Evaluating The Aesthetic     Knowing that a movement is beautiful doesn't mean that we understand why it is. Such knowledge entails aesthetic sensitivity rather than aesthetic judgement. Given that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", it may well be that universal criteria of aesthetic judgement are an unreasonable expectation. Individual preferences may preclude any commonality in the perception of beauty. Indeed, neither humanistic-philosophic nor scientific-empirical modes of enquiry have been able to discover unequivocal, universal standards for measuring beauty in movement.
    On the other hand, "form sports", such as gymnastics, diving and figure skating, which have become very popular in recent years, are premised upon a universally accepted aesthetic ideal. Successful performance entails conforming as closely as possible to a preconceived, shared epitome of perfection. It is quite possible that one of the reasons for the fascination of the viewing public is that they share this official version of what is deemed to be beautiful, and furthermore that they like to be armchair judges using the same criteria as the Olympic officials, for example, to reach their own conclusions about the beauty of a particular performance. Is it possible, then, that there exist common, shared criteria of beauty in motion?
Exercise 7: Try an aesthetic experiment at this point to test out the hypothesis that we all share common perceptions of what constitutes beauty in sport. Make a list of the ingredients of sporting performance that you consider to be beautiful. Such a list might include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Technical excellence in execution.
2. Expression of deeply felt emotion.
3. Struggle against adversity.
4. Perceptible pleasure - the joy of effort.
5. Functional fluidity - grace, economy and efficiency.
6. Appropriate appearance - the body beautiful.
7. Stimulating sights and sounds.
8. Striking setting - the wonders of Nature.
9. Flow - an altered state of peak performance.
10. Group cohesion - team unity and support.
    Take the list of criteria that you develop through your own experiences and put "meat on their bones" by fleshing them out with your own actual, lived aesthetic moments. To test the hypothesis of universally accepted standards of beauty, share your own criteria with others who are interested in this project. The level of congruence in perceptions of what constitutes beauty in sport will prove or disprove your hypothesis. What are your conclusions?