Growth hormone cells

Patterns in space

How is it that we derive aesthetic pleasure from contemplating regular patterns? It is possible one more example of the survival value conferred by a brain which can solve all kinds of problems. The ability to see underlying regularity amid the chaos of the stimuli which assault us, is clearly useful and it is not surprising that the solution of such pattern matching problems provides satisfaction and pleasure (Enquist & Arak, 1994). There is also Huxley’s ‘escape’ hypothesis:

From the Ninth Philosopher’s Song:

Beauty for some provides escape,
Who gain their happiness from eyeing
The gorgeous buttocks of an ape
Or autumn sunsets exquisitely dying.

Aldous Huxley

ball of monkeys

References:

  • Enquist M, Arak A. (1994)
    Symmetry, beauty and evolution.
    Nature 372, 169-72 PubMed abstract
  • Gombrich, EH. (1994)
    The Sense of Order: A Study in the Psychology of Decorative Art (The Wrightsman Lectures, V. 9)
    Phaidon Press
 

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