Is beauty truth? (Or truth beauty?)

Posted on Mar 18th, 2008 by

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
-- John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn

Do you think what Keats wrote is true? (Or beautiful?)

(This question, and a few others this week, were taken from or inspired by TED 2008, the themes of which were arranged around the biggest questions out there. Feel free to visit the link above to see the programs and forums that resulted!)

68 Responses — Add Yours! Permalink views (1,308)

Tagged with: QaR, truth, beauty

Not in any universal sense...

Posted on Jun 17th, 2008 by

rudyan

Not in any universal sense of truth, if there is such a thing. How can beauty be truth when it is entirely subjective, a matter of judgment? What one person finds beautiful the next may... More »

Add Comment views (120)

I have always thought...

Posted on Mar 27th, 2008 by

Scott

I have always thought that they were inseparable. But we have to add the caveat that truth is beauty on a subjective basis. My ideas of beauty reflect my ideas of truth. And... More »

Add Comment views (96)

I agree that it is...

Posted on Mar 27th, 2008 by

MusicHeals

I agree that it is both- (This is simply my view..ahem) Since both are unique to the perciever...(perceptual and subjective in nature-) I believe that each of us could have a valid answer for that... More »

Add Comment views (111)

Truth is universal and quantifiable,...

Posted on Mar 24th, 2008 by

Jasmin

Truth is universal and quantifiable, beauty is not. In fact, sometimes what people consider beautiful could be based on lots of deceptions. And the truth, in specific instances and not as a universal value, can sometimes be... More »

7 Comments views (246)

I think that more times...

Posted on Mar 24th, 2008 by

Lilly

I think that more times than not....truth is beauty.....when someone tells you the truth, even though it might hurt, it still a beautiful and honest act. You can always trust them in the future to... More »

Add Comment views (97)

It is both.

Posted on Mar 22nd, 2008 by

Moana

It is both.

Add Comment views (0)

YES. This is not a...

Posted on Mar 19th, 2008 by

martha

YES. This is not a question that "exists" in any meaningful way, but is a question made possible only because we have words that can be strung together to ask it. I mean, I could... More »

8 Comments views (112)

Truth is a word. Truth...

Posted on Mar 19th, 2008 by

Lizbeth Ashley

Truth is a word. Truth to one will not be the same to the other. Beauty is also in the eye of the beholder.

Add Comment views (35)

I think truth is beauty,...

Posted on Mar 19th, 2008 by

shivermetimbers01

I think truth is beauty, and so is innocence. Beauty, when viewed simply as an aesthetic quality, can also be truthful. Regardless of substance, beauty posesses a captivating facade that at least appears to be... More »

Add Comment views (74)

Well, sometimes beauty is artificial,...

Posted on Mar 19th, 2008 by

Roku

Well, sometimes beauty is artificial, and sometimes the truth hurts, so...I guess not. But everyone probably has different interpretations on what is beautiful, so it depends on the person.

1 Comment views (54)

Tags

Hot

Questions and Reflections