such a state that any attempt at picking up will be unsuccessful :thumbs_up

[Koa]

it's supposed to be Eve, i got it from deviantART. I merely liked what it portrayed.

It totally looked like Marilyin Manson to me...

[Lote-Tree]

Summary so far

Total number of Voters: 16.

Only 2 people voted "Beauty Inspires Love in us" - and I am one of them so I am not abnormal :-)

Only 1 person voted Neither because Beauty does not interest me - I find that hard to believe.

And 5 people voted Beauty Inspires Lust in us - this perhaps a uncomforting result.

And 6 people voted Beauty Inspires both Love and Lust - this is perhaps average response...

[kathycf]

Summary so far

Total number of Voters: 16.


You forgot the "neither I'm blind" option. That garnered two votes. :)

[Virgil]

You forgot the "neither I'm blind" option. That garnered two votes. :)

Yes, Lote, don't forget Kathy and me. ;)

[Artemis Noir]

I also voted for the "I am blind" option.

I won't lie and say I don't notice physical beauty, because I do. But, I have always believed that ultimately outer beauty is defined by that which is within. For me, if somebody who is physically attractive is an awful human being, they are ugly and the only thing they inspire is revulsion.

I can only fall in love with somebody if I connect with them at a profound emotional level, for me, this is the key. That person's physical appearance means very little to me. Even if we are talking about pure, unadulterated lust, I still need to feel as though I can communicate with somebody beyond a few mono-syllabic grunts :p ;)

[Lote-Tree]

You forgot the "neither I'm blind" option. That garnered two votes. :)

Oh yes I have oops :-)

But is love really blind? :-)

[Stanislaw]

But is love really blind? :-)

I would have to take the no side of the argument, love is not blind, it is caused by some perception on our part, that indicates either we should respect, or romanticly love the person in question. We don't simply love someone for no reason without having some visualization of them.

[kathycf]

Oh yes I have oops :-)

But is love really blind? :-)
I didn't state love was blind. :) I explained why I chose that option in my earlier posts.

[Bakiryu]

It totally looked like Marilyin Manson to me...

It was Eve :p before I changed it to a Marilyn Manson one!

[Lote-Tree]

I didn't state love was blind. :) I explained why I chose that option in my earlier posts.

Ah yes you did :-) oops again :-(

[Moira]

It was Eve :p before I changed it to a Marilyn Manson one!

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote:p

[Lote-Tree]

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote:p

LOL :-) I have already apologised to her. I was merely pointing it out in interst of some amusing debate :-)

[kathycf]

I also voted for the "I am blind" option.

I won't lie and say I don't notice physical beauty, because I do. But, I have always believed that ultimately outer beauty is defined by that which is within. For me, if somebody who is physically attractive is an awful human being, they are ugly and the only thing they inspire is revulsion....
Indeed, and I have often found the nastier a person is the uglier they seem, even if they are quite physically attractive. It works the other way for me too, someone might be plain but with a great personality, and that makes them attractive to me.

Even if we are talking about pure, unadulterated lust, I still need to feel as though I can communicate with somebody beyond a few mono-syllabic grunts :p ;)
Hey, don't knock the grunting! :p :lol:


Ah yes you did :-) oops again :-(

No problem, Lote. :)

I am going to have to start thinking of you as a registered oopser though, instead of a registered user. :p
(KIDDING!)

No, I want registered oopser to be my user title. *goes off to modify profile*

[Bakiryu]

Why did you do that?
You shouldn't have listened to Lote:p

Nah, I just saw the manson pic and couldn't resist. The old avatar was getting boring. *Sights* MM....

[Lote-Tree]

I am going to have to start thinking of you as a registered oopser though, instead of a registered user. :p
(KIDDING!)

No, I want registered oopser to be my user title. *goes off to modify profile*

No problema :-)

You are young, lassie - you have perfect memory...I forget as easily as I remember :-) ;-)

[Shalot]

I voted for the option that says that beauty inspires both love and lust. But, people perceive beauty in different ways. I read in a fashion magazine once that there are certain facial qualities that are universally beautiful, such as symmetry for example.

However, there is so much more to life than having that fashion magazine look, and in the end, looks aren't the number one quality in a potential life mate (if that's your goal...) There's chemistry, understanding, and having fun together just to name a few, and those are worth more than being awestruck by a symmetrical face (and whatever aesthetic it is you're looking for) day in and day out. And I would rather have a kind, average looking man than a so-called "hot" jerk in my life any day.

Although, if you hate being taller/shorter than your b/f g/f or if he/she is too fat or thin than you can stand, than he/she can have the best personality in the world and can be sweet as sugar and you can have the most enjoyable conversations and yet you still couldn't imagine yourself with that person day in and day out.

[Lote-Tree]

I read in a fashion magazine once that there are certain facial qualities that are universally beautiful, such as symmetry for example.


Yes, that what grabs us first...

[Haven]

Lust and or Love.

In my experience lust is a precursor to love. Sexual attraction is of course lust and the fullfilment of that sometimes expresses itself as love. Beauty is 'in the eye of the beholder'. Trite but true.

