Aesthetics: Art, Beauty, and the Good Life (1/3)

Aesthetics: Art, Beauty, and the Good Life (1/3)

Description

If The Odyssey is so good that it is still in print after thousands of years, don’t you think it might be worth a read? If Bach is still treasured 250 years after his death, would you consider that there is something you’re missing? The question of art and beauty is not abstract and philosophical, it immediately concerns what it means to live a good life and enjoy the best possible experiences. The postmodern axiom, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, turns out to threaten your happiness! The Christian impulse, which sees beauty in the universe, grounded in the nature of God, once again matches our deepest intuitions and our critical conclusions about art, beauty and the good life.

Episode Notes

  • The featured oil on canvas is called Girl With the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675). It was painted in 1665.
  • The featured piece is Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French neo-classical romantic composer. This is one of my favorite pieces of all time, from one of my favorite all-time composers.