Does knowledge make things more beautiful?

[Theorist]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Yes, because it lets you appreciate the complexity, the variety of every single lifeform. It lets you understand the uncounted millions of years behind something as small as an insect, and how living things interact when none could survive without others.
The fact of how cellular life works shows how cells, both specialised and unspecialised, work together to do something completely different that no single one could ever do, and create a form. THAT is beautiful.

The opposite, thinking 'it's just there' is what leads to lack of concern about it, seeing it as something there specifically for humans.

Most of the time this is how I feel too, that knowing what going on makes it more beautiful.

But, there are times where I might be walking along on a hike or something, and see something, maybe I come across a clearing, or whatever, something will just catch my eye, and I don't have to think about all the complexity of it, but that scene for whatever reason catches my eye, and the beauty is just stunning at face value.

So I'll say that if you are looking for beauty, you'll find just as much either way you look at it, but generally for me, the "knowing" makes it more beautiful, but not alway.

[Human No More]

To me, that says that knowing it doesn't detract from a way to see it, it doesn't make not knowing a good thing, since knowing allows you to appreciate things in both ways

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

Without facts, I look up at the night sky and I see pretty white lights.

With facts, I look up at the night sky and I see millions of suns, each of which could have their own solar system. With facts, I look up at the night sky, and I know I'm seeing into the past. With facts, I know that all the atoms of my body have once been other things (the atoms of my right hand were a different star to my left, as someone once said), and that once I die, all my atoms will become other things once again - we are all connected to the universe because we are made up of the universe.

I prefer having facts.

Exactly. The size of the universe is amazing, and it makes me realise just how arrogant humanity is to proclaim itself as special. I always think how somewhere out there, someone may be looking at Earth's sun and wondering if there's life out there

[Aquaplant]

I would say knowledge offers more perspectives from which to observe things, so it never really diminishes the value of anything in itself. It's our subjective reaction to knowledge that influences the way we view things.

Originally Posted by Human No More

The size of the universe is amazing, and it makes me realise just how arrogant humanity is to proclaim itself as special. I always think how somewhere out there, someone may be looking at Earth's sun and wondering if there's life out there

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

[Theorist]

In one way, humanity is amazing special, each person is their own unique snowflake. In another way, we are an entirely non-unique lump of organic matter.

[ZenitYerkes]

Originally Posted by Theorist

In one way, humanity is amazing special, each person is their own unique snowflake. In another way, we are an entirely non-unique lump of organic matter.

[Theorist]

a picture is worth a thousand words, and I only had 26 (if you count non-unique as 2. And, one of my words was spelled wrong)

[Pa'li Makto]

I do think that knowledge enhances beauty of things you see..Such as the knowledge of how it works and all that..Though I wouldn't take things like spirituality, context and observation out of the equation either.

[Tsyal Makto]

^ Exactly. Well said, Pa'li, to everything you've said in this thread. Beauty, IMO, is the sum aesthetic, existential, scientific, spiritual, etc. values that one gives to an object. They all form a complete picture.

Another PoV that I'm considering - Scientific knowledge might not add to the beauty of an object, per se, but it might make the object more precious. The environment is a good example. No one will deny the shear beauty and awesomeness of a majestic forest or a migrating flock of cranes. However, someone who might not understand the fragile mechanics of the Earth might not be so apt to protect it. The exception being indigenous people, who might not have learned about the mechanics of the ecosystem through science, but learned it through generations of experience, as Clarke mentioned.

Another, more personal example is aircraft. Aircraft "bone yards" used to bring me to tears. To see such complex flying machines rotting in the desert was just too terrible to watch.

Though again, YMMV. It could also depend on the person's mindset. A scientifically minded person will find scientific reasons to declare an object beautiful or precious. A spiritual person, spiritual reasons. It goes on and on. Going back to the age-old adage, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

So going back to the original question in the OP. Yes, knowledge can make something more beautiful, if that's your mindset.

[Pa'li Makto]

Thank you Tsyal. You've made some interesting points in your post that I'd like to comment on.
Firstly I think that the idea about having scientific knowledge about nature that appears to make it more precious is spot on..One recent example I can think of is the increased knowledge of the dangers of over fishing and the harm to the food chain and environment such as more algae blooms, the decline of predator fish that feed on depleted fish varieties such as salmon or herring. (http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/over-fishing/29)

Also I definitely agree that beauty is in the beholder so to speak..There's many different interpretations on what makes something beautiful or why it is beautiful..Although there can be commonalities such as more people being able to see the beauty in forests and the wildlife..Although nowadays I think more people seem to think that the exotic is more beautiful then the familiar..Such as people in Romania preferring a beach in Thailand over a paddock in their homeland because they like the idea of sun, sand and surf.

[Fosus]

I also like knowing things, but it's not the knownledge that is beautiful or makes things beautiful for me. It is the lack of reason for anything to exist.

Sure it's interesting to know that we are made up of cells, sure it's interesting that stars are actually suns far away.... But "why"? That question can give me goosebumps.

[Pa'li Makto]

It can make you ponder the question every day of your life..It's a great question to think over.

[Mika]

I could say on one hand 'knowledge' from a book I am reading "The Secret Teachings of Plants" enhanced my sensibilities .. so than when i had this experience last Sunday, I was prepared or more open to the sheer beauty of it. On the other hand i am reclaiming the 'natural' awe that one has a child, and so often gets 'teached' out of us, as we age and become adults.

Walk quietly up to a forest
Greet it, out loud
Acknowledging
Its Presence
and my own intrusive
Asking for help
Secret Teaching of Plants
my only guide
But openly with the trees,
all beings present
I confide
Both insecurity, uncertainty
whether I'm capable
of hearing, or listening
but I'm here, and I will try

Walking not so softly
burr grass scratching
first encounter
three deer leap up
run and hide
the matted grasses
still warm from their hides

Still trying softer gate
moss beds abound
and I lie down
Natures softness my pillow
and mattress
for a while
contemplate
fingers caress the sweet scented moss
as little creatures investigate
this intrusive being
Gratitude and apologetic
i rise after a while
going deeper into the lighted shadows

Into a grassy meadow cross
to the Solitary tree
not so stealthly
As a large white owl disturbed
and flys away
breathtaking just the same

And so I sit and lean,
after crawling too under
the hanging branches
and wait unsure
eyes closed
a buzzing passes by
just fractions from my ear
'listen' the message
imparted there
So 'tuning' in
to the sounds around
Magpies in the tops
or crows, unseen
cawing, calling
The breeze blows
the grasses whusper
and grasshoppers
clicking as they jump around
an orchestra abounds

now the 'listen'
calls me in
and I hear the tree
begin to speak
my breath is hestiant
my chest a bit tight
acknowleding
the bit of uncertainity
I introduce myself
and along the way
observe a point
I'm shy i said
I'm that way
even with people
others in new circumstances

Then what came next
hard to describe
the tree hugged me

2011

[Fosus]

You really made my day, Mika. Beautiful.

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by Tsyal Makto

Another, more personal example is aircraft. Aircraft "bone yards" used to bring me to tears. To see such complex flying machines rotting in the desert was just too terrible to watch.

I know the feeling. Then again, I think so many of the designs are beautiful anyway, in a functional way. Perhaps because of how people created it, and it does so much that would never have been imaginable before.

Though again, YMMV. It could also depend on the person's mindset. A scientifically minded person will find scientific reasons to declare an object beautiful or precious.

Of course. When it comes to beauty, it's at every level, from a galaxy to a nucleus.

[caveman]

We can talk the talk but indigenous groups can walk the walk, in my opinion.