[Sam Brown (OP)]

Prashant has asked:

"Why did we evolve to appreciate natural beauty? The question is about beauty in things like a sunset, rainbow, waterfall etc."

What do you think?

[evan_au]

Maybe our modern lifestyle spends too much time cramped within 4 walls of uniform color - between rushing to the next appointment.
Maybe sometimes we need to see something grand, more than 4 paces away, take a breath of fresh air, and not be under pressure to be somewhere else...

[Kryptid]

There is definitely survival value in finding some things beautiful and other things repulsive. Humans are strongly visual creatures, so the ability to determine whether a particular environment is fertile and healthy (or sterile and disease-ridden) via sight would be a good survival tool. Ancient humans drawn towards such healthy territories and away from potentially dangerous ones would have had a better chance at survival.

[Kothari]

There is definitely survival value in finding some things beautiful and other things repulsive. Humans are strongly visual creatures, so the ability to determine whether a particular environment is fertile and healthy (or sterile and disease-ridden) via sight would be a good survival tool. Ancient humans drawn towards such healthy territories and away from potentially dangerous ones would have had a better chance at survival.

Thanks, that makes some sense! 

[Bermendy88]

There is definitely survival value in finding some things beautiful and other things repulsive. Humans are strongly visual creatures, so the ability to determine whether a particular environment is fertile and healthy (or sterile and disease-ridden) via sight would be a good survival tool. Ancient humans drawn towards such healthy territories and away from potentially dangerous ones would have had a better chance at survival.

That's great! Thanks for the writing.

[Bermendy88]

People are looking for changes all the time. We are always captured in a four-wall room. And by living there we are disappointed. Our mind looks for something which can be useful to remove distress and loneliness. Natural gives us that kind of taste and fulfill our desire.

[Bill S]

Thanks, that makes some sense!

It makes very good sense to me.  It features strongly in the selection of a mate, as well.  However, the concept of beauty has evolved, such that we see beauty in scenes that would not lend themselves to primitive human survival, deserts, mountain ranges etc.   

[chiralSPO]

It may well be a by-product of other evolutionary adaptations.

Our ability to distinguish colors has clear evolutionary advantages from identifying ripeness of fruits, to potentially hazardous animals, and distinguishing healthy mates and children from unhealthy ones.

Our ability to identify patterns (and enjoy finding them) has less obvious, but no less real, advantages.

It would bee interesting to know if other animals with well-developed senses of color (like some types of birds) actually enjoy looking at things that we find beautiful.

[AvEcologist2100]

This is just a belief but personally, I feel as if many view nature as beautiful because not all us, in fact, a select few in the modern world, genuinely long for a simpler time when man was simply living day to day without worrying about whether or not his car will come from the shop in time or whether or not he'll make it in time for his flight. Keep in mind this a very simplistic view on the topic. Many other in the comments section were mentioning evolutionary adaptations. However, I feel as if we claim to be too high and mighty. The way I see it we are simply evolved apes wearing clothing. Not to be insulting but I genuinely believe the modern world has some negative effect on us as we are simply not as highly evolved as we think we are. Now am I saying move to the woods and live of the land "no". I am simply stating what I believe. Not to go of topic but for example, committing a crime is an example of how our primitive ways have stuck with us. For example, in the times of the early man, the strongest and the smartest would simply take what they wanted and kill who they wanted. This translates to the modern world were this is simply my opinion almost every male has been in a physical confrontation and over resources women or simply a disagreement. So to sum it up I believe people love nature because they see a much more simple world where the consequences of your natural inclinations are not subject to criticism or harsh punishment.

[edulofter]

People in this modern world are busy with work and life, not so much energy and time to appreciate the beauty of nature. The beauty of nature is ubiquitous and colorful. We humans continue to destroy the beauty of nature for their own interests, to break the balance between nature and the living environment of human beings, and ultimately human beings will be punished by nature.
I personally believe that we must protect nature, only protect nature first, and the beauty of nature is precious. The beauty that is easy to get is often not taken seriously.

[Petrochemicals]

People in this modern world are busy with work and life, not so much energy and time to appreciate the beauty of nature. The beauty of nature is ubiquitous and colorful. We humans continue to destroy the beauty of nature for their own interests, to break the balance between nature and the living environment of human beings, and ultimately human beings will be punished by nature.
I personally believe that we must protect nature, only protect nature first, and the beauty of nature is precious. The beauty that is easy to get is often not taken seriously.

What is it that you have glued the hand to ?

[emma54]

You know,Day by day our climate goes worst by pollution that's why you feel like that.
If you check nature images , Great day becomes positive :-)

[Rasull]

By default if anything attract human eyes it is considered as a beautiful thing. And by this way the sunrise, sunset, dark green forest, flowers, Animals and some other things definitely will attract humans and so it is very beautiful.

[chiralSPO]

By default if anything attract human eyes it is considered as a beautiful thing. And by this way the sunrise, sunset, dark green forest, flowers, Animals and some other things definitely will attract humans and so it is very beautiful.

I don't know about that. There are several things that will attract the human gaze that are more considered horrifying than beautiful. As in, "I couldn't look away from the gruesome scene."

Also, it is often true that simple beauty is easily overlooked. Only when someone is in the right frame of mind, with their focus drawn the right away can the image/view be properly enjoyed.