Eric Fesmire-Student Choice #5 Friendship

Beauty isn't just found in outward experiences and sights and sounds, but also in relationships we have with each other.  People all the time talk about the beauty that is found in community, in friends, and in couples. We love beautiful stories about relationships. Why do we find this beautiful?

The fact that we find community and relationships beautiful means our definition needs to include more abstract ideas. Communities are considered beautiful because we have an inherent value for coming together, for unity and for social interactions. Psychologists have told us that part of being healthy is having social interactions with others. This keeps our brains engaged in particular ways that cannot be found outside of society. If these ideas hold any water, then we could describe beauty as healthy. This makes sense with our understanding of physical beauty as well. Cultures tend to value physical healthiness and describe that as beautiful. What constitutes as healthy has changed throughout the years, and thus what we consider beautiful as well.

These are just a few sketches of ideas on the beauty of friendship. Because social interactions are healthy and beneficial, we have a value for them. In Martin Buber's understanding of I and Thou, the Thou is truly beautiful because it values others more than it values itself.