Ok, so I decided to put my gloves on and hopefully finish this fight quickly
EG, you say that the OED defines beauty as An outstanding or conspicuous example of that which is considered appealing, attractive and desirable This will no doubt surprise you, but I have always agreed. Beauty is something exceptional: it is something exceptionally average. I actually stated this point in the first line of my first post on this thread Beauty is a cumulative of average looks and this comment was based on the findings of Langlois & Roggman in their paper The role of averageness in defining facial beauty (2002). When mathematically combining the features of a large number of faces Langlois and Roggman observed:
these averaged faces and any individual faces that are close in configuration to the mathematical average are extreme, not average, in attractiveness
Extreme in attractiveness? I hope you will concede that this statement satisfies your definition of beauty and supports my position without contradiction. If you read my posts carefully, you will see I have never at any point said that an average face is beautiful. Anyway, to illustrate the point I have uploaded some pics to my gallery. (Perhaps Madame Zora, this definition gives you as much wonder for Mother Nature as it did for me?) Anyway, just another quote to underline the point:
.Mathematical averageness is a necessary and fundamental characteristic of perceived attractiveness in the human face and the concept of averageness has deep theoretical roots in both evolutionary and cognitive psychology.
(Rubenstein, Langlois and Roggman, 2002)
Ok, so I was going to list your arguments and give answers, but I only found two points in your postings. If you feel I have omitted anything please do say. To make actual comment, I will step aside and leave it to the words of the leading specialists in the field:
The principles of natural selection do not dictate that aesthetic beauty has any evolutionary correlation to genetic superiority according to my present knowledge (EG, 2006)
Far from merely skin deep, beauty appears to be an indicator of genetic and developmental health; and therefore, of mate quality; beauty is a health certification (Thornhill & Moller, 1997 p.528-533)
Beauty is a totally subjective opinion, influenced by culture and peer association. (EG, 2006)
We now know, through empirical research, that this maxim [Beauty is in the eye of the beholder] is false. Furthermore, the theoretical perspective described in this chapter can parsimoniously explain why beauty is not in the eye of the beholder
(Rubenstein, Langlois and Roggman, 2002)
Beauty therefore appears to be an objective and quantitative attribute of individuals like weight and height
(Kanazawa and Kovar, 2004)
In summation, you may recall my first posting on this topic said:
Don't knock beauty! It is actually a cumulative of average looks... what we see as beautiful is really just a good mix of genes, ideal for breeding. Beauty should not be dismissed lightly, because it's an evolutionary necessity!
It seems you clearly have a high regard for intelligence EG and are keen on academic debate, so I am curious as to why you have continually dismissed my argument? It has been entirely consistent throughout and a few moments of casual study online would have shown you that everything I have said in my posts from the outset was fully supported with papers from the leading academics in the field - in fact, you led me to believe you had read them. In contrast, your own argument has swayed hugely, included irrelevant data, and has not been supported by any credible academic source. And yet, despite my womanly attempts to get your attention (including some shameful provocations born from my increasing frustration) all my intellectual efforts seem to have been lightly dismissed and, in your worst moments, patronised from a position of glib ignorance
So perhaps you can say why you have not taken me seriously? I am a curious kitten
Emma
p.s. For people reading this thread who think I might be taking myself too seriously
while I might be on the pretty side of average, I am certainly no model. This subject is something I have researched because I am writing an essay on how society looks at men and women.