Module-2-Lesson-1.docx

**Module 2** **Lesson 1** **My body. My choice**. **Introduction:** Welcome! In this lesson we commence the second part of this course by identifying the philosophical views and environmental factors that shape personal understanding of the physical self. It also delves into psycho-socio-cultural...

**Module 2** **Lesson 1** **My body. My choice**. **Introduction:** Welcome! In this lesson we commence the second part of this course by identifying the philosophical views and environmental factors that shape personal understanding of the physical self. It also delves into psycho-socio-cultural issues associated with physical well-being. **Abstraction***:* I. What Philosophers think about beauty? a. Beauty is objective (before 18th century) i. St. Augustine believed that things gave delight because it was beautiful. ii. Plato conceptualization of beauty is a response to love and desire. He argued that beauty exists in the realm of forms and that things look beautiful because they reflect the idea of beauty that already exists in the realm of forms. iii. Aristotle argued that the main forms of beauty are order, symmetry, and definiteness, which can be demonstrated by mathematical science. b. Beauty is subjective (18th century) iv. David Hume -- "Beauty is no quality in things themselves: it exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty. One person may even perceived deformity, where another is sensible of beauty; and every individual ought to acquiesce in his own sentiment, without pretending to regulate those of others" v. Immanuel Kant -- "The judgment of taste is therefore not a judgment of cognition, and is consequently not logical but aesthetical, by which we understand and that whose determining ground can be no other than subjective" vi. Francis Hutcheson -- "The perception of beauty does depend on the external sense of sight; however, the internal sense of beauty operates as an internal or reflex sense. The same is the case with hearing: hearing music doesn't necessarily give the perception of harmony as it is distinct from hearing ". II. Psychological discovery about beauty - Studies show that those who consider themselves attractive make more money than those who look good than the average person. In politics, voters who are actively involved in social and political issues have a 90% chance of selecting candidates based on \"attendance.\" - These study results can be attributed to a cognitive bias called the "halo effect". - Cognitive bias -- error in reasoning, evaluating, remembering, or any other mental process that is often a result of holding on to one's preferences and beliefs regardless of contrary information - Halo effect -- tendency of people to rate attractive individuals more favourably for their personality traits or characteristics as compared to those who are less attractive - Evolutionary psychology has found that some of the basic and important traits it encounters can indicate its quality as a partner in a romantic relationship. The most important and permanent element of facial attention is the structural features of the face. They are also sexual in nature. - In addition, our hormones form our faces. These gender-specific facial features of adult men and women cause testosterone to be exposed during a person\'s development. We are programmed to use strong indicators of masculinity and femininity as this reflects a person\'s level and health. III. How cultural traditions shape body image Cultural traditions can either be a positive or a negative influence on body image and on self-esteem. Body image is generally how one thinks and feels toward one's own body (as cited in Otig, Gallinero, Bataga, Salado & Visande, 2018). IV. The relationship between body image and self-esteem V. The importance of physical beauty **Application:** Complete the statements below. 1. My philosophy of beauty is 2. A beautiful person is 3. I am beautiful because 4. List down names of people you know who are beautiful