The Divine Proportion by H.E. Huntley
Mathematics, argues H.E. Huntley in his book, The Divine Proportion (1970) can be beautiful. This is not a radical notion in and of itself. After all is not the discipline of mathematics all about imposing the neatness, simplicity, and proportion of numbers onto seemingly random sequences? All of these principles are considered intrinsic to great art through much of Western history, writes Huntley. The Western musical scale is tonal, or based upon harmonics that are pleasing to the ear. Most of the structures that we live within are proportionate rather than disproportionate in their shape, based upon the principles of architecture. However, what may be radical and controversial about Huntley's text is that the author claims that beauty exists as a principle that is external and transcendent to any individual human being's ability to create either equations or art. In other words, beauty exists in nature, and our notions of beauty and mathematical symmetry and proportion exist outside of our culture and outside of our own opinions. We are a part of nature, nature is beautiful because it is proportional, and so we have notions of beauty ingrained in our consciousness, and reveal these principles through the logical rules of propo
He also argues that math, literature, science, and art are all one in their creation of the same proportional idea, as revealed by the 'Golden Ratio. This is why the Parthenon is still beautiful to us-its creator Phidias based its principles on notions of phi (23). Huntley's last chapters shift somewhat from the defense of the 'Golden Ratio' as proof of the existence of universal ideals of beauty and proportionality, and moves on into a more general defense of mathematics as a discipline that is in pursuit of beauty no less than sculpture or art. Thus, in his discussion of everything mathematical and philosophical from the Pythagoreans to Pascal, Huntley attempts to prove that beauty is not just in the opinion of the beholder. He is writing partly not just as an explanation of the 'Golden Ratio,' it seems, but also in defense of his profession. But why does mathematics need to defend itself as beautiful, to hold its place beside art, poetry, and philosophy? The divisions between the disciplines that did not exist for the ancient Greeks say more about the development of our culture into a split between the sciences and the arts than a failure to recognize the capabilities of mathematics' contribution to the world in general. Huntley's evident knowledge of philosophy, poetry, and the arts is testimony to the fact that he is not just a number cruncher, as his ability to see far-ranging connections between different disciplines and professions. In the subconscious mind, there is a kind of primeval love of a certain kind of aesthetic principle of symmetrical beauty. There is beauty and satisfaction in rendering an equation, because it relates to the symmetry of the 'Golden Ratio' that satisfies the need for order in the conscious and unconscious brain, much like the satisfaction of an artist in creating a work that conforms perfectly to a particular form in art. , the reoccurrence of these patterns might become a kind of self-fulfilling prophesy. On one hand, Huntley's book is clearly not aimed at mathematicians, given that he is trying to defend his profession and the beauty of math. Huntley's discussion of Fibonacci sequences are fascinating, given that they are unlikely to be evident to the naked eye, unless they are pointed out to an observer-but is the occurrence of these sequences in nature and the fact that they parallel sequences in art proof of the subconscious existence of proportion equaling beauty in the human mind, or the fact that artists and architects are merely astute observers and unconsciously copied these sequences into their works? Furthermore, now that these sequences have been revealed, like the 'Golden Ratio' and become more and more objects of common knowledge and transmitted through art classes, art books, etc. He begins his text with a literate discussion about beauty, and the need to appreciate beauty.
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