This thesis explores the ethical grounds for distinguishing between the treatment of beauty and intelligence in society, two innate characteristics that significantly affect individuals' life chances. Focusing on the question of whether it is ethically justifiable to treat beauty differently than other innate abilities, the thesis examines lookism and its parallels with intelligence through analyses within merit, economics, and biology. Although both beauty and intelligence are innate and impact individuals' opportunities, the analysis shows that beauty is often judged on subjective and culturally variable grounds, leading to superficial assessments and immediate conclusions about a person's value. This contrasts with intelligence, which can be linked to measurable skills and thus serves as a more objective and meritorious factor in society. However, it is acknowledged that beauty is not wholly problematic and can confer significant benefits, influencing positive social and economic outcomes. Despite these benefits, beauty, due to its subjectivity and potential for arbitrary assessment, appears as a more unjust innate characteristic compared to intelligence. These insights challenge how society values and regulates these characteristics, pointing to the need for a reassessment to promote a more equitable and just society.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:umu-227153 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Jost auf der Stroth, Amanda |
| Publisher | Umeå universitet, Institutionen för idé- och samhällsstudier |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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