What is Beauty? Dialogue

        In the first unit of my humanities class of my sophomore year, Forbidden Books, I was able to learn about the history of censorship, who Socrates was and why he and his teachings were so controversial. The unit began with me studying why books have been banned for political reasons. I found this interesting because I found that a common children's book, Green Eggs, and Ham, which I always thought as a harmless book. However, I learned that it had a hidden message towards communist China and that it was banned throughout China for an extended period of time. After, I was also tasked to read Plato's work about Socrates, called "The Apology". Here, I was able to learn about Socrates and his teachings. For my field experience, I was told to interview ten people about a specific concept, which I choose beauty. I then interviewed the ten people and found how much the answers varied depending on the person's morals or beliefs. For my action project, I was tasked to create a script using the Socratic method, while focusing on a certain theme. I decided to choose the theme of "beauty". The most challenging part of this project was to compose a script that exemplified the Socratic method. However, I felt that in the end, I was able to create a script that demonstrated the Socratic method and felt realistic.

A.A (2019) What is Beauty? Dialogue

           This dialogue is based on my class reading of The Apology. This is the transcript to the video above and is influenced by the time when Socrates was in court in Athens. There Socrates questions Meletus and confronts him. Below is an exchange by character's based on Socrates and Meletus.

What do you think Beauty is?

What is Beauty?

Character #1 Socrates - Joseph

Character #2 Melutus - Christopher

JSP: Hello Christopher, you seem to be awfully joyful on one of the coldest days of the year.

CHR: Definitely! Today is likely to be the happiest day of my life. Did you not hear?  I was just
given the medal of beauty. This proves that I am the true beholder of beauty!

JSP: So you think that you are the TRUE beholder of beauty? How is that possible? How do you
mean? Please explain to me why you are the ultimate beholder for such a normal person?

CHR: For my whole life, I have given the community the most aesthetically pleasing lands to view.
For all of my hard work, I hope to gain recognition; that is why I believe that I am the ultimate beholder.

JSP: Is that the only reason why you serve your people? Do you only do it for the recognition and
so that you can be given the medal of beauty and hold this position?

CHR: I serve my people by providing the most beautiful landscapes that are visually pleasing and fixing the architecture into the most pristine condition. I want to be in a community where I am happy and free of worry. I want to make a community that will prosper in the future with beauty and happiness. With the medal of beauty, I am able to contribute more to my community.

JSP: So you think that beauty is an achievement in which something must be aesthetically pleasing in order for something to be considered beautiful?

CHR: For sure, I definitely believe that something must be visually pleasing in order for it to be considered
beautiful. It is my first priority to make sure that that principle is upheld within the community.

JSP: What if you did not have an incentive or anything to gain for serving someone other than yourself?
Would you have then let your community suffer from being ugly or work less hard? Do you believe that beauty
is only seen on the outside of things than the inside or spiritual side of things?

CHR: I feel that achievement is recognized for people in order to show their gratitude. Any person who does acts
of kindness and they were to give you a monetary incentive, it would be a reward for not expecting anything.

JSP: So are you saying that every person who is kind, there will always be a reward awaiting them? Are there an
unlimited amount of resources to give out? Are there people out there in which their visual beauty is not as
appealing, but their personalities are warm-hearted and giving? Can beauty extend to a greater dimension
such as morals, ideals, and spirits? You said it yourself, “ I want to be in a community where I feel happy and is
the ideal environment to live in for myself”, is fixing buildings and landscapes into visually appealing spaces
going to fix society or is helping people’s spirits and possible unfortunate situations going to make society more
beautiful, appealing, and productive? Think about it, is a medal of beauty for fixing buildings that are aesthetically
pleasing in your definition of beauty, really your life mission?

CHR:  I am now able to see your point, Joseph. I will certainly serve my people with kindness and get to the bottom of creating a society in which beauty is defined by the people. I will serve my people with hard work and the best of my ability that will not be guided by any other incentive but the satisfaction and happiness of the people. Beauty is the spiritual, moral, and happiness of an object that stretches beyond aesthetics.

Citations

Claudian, Julio. Marble bust of a man. Sculpture Photograph. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Nguyen, Marie-Lan. Bust of Augustus. Photograph of Sculpture .