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Beauty in Excellence

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • 9 hours ago
  • 7 min read

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I performed an artificial intelligence (AI) image search query for “beautiful” (the quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or the mind) and the above image was revealed. Personally, the AI individual in the photo above isn’t beautiful.

 

While I acknowledge that there’s no unified objective standard of beauty to which all people are held, there remains plenty of evidence in support of the notion concerning standards of conventional attraction (arousing interest or pleasure). As an example, one source reports:

 

Being more or less attractive has important social consequences and people do generally agree on who is and who is not attractive. Beauty is not just a simple social construct—attractiveness appears to be ingrained in our biology.

 

While some aspects of face perception might be innate, other aspects are clearly influenced by experience; it seems unlikely that individuals are born with a representation of what a perfect partner looks like.

 

In my view, the AI person featured in the above photo could easily be a biological male donning woman face or a biological female donning woman face. Either way, there’s an unnatural representation of beauty or attractiveness in the image, as far as I’m concerned.

 

For context, I stated in a blogpost entitled Disturbing Over Gremlins, some people don’t care for “rhinoplasty, a brow lift, Botox injections, lip and cheek filler, false lashes, fake fingernails, breast augmentation, makeup, hair extensions, and other modifications.” I’m one of those people.

 

Unfavorably, from a personal perspective, there are many individuals who don woman face in such a manner. That’s to say that to me they appear unattractive or even ugly (offensive to the sight). Nevertheless, if you appreciate that sort of look, good on ya! I don’t like it though.

 

Rather than misleading you into the notion that this blogpost centers solely on what I do and don’t consider beautiful, I think it was important to begin this entry by highlighting the subjectivity of beauty. With that brief illustration out of the way, allow me to discuss a book.

 

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

 

Where the topic beauty is concerned, I recognize that aside from humans finding one another’s physical appearance attractive or unattractive, there remain other qualities of beauty or ugliness. For instance, authors of The Daily Stoic quote Epictetus who stated (page 146):

 

Then what makes a beautiful human being? Isn’t it the presence of human excellence? Young friend, if you wish to be beautiful, then work diligently at human excellence. And what is that? Observe those whom you praise without prejudice.

 

The just or the unjust? The just. The even-tempered or the undisciplined? The even-tempered. The self-controlled or the uncontrolled? The self-controlled.

 

In making yourself that kind of person, you will become beautiful—but to the extent you ignore these qualities, you’ll be ugly, even if you use every trick in the book to appear beautiful.

 

Personally, woman face is an unnaturally characterized depiction of femininity. Subjectively, it’s repulsive to me. Yet, I realize that some people adore a standard of beauty to which so-called transwomen and biological women can both adhere. Yay for those who dig that look!

 

Using “every trick in the book to appear beautiful,” per Epictetus, is a method of living that many people clearly choose. Still, setting aside physical attractiveness, what may be said about the subjective standard of beauty in excellence regarding how one carries oneself?

 

Even if you don woman face and wouldn’t receive a compliment on your appearance from me, are you a just person? Are you even-tempered? How about self-control? These characteristics matter to me and a host of other people.

 

Given that you may not care what others think – and good on ya, if that’s you – do you find beauty in excellence for yourself by assuming the latter qualities? Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 146):

 

Contemporary notions of beauty are ridiculous. Our standards for what’s attractive are incredibly un-Stoic in that we prize and extol things people have almost no control over—high cheekbones, complexion, height, piercing eyes.

 

Through the wonders of modern medical technology, average looking people – such as me, if I cared – can attain “contemporary notions of beauty.” Yet, the more one feeds from that proverbial trough, does one’s appetite for being considered attractive become satiated?

 

It hasn’t been my lived experience that people settle for only one or two so-called corrective procedures. Instead, people pig out from the trough of beauty. In so doing, do you think that their inner-qualities are enhanced? About this topic, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 146):

 

Is it really beautiful to win the genetic lottery? Or should beauty be contingent on the choices, actions, and attributes we develop? An even keel, a sense of justice, a commitment to duty. These are beautiful traits—and they go much deeper than appearances.

 

In consideration of information shared by the authors, I thank you for forgiving me a personal anecdote. From 1999 to 2000, I was assigned to protect the United States consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. While there, I encountered many so-called transwomen in public.

 

Many of these individuals were subjectively more beautiful than many of their biologically female counterparts. I’m not ashamed to admit that. Unlike the cosmetic procedures used to mimic the characterization of femininity, these people could’ve achieves beauty in excellence.

 

Were their actions just? Were they even-tempered? Did they demonstrate self-control? Personally, these are standards of philosophical beauty that both males and females can attain. These attributes matter to me. In conclusion, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 146):

 

Today, you can choose to be without prejudice, to act with justice, to keep an even keel, to be in control of yourself—even when that means dedication and sacrifice. If that’s not beautiful, what is?

 

I’m aware of my perception regarding this matter. Some people will deliberately bypass anything I’ve advocated herein and cling to the authors’ evocation of “prejudice” (an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics).

 

My choice to have identified so-called transwomen donning woman face may be used as a perceivably prejudicial matter. If this is your takeaway concerning this blogpost, then you’ve missed the point. Beauty in excellence is what I’m advocating, not superficial physical attraction.  

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

References:

 

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2025, September 13). Are your actions ruled by reason? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/are-your-actions-ruled-by-reason

Hollings, D. (2023, October 6). Arguing attributes of ability. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/arguing-attributes-of-ability

Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences

Hollings, D. (2023, April 22). Control. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/control

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, February 16). Disturbing over gremlins. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disturbing-over-gremlins

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

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Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

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Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Lived experience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lived-experience

Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude

Hollings, D. (2024, May 30). Nobody’s perfect. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nobody-s-perfect

Hollings, D. (2023, December 25). Perception isn’t reality. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/perception-isn-t-reality

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Preferential should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/preferential-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2025, August 13). Rational versus irrational thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-versus-irrational-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2025, July 4). Self-control becomes the real pleasure. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-control-becomes-the-real-pleasure

Hollings, D. (2024, April 30). Self-discipline. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-discipline

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Hollings, D. (2024, August 20). We all make our choices. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-all-make-our-choices

Little, A. C., Jones, B. C., and DeBruine, L. M. (2011, June 12). Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3130383/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Epictetus. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epictetus

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

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