I appreciate your pointing to the metaphysical quality of an aesthetic experience. Of course, the metaphysical (transcendental) does not have to be necessarily associated with religion. There are contemporary understandings of the experience of beauty excluding religion. They might be scientific and physical but are certainly not less magical. Science does not exclude aesthetic experience as long as we recognize 'beautiful algorithms' and 'elegant theories'. Religion can not claim exclusive rights to poetic language and morality. About the implied, ethical and social implications of the experience of beauty, I recommend Hannah Arendt’s framing of Kant’s 'aesthetic experience' and 'aesthetic judgement.'
Thanks sharing, really enjoyed this. An appreciation of beauty, Scruton and The Idiot, a few of my favourite things! Did you ever watch the Scruton documentary, Why Beauty Matters? It's still around for free online.
I appreciate your pointing to the metaphysical quality of an aesthetic experience. Of course, the metaphysical (transcendental) does not have to be necessarily associated with religion. There are contemporary understandings of the experience of beauty excluding religion. They might be scientific and physical but are certainly not less magical. Science does not exclude aesthetic experience as long as we recognize 'beautiful algorithms' and 'elegant theories'. Religion can not claim exclusive rights to poetic language and morality. About the implied, ethical and social implications of the experience of beauty, I recommend Hannah Arendt’s framing of Kant’s 'aesthetic experience' and 'aesthetic judgement.'
Appreciate the words and thoughtfulness of this comment, Tugi! Will definitely check out Arendt's work and always love me some Kant.
Thanks sharing, really enjoyed this. An appreciation of beauty, Scruton and The Idiot, a few of my favourite things! Did you ever watch the Scruton documentary, Why Beauty Matters? It's still around for free online.
Thank you, Dan! I haven't watched Why Beauty Matters yet but know what I'm doing tonight :)