From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Sat Jun 19 2004 - 16:12:54 BST
Hi All:
Following are some transcendent characteristics of beauty that the MOQ
doesn't explain.
First, beauty transcends the evolutionary pattern of increasing depth and
moral value. It belies our assumptions of growth and progress. Are our
present buildings more beautiful than the Parthenon? Are our present
churches more beautiful than Chartes? Are our present dishes more
beautiful that Greek vases? Are our musical compositions more beautiful
than Mozart's? Even though our ideas of beauty may change, beautiful
patterns -unlike biological, social and intellectual patterns -- don't
evolve and improve with time. The animal paintings by unknown early humans
in the caves of Lascaux have never been surpassed.
Second, beauty transcends society. It imposes no duties or obligations. No
one can sue you for choosing one color over another, one song over the
next. While government may ban certain works of art or use them for
propaganda purposes, it cannot prevent you from seeking and responding to
beauty. Society's pressures are irrelevant, except by those who mistake
passing fashion for beauty. Beauty doesn't depend for its presence on
social or cultural contexts; it is felt and recognized by everyone,
everywhere.
Third, beauty transcends intellect. It is never true or false. It just is.
Like the universe itself, it has no intellectual meaning beyond its own
presence, and has no purpose other than to delight. Unlike intellect, it
assumes nothing, presumes nothing, explains nothing, solves nothing,
teaches nothing. It doesn't ask questions or supply answers. Yet it
breathes fire into the physicist's equations and reveals truths beyond our
understanding.
Above the realm of intellect, the MOQ's highest moral level, beauty rules.
Nobody has stopped looking at it, and no one has stopped enjoying the
sight. We are no more capable of turning a cold eye to beauty than
responding with indifference to a baby's cry. The aesthetic experience at
its highest intensity breaks through the intellect's dependence on
distinctions and divisions, and in a memorable if but fleeting moment,
lays bare the mystic unity of all.
Best,
Platt
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Jun 19 2004 - 16:17:53 BST