"Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane," writes Roger Scruton. "It can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling. It is never viewed with indifference: beauty demands to be noticed; it speaks to us directly like the voice of an intimate friend."
In a book that is itself beautifully written, renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explores this timeless concept, asking what makes an object--either in art, in nature, or the human form--beautiful. This compact volume is filled with insight and Scruton has something interesting and original to say on almost every page. Can there be dangerous beauties, corrupting beauties, and immoral beauties? Perhaps so. The prose of Flaubert, the imagery of Baudelaire, the harmonies of Wagner, Scruton points out, have all been accused of immorality, by those who believe that they paint wickedness in alluring colors. Is it right to say there is more beauty in a classical temple than a concrete office block, more beauty in a Rembrandt than in an Andy Warhol Campbell Soup Can? Can we even say, of certain works of art, that they are too beautiful: that they ravish when they should disturb. But while we may argue about what is or is not beautiful, Scruton insists that beauty is a real and universal value, one anchored in our rational nature, and that the sense of beauty has an indispensable part to play in shaping the human world.
Forthright and thought-provoking, and as accessible as it is stimulating, this fascinating meditation on beauty draws conclusions that some may find controversial, but, as Scruton shows, help us to find greater meaning in the beautiful objects that fill our lives.
Roger Scruton is research Professor at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences based in Arlington, Virginia. His previous academic affiliations have been Professor of Aesthetics at Birkbeck College, London, and subsequently Professor of Philosophy and University Professor at Boston University. His most recent books are On Hunting (1998), An Intelligent Person's Guide to Modern Culture (1998), Spinoza (1998), and England: an Elegy (2000).
I don't believe that humans have lost the capacity to recognize what beauty is, but I do believe the commercialization and sensationalism through advertising and media has gone along way to creating a negative impact on how we see beauty. Its a similar argument to how the media constantly reports bad news opposed to goods news, and how we as a species might see the world very differently albeit through rose tinted glasses - I would like to try it for a year and see the impact it could make globally.
Scruton's main argument focuses on how conceptual art and in his mind how bad architecture has dumbed down our ability as a species to see real beauty in the world. It is an argument charged with differing opinions and one HRH Prince Charles also brought to public attention over 10 years ago. Prince Charles does not suffer from being the "King with no clothes", and I tend to support his view of this when you look at the poor quality of buildings being constructed today. You only have to visit one of several cities in North America to see this, Toronto being the worst culprit with over 300 condominium projects currently on the books. (the most in the world) Hard to believe but some of these projects are already being slated as tear down projects within the next 10-15 years - disposable buildings?
There is light though and its starts with the Architects and Developers themselves. I know one Developer in Toronto personally who is committed to building architecturally to these "old world" standards of beauty and design, whilst providing every modern day feature one would hope to expect in a 21st century home. His vision and commitment surpasses his clients expectations, in that the sustainable qualities of his buildings are the only one's to currently attain the critical ISO 9001 registered certification which he himself imposed on his company mandate in providing quality homes with function and exceptional classic design. A recognition that "HOME" be it in a physical or mental state is where we find peace, harmony and beauty.
As an artist beauty is not only my home but also my religion, it is where I experience the most sublime feeling of joy during the creative process, and also where one's desire and hope comes from in the pursuit of however briefly touching this omnipotent quality we find in human existence.
Its really a great post.
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