The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 502: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 1)
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Aug 11, 2025 This discussion delves into the essence and purpose of beauty, examining its objective nature versus subjective experiences. The speakers explore how beauty uplifts the heart and its significance in human understanding. Insights from philosophy, particularly Thomas Aquinas, illuminate beauty's core elements: wholeness, harmony, and radiance. They also critique the risks of growing technocracy, emphasizing the importance of contemplation rooted in the liberal arts. Literature and mentorship are highlighted as vital in appreciating beauty and goodness in a modern context.
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Aquinas' Threefold Definition Of Beauty
- Thomas Aquinas defines beauty as the meeting of wholeness, harmony, and radiance.
- When integritas, consonancia, and claritas align, we instinctively call something beautiful.
Beauty Depends On The Receiver's Readiness
- Aquinas warns that whatever is received is received according to the mode of the recipient.
- You may miss beauty until training or maturity opens your perception.
Learning Classical Music At Twenty
- Robert Barron went to the Kennedy Center at 20 and initially didn't understand classical music.
- Repeated exposure and study opened his appreciation over time.
