The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Ep. 288: Scruton on Ethical Art (Part One)
Feb 28, 2022
The discussion delves into Roger Scruton's views on the connection between beauty and morality, challenging modern art's departure from traditional notions. It highlights how empathy and individuality play crucial roles in understanding aesthetic values. Topics include the importance of tragic beauty in storytelling, the significance of sacrifice in art, and the tension between rationality and spirituality in aesthetic experiences. Ultimately, it advocates for a richer, more profound engagement with art and human connections.
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Beauty's Moral Connection
- Beauty matters because it connects morality with how we address human beings as ends in themselves.
- Moving away from beauty risks amoral engagement with the world and people as mere objects.
Subjectivity and Objectivity in Beauty
- Aesthetic judgment embraces subjective experience but aims at universally valid human experiences.
- For Scruton, objectivity in beauty finds root in shared human faculties, even if judgments vary culturally.
Beauty's Universal Yet Cultural
- Universal standards of beauty do not always persuade due to cultural contexts.
- Yet, underlying human nature supports cross-cultural universals like symmetry and proportion in beauty.
