I don't think there are any "mechanics" involved: we have a sense of being part of something greater simply by virtue of being in a world. That 'being in a world' is a primordial mystery. Beauty consists in the evocation of that mystery; we have no other way of dealing with it, since we cannot explain it, and even if we could, to explain it would inevitably be to explain it away. — Janus
evolutionary psychologists think that a sense of awe increases group safety and bonding by temporarily reducing the importance of self (without reducing self esteem). — Jake Tarragon
since we cannot explain it, and even if we could, to explain it would inevitably be to explain it away. — Janus
Serenity. Awe. Wonder. Harmony. Joy. Humility. Delight. — WISDOMfromPO-MO
I actually think I would describe those experiences as pleasing. — Daniel Sjöstedt
And that's why I asked about tragedy - I wonder what the reason might be for getting a "good" feeling from something tragic.
The feeling is certainly "awe inspiring", but awe before what? And why? — Daniel Sjöstedt
Natural selection may not have a purpose but it certainly has reasons.
Every human that I know of is able to experience this kind of beauty, so I am wondering why it has been selected for.
As it is a positive sensation, arising at particular moments, that the body seems to have a reason for delivering, why would it not make sense to look for the evolutionary reasons? — Daniel Sjöstedt
Isn't it a kind of category error. Sure brainwaves may indicate thought, but they are not thoughts, they are brain waves. — Nils Loc
If I saw Michelangelo's Pieta in the middle of a snow storm its beauty would still astonish me, warm me up. — Cavacava
↪Cavacava You wrote that the aesthetic would warm you up in a snow storm. That's affective realism. At a minimum this would ease your discomfort. It may also provide additional and possibly even life saving benefits via the autonomic system. I'd say that was useful.
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