Art and Aesthetics
When Wilson(?) "discovered" the bird of Paradise, he had to face a moral dilemma. He thought that God made the beautiful things expressly for man, but these incredible birds lived where there was no one to see them. While I was watching the program on these amazing animals I kept thinking about that. It caused a shift in my thinking which affected me ver+
- is no one to like my painting, my birds, my flowers, it makes no difference to the beauty of the objects. If I moved by a beautiful spot, it's the same beautiful whether anyone else is looking at it or if no one will ever see it. I love to know that.
Also, it must be realized that there is no standard for arguing a judgment regarding aesthetics or even religion. Some of the worst arguments in history have been regarding aesthetics or religion.
How important are art and aesthetics? Mortimer Adler places it right up there with his selection of six great ideas, reduced from 102 great ideas and wrote a book on his selection of six ideas. He is right. Encarta 1999 properly directs the reader to it very early in the humanities, at the very beginning. Encyclopaedia Britannica leads into it very soon in its outline of the 10 parts of knowledge. Still, as far as I can see, people are looking for meaning in places where they won't find much. It's very hard to find meaning in more money, bigger houses, politics, even fashion and style. I personally consider it a tragedy right along with the low priority that is given to children. As when I write about education and teaching, even though the signs are so small right now, I am hoping for humans to begin realizing its importance and finding the best of what humans are capable of. I cannot tell if that is wishful thinking or if this can really take place. I can say that I genuinely do not consider myself pessimistic though. I really do have hope! I see this as a wonderful source for inner strength.