In our world, feelings of beauty and terror turn out to be inextricably linked, reflecting universal patterns of perception that are deeply rooted both in the objective characteristics of the external world and in each of our subjective experiences.

The Universal Dance of Beauty and Horror

In our world, feelings of beauty and terror turn out to be inextricably linked, reflecting universal patterns of perception that are deeply rooted both in the objective characteristics of the external world and in each of our subjective experiences. Entering this wondrous dance of emotions, we see that even in the most extreme moments of life there is room for aesthetic contemplation. When real or imagined threats overwhelm us, our inner aesthetic sensibility can elicit immediate responses, enabling us to experience beauty in the most unexpected situations.

The main part of the study indicates that the experience of aesthetic qualities depends directly on how developed a person’s ability to perceive beauty is. However, external factors are not the only players here: our inner world acts as a sensitive indicator, distinguishing between good and evil, the beautiful and the ugly. Even when faced with real dangers—when every second is filled with fear and uncertainty—the ability to notice a subtle glimmer of beauty helps to cope with terror and find a pathway to calmness. This paradoxical symbiosis of aesthetics and terror demonstrates that even in the toughest moments in life, there can be an inspiring moment when the nuances of the external world evoke a sense of harmony.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the universality of our feelings makes them a powerful tool for intuitively perceiving the surrounding reality. Each of us, with our unique sensitivity, is able to interpret and experience both beauty and terror in our own way. This dynamic balance not only enriches our inner world but also allows us to navigate life’s complexities with clarity and emotional strength.

Are the feelings of beauty and terror universal, and how do they relate to our perception of the beautiful and the fearful?

Based on the cited materials, one can say that the experiences of beauty and terror have universal roots, as they are evoked not only by the objective characteristics of the objects that surround us but also depend on the specific features of our subjective perception.

Firstly, as noted in one of the sources, the beauty of an object within an aesthetic relationship is a necessary condition for experiencing the beautiful. A distinct aesthetic response arises not only from the presence of objective beauty but also from the development of the subject’s aesthetic taste, which allows for an automatic, almost reflexive, aesthetic engagement with the object. For example, a text from file link txt offers the following case:
"Chased by a tiger, the man dashes in horror onto a high cliff, plunges down, falls, and sees that several tigers are waiting for him there. Suddenly, his hand instinctively grasps a slender shrub branch. He hangs momentarily above the abyss and sees, right before his eyes on the cliff’s wall, a small flower that has pushed its way through the bare stones. 'What beauty!' he exclaims involuntarily, and, reassured, he continues his fall." (source: link txt)

Here, even within an image of acute terror, there is a moment of aesthetic contemplation, indicating that feelings of beauty and terror can coexist and influence one another. This attests to the deep connection between aesthetic perception and emotional reaction to life situations.

Secondly, the experience of terror is also universal, though it varies with individual sentiment. An excerpt from file link txt describes a situation that evokes a profound sense of terror through an unexpected encounter with a reality imbued with mystery and anxiety:
"Once, I heard the conversations of adults... Her appearance struck me with mystery and terror. But this time it was an objective contemplation of terror; I realized that secret forces were threatening me." (source: link txt)

This quotation demonstrates that the experience of terror can arise in even the most mundane circumstances, when an ordinary environment is suddenly shrouded in an aura of the unknown and sinister. Thus, the feeling of fear is linked to the perception of threat, which can be both objective and a projection of internal detectors activated in extreme situations.

Finally, it is important to note that our inner sensations—capable of perceiving both beauty and terror—act as a kind of “detector” that enables us to intuitively differentiate between good and evil, the beautiful and the ugly. This underscores the universality of these feelings, even though their sensitivity and intensity may vary significantly among individuals:
"Our senses gather clues from colors, sounds, smells, tastes, temperatures, and much more. We also have inner feelings, detectors of truth and falsehood, beauty and ugliness, love and ill will, good and evil..." (source: link txt)

Thus, feelings of beauty and terror are universal since they are embedded in our perception of the world and are triggered both by the objective characteristics of external objects and by the idiosyncrasies of subjective experience. Despite the overall universality of these feelings, their specific manifestation is determined by individual perceptual differences, allowing each person to experience both the beautiful and the horrific in their own unique way.

Supporting citation(s):
"Chased by a tiger, the man dashes in horror onto a high cliff, plunges down, falls, and sees that several tigers are waiting for him there. Suddenly, his hand instinctively grasps a slender shrub branch. He hangs momentarily above the abyss and sees, right before his eyes on the cliff’s wall, a small flower that has pushed its way through the bare stones. 'What beauty!' he exclaims involuntarily, and, reassured, he continues his fall." (source: link txt)

"Once, I heard the conversations of adults... Her appearance struck me with mystery and terror. But this time it was an objective contemplation of terror; I realized that secret forces were threatening me." (source: link txt)

"Our senses gather clues from colors, sounds, smells, tastes, temperatures, and much more. We also have inner feelings, detectors of truth and falsehood, beauty and ugliness, love and ill will, good and evil..." (source: link txt)