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Jul 16, 2006
"Beauty is a form of genius -- is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon." --Oscar Wilde
A Formula for Beauty
Can beauty be measured? 20th century mathematician George David Birkhoff actually made a life quest of exactly that. Though best known for his work on differential equations and dynamics, he also had a keen interest in aesthetics -- the qualities that make a painting, sculpture, song, or poem pleasing to the eye, ear, or mind. Interestingly enough, Birkhoff sought a formula, a mathematical measure, to capture an object's beauty. He eventually derived a formula that encapsulated his insights and described his theory in a book titled "Aesthetic Measure". Birkhoff did however concede that an intuitive appreciation of beauty was better than any attempt to analyze the source of delight. Learn more about Birkhoff’s fomula, along with how it applies to things as diverse as Antonio Correggio's 1531 painting "Danae", isolated polygonal figures, and Tennyson's poem, "Come into the Garden, Maud"!
BE THE CHANGE
Take a moment to reflect on the "sources of delight" in your life. And if you'd like -- share your definition of beauty with other readers by clicking here. More ...
