The text discusses varying perceptions of beauty, specifically how cultural differences and natural imperfections are perceived across different societies. It illustrates that beauty is not merely an inherent quality of objects but also significantly influenced by perception, suggesting that what is considered beautiful may vary according to individual and societal perspectives. The text also posits that beauty and ugliness might have no absolute grounding and could be mere perceptions affected by factors such as physiology and cultural expectations.
Beauty of Human Figures.
People pierce their lips such that the tongue can pass through. For others, it is a beauty to turn the squint of the eyes, such that they look worse than faces 'Kijk leelijk' (ugly to look at). Some Javanese, and also the Otentotten at the Cape, and others of such kind, do not think they are beautiful without filthy ointments and colorful feathers. Yet, we must not bring forth the whims of people who in experience and reasoning are dead, differing little from beasts, that would be so brought into doubt by their manners, that we would no longer be able to judge what natural faults can be somewhat corrected to get closer to Beauty: which, in our opinion, we can safely do, when we take into account what Nature delights in most, or what are the models of Beauty, which regardless of our actions, charm us secretly, (which we do indeed feel, but do not completely or clearly understand).
Some new philosophers believe; that Beauty is not so much a quality or perfection of the object we see, but rather an effect or action seen in the person who sees: For, to say, if our eyes were longer or shorter, or our condition were different, things we now think fair would appear ugly, and those we think ugly would appear fair. The fairest hand seen through a magnifying glass would seem frightening. Therefore, things considered in themselves, or in relation to God, are neither fair nor ugly.
Translation Notes: 'Koppen Kijk leelijk' is an idiom that means something is unattractive or 'ugly to look at'. 'de Otentotten' refers to indigenous people around the Cape, in this historical context likely referring to the Khoikhoi people.