The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast PREMIUM-Ep. 288: Scruton on Ethical Art (Part Two)
Mar 7, 2022
Dive into the fascinating world of beauty through Roger Scruton's insights. Discover why appreciating beauty demands effort and how it intertwines with our instincts. The discussion also highlights the role of culture in shaping artistic expression, contrasting tonal music with modernist styles. Furthermore, explore the harmony of form and function in architecture, emphasizing the psychological impacts of beauty in our daily lives. This engaging conversation reveals the depths of aesthetic appreciation and its significant place in human experience.
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The Tension in Beauty Experience
- There is a tension between beauty as an immediate attraction and beauty that requires contemplative work to appreciate. - This raises the question why we call something beautiful if it doesn't naturally draw us in without effort.
Cultural Context Shapes Beauty
- Understanding beauty can require cultural context and learned knowledge, not just immediate perception. - Without being steeped in a tradition, the symbolic meaning that contributes to beauty may be lost.
Modern Music Requires Effortful Beauty
- Tonal music, once revolutionary, is now often seen as kitsch, prompting modern artists to create new, complex vocabularies. - These new forms of beauty require more education and engagement to appreciate fully, which Scruton acknowledges as valid.
