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[–] conchpearls1 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I've just had a read through what you've said and I've managed to glean quite a lot from your insight. I think I understand where you're coming from and I highly agree that it makes for a very interesting brain exercise.
One of the primary answers that I've managed to find meaningful was how in a population of clones, beauty loses meaning until mutation occurs and variation begins which then proceeds into competition for even more superior genes than before to adapt to our current state of Planet Earth and its environmental circumstances. I realised from your analysis that the current objective measures for beauty are not meant to be permanent but that 'objective' beauty is actually quite transient and prone to change depending on what new environmental stressor comes along.
And the part about how a uniform identical species or race can actually be considered beautiful when compared to the existence of something else significantly different such as a different species or a type of object was a great addendum because I had not considered that angle before, or at least didn't think it to be important compared to intra-species/group comparison.
Thank you so much for being willing to discuss this at length for me! I'm really impressed by what you could come up with!
[–] Carsandsarcasm [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The only other things I might add is that smells might become a differentiating feature between a race of clones too on top of, or as well, as behaviour. Plenty of other animals signal fitness through non-appearance means. We could sing as well. It might be worth asking the blind about how they conceive of beauty too.
Ultimately, the question might be as simple as whether "beauty" is the right word to use or what the definition of beauty is. We use beauty as being synonymous with evolutionary fitness, but it's not necessarily true and it doesn't have to be that way. If we competed over smells or songs or dances, we might still describe attractive smells/songs/dances as being beautiful or we might use a different word. The definition of beauty might just move to match the things we find attractive even if they aren't visual. As long as we use sensory signalling to display genetic fitness, beauty in terms of being attractive in some form will probably be inseparable from fitness.
[–] OrsonKaarte 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Thanks to both for in interesting conversation. Deep and meaningful stuff. I feel a bit thick telling you what I was pondering before I fell asleep but here goes...
Earlier in the evening, in a clear dark sky, the ISS passed directly overhead - visible for about four minutes, it always impresses me. I was still thinking about it when I went to bed when the thought popped up. Does it matter that the ISS orbits in the same direction as the Earth rotates?
I have a couple of theories but would like to hear from others before I share them.