By Park Kyu-tae

It is a universal truth that human beings are a particular sort of group with unique set of value systems utterly different from other living things.

The value refers to how individuals or groups systematize their concepts like beauty and truth. In the capacity of being a supreme creature in the world we are at liberty to enjoy ourselves fully as we embrace these values.

Ian Stewart, mathematics professor at Warrick University, published a book titled ``Why Beauty Is Truth, The History of Symmetry.'' Recently he enthusiastically gave details of his work in a BBC program and presented them with a chronicle of discovery that begins in ancient Babylon and takes a trip to today's revolutionary natural sciences.

He traveled through to Albert Einstein and the quantum physicists who used group theory and symmetry to describe the universe and continues on with his search into modern string theories.

He explained the nature of light that exhibits waves and sometimes particles, and unexpectedly bends instead of going straight. This is all part of an attempt to explain the nature of complex mechanisms. Stewart came to the conclusion that though nature is undoubtedly multifaceted, it is also simple and symmetric.

If we look at the snowflakes they are hexagonal shapes of symmetry. They are precise and beautiful. They are truth as it is from nature. Hence beauty is truth.

We are fascinated by Westminster Abbey built many centuries ago in London and the Chess Board like New York Streets which are so orderly numbered. We are enchanted with the symmetry of the old and new ― between the Arc de Triomphe and the Pyramid of the Louvre, with forked streets in Paris.

We are in an ecstatic state as we behold Venus. Just seeing Venus is enough to make us feel really happy. All this shows once again how is truth is beauty and beauty is truth.

Swallows arrive here in early April and cultivate their brood and migrate back early October. They are beautiful as a swallow-tailed coat showing faultless bisymmetry. Male sparrow's symmetric and longer tails are immensely attractive to females hence get partners more easily.

The asymmetric or shorter tailed males, scarcely get a glance from females ― thus making it hard to get partners. What a sense of beauty they have! The detailed account is in ``Life is beautiful" a book written by Prof. Choe Jae-chun of Ewha Womans University.

Alas we cannot see them nowadays because of the excessive use of pesticide in paddy fields, which dried up their food supply. Our heartstrings might be dried up as well.

Traditional Korean tile-roofed houses have kept up their beauty for a long time as well. The exquisiteness of the gentle curves of their eaves hold us spellbound. The beauty of objects is stimulating and sometimes hypnotizing.

For instance, there is the simple yet dainty shapes of hangeul, or the Korean alphabet. The celebrated Korean chirographer Chusa Kim Jung-hee (1786-1856) developed his matchless brush writing called Chusa-style. His chirography puts emphasis on the symmetry and balance of each character.

The metropolis Seoul has a long historical background, exquisite mountains and the Han River. We are entitled to live in cozy places as we pay taxes. It would be best to have good architects like I. M. Pei, a Pritzker Prize-winning Chinese American architect, to build beautiful world-class landmarks using the symmetry of science. Then we may have some pride about living in Seoul.

One thing we breathe a sigh of relief over is that Prof. Kwon Young-gull, former Dean of Fine Arts College at Seoul National University, is now in charge of Design Seoul. We look forward to seeing his work.

The writer is professor emeritus at Yonsei University and a Korea Times columnist. He can be reached at ktpark@yonsei.ac.kr.