display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers
3 ideas
| 23903 | When we admire a work, we see ourselves as its creator [Weil] |
| Full Idea: It is impossible to admire a work of art without thinking oneself, in a way, its creator and without, in a sense, becoming so. | |
| From: Simone Weil (Letters [1940], 1940-03c) | |
| A reaction: This rings true for me. You almost see yourself making the brush strokes, or writing the phrase, or penning the chords. It is engagment which is essential for artistic experience. So all art lovers want to be artists? |
| 24198 | Perfect works of art seem to be essentially anonymous [Weil] |
| Full Idea: A work of art has an author and yet, when it is perfect, it has something which is essentially anonymous about it. | |
| From: Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace [1942], 'Beauty') | |
| A reaction: It is certainly the case that when you feel a work is perfect, it seems to move into some separate class of existence, as if it were part of nature. |
| 23898 | Those who say immorality is not an aesthetic criterion must show that all criteria are aesthetic [Weil] |
| Full Idea: Writers and readers who cry out that immorality is not an aesthetic criterion need to prove, which they have never done, that one should apply only aesthetic criteria to literature. | |
| From: Simone Weil (Literature and Morals [1941], p.146) | |
| A reaction: I take the first criterion of literature that it not be boring, and I don't think that is an aesthetic matter. A lot must be achieved before a work can even be considered for aesthetic judgment. Being deeply offensive might rule it out. |