[Bii]

I don't think there's an appropriate poll answer to the way I feel about beauty. For the most part the question of whether beauty inspires love or lust can only apply when you relate beauty to people, but beauty goes beyond people. Does a sunset inspire love or lust? Or wonder, perhaps? Or rage? Or despondency? Or faith? What about the statue of David, the glory of the himalayas, the grand canyon, the vatican?

If you're talking physical beauty then I agree with the majority here that actual beauty is different to aesthetic beauty - i.e. a woman who is aesthetically beautiful (take a supermodel for example) may not actually be truly beautiful, as there's more to it than that. The most beautiful people I know are wonderful on the inside and ordinary on the outside. It's the inside that counts.

[Bakiryu]

Inside beauty is more beautiful than external. Phsical beauty is not truly beautiful.

[Lote-Tree]

Inside beauty is more beautiful than external. Phsical beauty is not truly beautiful.

William Shakespeare - Sonnet #18
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

[Bakiryu]

I love Shakespeare.

[Scheherazade]

I love tea.

I love cheese, too, but not necessarily with my tea.

[Bakiryu]

who voted the last one?

[Lote-Tree]

I love tea.


Is that with or without lust or neither or you are blind to this love :-)

[Pensive]

I love tea.

I love cheese, too, but not necessarily with my tea.

They say tea with cheese brings double fun...of course one doesn't have to necessarily agree with that! :p

[_JadeRain_]

Inside beauty is more beautiful than external. Phsical beauty is not truly beautiful.


William Shakespeare - Sonnet #18
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Here's another:

Sonnet 130 - Shakespeare
My mistress's eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lip's red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun,
If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
In some perfumes there is more delight
Than the breath with which my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know,
Music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

[Lote-Tree]

Here's another:

Sonnet 130 - Shakespeare
My mistress's eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lip's red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun,
If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
In some perfumes there is more delight
Than the breath with which my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know,
Music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

LOL :-) Are we having The Battle of Sonnets? :-)

Take that!!!



Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.



William Shakespeare

(1564 - 1616)

[SleepyWitch]

I also voted for the "I am blind" option.

I won't lie and say I don't notice physical beauty, because I do. But, I have always believed that ultimately outer beauty is defined by that which is within. For me, if somebody who is physically attractive is an awful human being, they are ugly and the only thing they inspire is revulsion.

I can only fall in love with somebody if I connect with them at a profound emotional level, for me, this is the key. That person's physical appearance means very little to me. Even if we are talking about pure, unadulterated lust, I still need to feel as though I can communicate with somebody beyond a few mono-syllabic grunts :p ;)

I'm similar... usually when I first get to know someone, I don't notice whether they are beautiful or ugly... well of course there are "objective" standards of beauty, like the right number of eyes and ears, straight facial features (although I personally prefer the rugged type).
of course some actresses/actors are considered beautiful by lots of people, but when I only see them in a pic and don't know their voice, facial expressions, character etc, I just can't decide whether they are beautiful or not...

back to my first point, once I've gotten to known someone better (and I mean as a friend, not as in dating) I usually discover 'beautiful' things about them. when I like a person, I usually find them beautiful, even if they are not super-models.
so in my case it's the other way round "love inspires beauty" :)

well, I must confess I can be quite look-ist in this respect. there are some people I will never find beautiful.. e.g. this extremely fat woman I know... but i think the reason i don't find her beautiful isn't because she's fat but because i don't like her character. maybe if i liked her character I wouldn't notice how fat and ugly she is...

as for lust... can there be love without lust? (I mean between men and women/between gay man+man or woman+woman; not love between parents and children, friends etc)
what about the opposite?
can there be lust without love?
i know, some people seem to be able to feel lust without love, but personally, whenever I fancied someone, it didn't take long for emotions to set in... I've never managed to feel lust for someone without at least liking them

[ulvmane]

i think that beuty inspires lust, lust can potentialy inspire love, and then when the beuty is gone so is the lust and all that leaves is love...in a perfect world anyway LOL

[Virgil]

i think that beuty inspires lust, lust can potentialy inspire love, and then when the beuty is gone so is the lust and all that leaves is love...in a perfect world anyway LOL

Or when the beauty and lust are gone, then love goes too is another way to look at it. :lol: :lol: :D

[ulvmane]

Or when the beauty and lust are gone, then love goes too is another way to look at it. :lol: :lol: :D

aye, this is why i said "in a perfect world" LOL i think you're alot closer to the truth in modern society LOL

[Redzeppelin]

Beauty inspires desire - the desire to experience that beauty; lust is the desire to possess that beauty for one's self and to use that beauty to satisfy said desire; love is the choice to honor that beauty by enjoying it for what it is. Love transcends beauty; lust feeds on it.

[Turk]

Yeah.

In the story of Leyla and Mecnun (Laila and Majnun) there's this part;

Sultan hears about Mecnun's (Mecnun means "Mad, Crazy", original name of him is Imr-ul Kays, but then because of intense of his love people starts to see him as "mad") and takes him to his palace, and asks about his problem. When he hear Leyla's love made Mecnun semi-crazy he orders his men to bring Leyla to palace. When soldiers brought her to palace; Sultan disappionted and asked Mecnun;

"Is this the girl that her love made you Mecnun? I can't see anything special at her."

And Mecnun answered;

"My lord, you don't see her with eyes of Mecnun".