Is Beauty an Intrinsic Good?

By Densie Melchionne <dmelchionne@yahoo>

Is beauty an intrinsic good? The first thing to do is identify the meaning of all of these terms. An intrisic good is something that is good in itself as well as being within something. Beauty is lovliness, elogance, and also being a beautiful woman. There are two types of beauty. The first, is internal beauty or how you are on the inside. In this sense, beauty is not an intrinsic good. There are people who intrnally want to harm themselves and others. If an intrinsic good is a good in itself then why would these people feel compeled to do such things. Similar to this idea is the issue of external beauty or how one percieves themselves on the outside. External beauty is not an intrinsic good either because some people do not believe they are good enough and attempt to change themselves in many ways, If beauty were an intrnsic good then all people would be happy with their inner self as well as the outer self.

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Heather Ferguson <AddysmomF@netscape.net>

Good paper. I think there woulkd be no self esteem problems if beAUTY WAS AN INTRINSIC GOOD.


Kimberly Pitts <KLP103@hotmail>

I believe that beauty can be an intrinsic good, but the person has to percieve his or herself as being beautiful.


missy kergosien <missc4@hotmail.com>

Good paper! I think that beauty could be an intrinsic good depending on how one perceives themself, but for most people, beauty is not an intrinsic good.


Crystal Gray <crystalg32@hotmail.com>

Thats true to say that if it was people would be happy with their inner and outer self.


Heather Renfro <jewel@emeraldis.com>

I completely agree with you. Good Paper!


Cynthia Glanton <cynthia_glanton@hotmail.com>

Great paper. I agree.


Chris Graham <collge-guy@inetgenesis.com>

Short, but good


Matt Wright <surfski8@hotmail.com>

good paper


Tally Loyd <Tally_Loyd@Hotmail.com>

Interesting. When reading your essay I can't help to bring to mind another article centering around beauty--or rather the detriments of beauty. The article "Why I hate beauty" by M. Levine and E. Marano in Psychology Today (Aug, 2001) discusses how our perceptions of reality more or less become distorted by exposure to high concentrations of beauty through the media. You should read it. Makes ya think :) Anyways...
I am not sure that I understand exactly what you mean. I wish that you would have elaborated on the subject further.


Eric Howell <grayghost13@hotmail.com>

I enjoyed your paper. I think you did an excellent job. Good Work!


Wnedy Garner <wlg51@backroads.net>

good paper


Will Mulkey <wrmulkey@hotmail.com>

You used good examples. Nice paper.


Travis Galloway <hyperdedo@hotmail.com>

I'm not sure if I misread your paper, but I'm not sure what you mean about some points... I think I partially disagree with what I think you meant... I believe beauty itself, such as inner beauty and outer beauty(especially inner) is an intrinsic good. The quest for beauty and the consequences this has on people is another topic...


Karen Long <karen_long@email.com>

I strongly agree with Travis. It's the never-ending quest for beauty that harms people.


nichole vernon <nichole317@excite.com>

good paper. i agree with you .


Danny Frady <garydfrady>

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Danny Frady <garydfrady@hotmail.com>

Good job!


jason stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>

You did a good job. Your paper was well writen and very interesting.


jason stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>

I did enjoy your paper, some of my opinion are different but thats good! Good job!


jason stansill <jasonstansill@hotmail.com>

I did enjoy your paper, some of my opinion are different but thats good! Good job!


cindy bourret <lucy12241979@hotmail.com>

good paper


Chad Williams <czm_1@hotmail.com>

Good ideas.


Amanda Thompson <amandat211@yahoo.com>

great paper. I really enjoyed it


Comments Closed <11.28.01>

Further Comments are Voluntary


Eric Doyle Knight <frruita@hotmail.com>

I am inclined to say that I think beauty is an intrinsic good. But then, beauty is often relative. What of that? Pehaps this becomes circular. Beauty is simply a term for how we as conscious beings percieve something. The word itself has a positive connotation. If no one is looking, then the thing simply *is*, nothing necessarilty makes it beautiful. If one looks at something "beautiful" and is displeased, is it "beauty"?

Overall, I am inclined to agree with Travis in that beauty itself is an intrinsic good, but that people's interactions with the idea of beauty can mess things up.