The Golden Mean and the Physics of Aesthetics

The golden mean, Phi, has been applied in diverse situations in art, architecture and music, and although some have claimed that it represents a basic aesthetic proportion, others have argued that it is only one of a large number of such ratios. We review its early history, especially its relationship to the Mount Meru of Pingala. We examine the successive divisions of 3, 7, and 22 in Indian music and suggest derivation from variants of Mount Meru. We also speculate on the neurophysiological basis behind the sense that the golden mean is a pleasant proportion.