The Beauty Over Brains Debate
A Silas Wrote It Blog Post
The beauty over brains debate is a dispute that has been going on, I’d bet, for at least over a century.
If you were to have asked me at the age of 12 what was more important, intellect or beauty, I would have looked at you funny. It was an obvious answer to me. I didn’t even think it needed to be discussed. I thought even the mere questioning of it was a sign of stupidity. “Intellect!”, is what I would’ve yelled with no second thought. I would’ve put brains over beauty every time until I was about 20 years old. But now, after having lived more life, my answer is a resounding vote for beauty.
Beauty, to me, is more important than intellect. And as bold as that statement is, I’m not even flinching as I am typing this. I completely stand on my opinion and do not waver on it. I will present a spectacular case for why the beauty over brains debate should not even be a debate at all. Beauty wins!
Beauty is NOT the Same as Pretty
Somehow beauty has gotten the bad rep of being shallow. And people who claim beauty over brains are often thought of as superficial. Not only do I beg to differ, but I believe that anyone who thinks that beauty is shallow may be a bit depthless themselves. This is because saying that beauty lacks depth in any way is completely undermining the value of beauty.
Beauty is not the same thing as pretty. People sometimes use them interchangeably but they are, in my opinion, not at all the same. Pretty is the shallow, stepchild of beauty. There is essentially nothing wrong with pretty. It definitely has its own value but it is inherently concerned with the physical form and nature of things. It is directly focused on the outward appearance of objects, people, and structures.
If the ‘beauty over brains’ debate was instead ‘prettiness over brains’, I would then perhaps side with brains. But the debate focuses on beauty, which is an energy that is unmistakable. Yes, beauty can be physical but it is in an entirely separate and higher realm than pretty is. Something that is beautiful is moving, entrapping, coquettish even. Humans always want to connect and combine with beautiful objects, people, ideas, etc.
Beauty is a large part of the human experience and we are consistently called to it. I will even go far as saying beauty is holy, because of the energy it brings out in its receivers. It creates more like itself. Being exposed to beauty inadvertently creates and cultivates more beauty. This separation should at least hold some value in the beauty over brains debate.
Wisdom and Intellect Are Different
Intelligence and wisdom are two very admirable characteristics but if I had to choose between the two of them, I’d take the side of wisdom. Wisdom has more dimensions to it, a far greater depth. Wisdom requires an understanding behind the knowing. It involves the whole of you instead of being heavily brain-focused. Wisdom requires you to be entirely in your body, in the present, in the mind, in the heart, in the brain, and then still transcend it all for further understanding.
Wisdom can understand what intellect can not. It understands love and beauty and doesn’t question its inherent value. There is a quote I love by Namaste Moore, that simply states “love is greater than intellect.” This is because intellect can not understand love through its limited vantage point of sense and reason.
If you ask me, in comparison intellect actually seems a bit shallow as it can only see what’s in front of it. Intellect simply regurgitates information. Albeit the regurgitation is often done with much skill, which is undoubtedly impressive. But intellect is just a poor imitation of its all-encompassing, interdimensional father, wisdom. Intellect is simply the shadow of wisdom.
Beauty and Wisdom Have Respect for Eachother
Both beauty and wisdom have unspoken elements within them that are far greater than the physical realm, though both can operate within the realm. Beauty finds wisdom beautiful and wisdom understands the necessity, purpose, and value of beauty. They respect each other and can easily recognize where the power in both of them lies.
Intelligence and Prettiness are Achievable while Beauty and Wisdom are Endless
It is easy for a human to be pretty. Prettiness requires nothing outside of outward appearance. Being intelligent is simple. Intelligence only requires you to use your brain to acquire knowledge and purposefully and skillfully regurgitate it on surface problems. While it is not the easiest thing to do, it is achievable. I personally know a plethora of pretty and intelligent people and I’m sure you do as well.
Beauty and wisdom are what humans are always striving for. They both are limitless. Therefore, there can always be deeper levels of both beauty and wisdom. They can’t be reached as there is always more to them. Humans can exhibit both beauty and wisdom, but to me, it exists in moments. Some people have more of these moments than others obviously but none have completely reached the pinnacle of either of them. Beauty and wisdom are supposed to be somewhat unreachable because they serve as the blueprint of what humans are supposed to try and reach. Always reaching for more beauty, always reaching for more wisdom. This is how a human becomes better and better. I truly believe the natural state of the human is pure wisdom, pure beauty, and complete perfection.
In the “Practical World”
It can be argued that intellect is more important than beauty because it has the potential to save lives. Scientists and doctors are often brought up after this point. And while I appreciate both scientists and doctors and recognize their tremendous service to this world, I’ll say that survival shouldn’t always be the focus. In other words, survival isn’t always the best thing.
Wisdom understands that the quality of one’s life is more important than mere survival. Humans understand this on some level, hence, the phrase to be put out of one’s misery is an unspoken principle we live by. We know that someone or something consistently suffering should not have to go on living in that condition. This is the result of wisdom. Intellect would try and keep the person or thing alive, despite its suffering. Intellect is survival-based. This is not a bad thing, it is quite necessary but it is extremely limited. Wisdom considers all things.
Returning back to my aforementioned point that the quality of life is more important than survival, when I think of what makes the quality of one’s life better, beauty comes to the forefront of my mind. Namely, because a beautiful life is what the ideal is. A life that is populated with loved ones, where you can do what you love. Where you’re living in a clean, beautiful environment, surrounding yourself with beautiful ideas, art, nature, and music. And not just surviving simply because you’re alive.
Concluding Thoughts and Summary
Beauty has an important role in the human experience. Not a shallow role, but one that is necessary to the well-being of humans. Beauty makes us want to combine with it and have it become a part of us. It inspires the goodness within us and forces us to emit it out to the world. Beauty is the energy of everything that is moving, lovely, pure, and holy. Beauty should not be confused with pretty. Pretty is always focused on outer appearance. It is the shadow of beauty.
Intellect, though highly important, is always focused on the exterior of things. This could be a surface problem at hand or explaining why something is, but either way, if it is observable then it is exterior focused. Intellect is the shadow of wisdom. It has its place and is undoubtedly valuable, it just has its limits. This makes intellect too finite and rigid.
Beauty is limitless energy that always serves and enhances the overall quality of this human experience. It doesn’t keep anyone or anything tied in bondage to this physical realm but gently occupies this realm as with us all. While intellect keeps you in your head ceaselessly, beauty offers freedom. Beauty is an escape as well as something to ground you when you need to be in the present.
It truly knows no bounds and allows us to take continuous peeks at heaven.
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About the Creator
Dream Silas
I love to write about love, the beautiful, and the natural world.
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