Part III, Sections I - VIII Summary and Analysis

Section I: Beauty is defined as the quality in objects that cause the passion of love or something similar to love. Love is separate from lust or desire. Beauty is distinct from the sublime.

Section II: Proportion, defined as the measurement of relative quantity, does not have any effect or influence on beauty. As evidence, Burke submits the vegetable kingdom (and plants), and finds beauty in flowers of every and any proportion, and even plants very disproportionate or otherwise disorderly.

Section III: Proportion is also not a factor in beauty in the animal kingdom. A swan is beautiful and a peacock is beautiful, yet they have vastly different proportions. All "beautiful" species have vastly different proportions.

Section IV: Proportion is also not a factor in beauty among humans. Burke questions philosophy...