Why do We Like Shiny Stuff?

What is it that draws us to shiny things? Its doesn't seem logical to think we began liking diamonds, gold and other polished metals and jewels because of their rarity.  It seems logical that we liked shiny things, then the more rare a particular shiny thing was, the more valuable it became... (I'll get to value some other time.)

I think that some people, then, now, and in between, who happened to ponder this question may assume that there is some sort of energy, latent or active, potential or kinetic, present in such entities.  In various cults and religions there is power given to the crystalline form, and those things which have such form.

But can we still make such statements in todays cynical, scientific age?  I think not; my best guesses derive from psychological and evolutionary theories.

I think the most logical way to explain our interest in shiny things is evolutionary (biologically or socially.) Clean, drinkable water is shiny - its surface reflects light - so it catches our eye from a distance.  It makes sense that somehow there is a genetic predisposition to shiny things, such that those animals with such a disposition are more adept at finding water - thus better adapted toward survival.  This might be testable to see if other animals (esp. other primates) have an affinity for shiny stuff.

Another explanation, that is not too different from the first, comes from a more social/psychological way of thinking. Eyes, healthy eyeballs, are shiny (that kind of 'clear' reflective shiny that clean water has.)  Further, eyes have a high priority for humans, as they are the sensory receptor that has the most advantageous distance to time ratio (the receive stimulation from the farthest away stimuli the fastest - essentially at the speed of light.) So to mate with an other that has healthy eyes is again evolutionarily proper.  

Narcissus, Carravaggio (circa 1597-1599)

In addition, the eyes have the ability to return a gaze - to set in motion our socially interactive self. {This can and will be given more thought.}  Finally, and to be fully synthative, the eye can see its own reflection in water (or other shiny surfaces.)  This subject creating/affirming gaze was given paramount importance by Jacques Lacan in his Mirror Phase. I will definitely return to these ideas on later posts, in relation to Lacan, the story of Narcissus, Michel Foucault, Lewis Carroll, and possibly others.