Single Idea 23848

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 4. Beauty]

Full Idea

The aesthete's point of view is sacrilegious, not only in matters of religion but even in those of art. It consists in amusing oneself with beauty by handling it and looking at it. Beauty is something to be eaten: it is a food.

Gist of Idea

The aesthete's treatment of beauty as amusement is sacrilegious; beauty should nourish

Source

Simone Weil (The Need for Roots [1943], II 'Country')

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'The Need for Roots' [Routledge 2002], p.93


A Reaction

She is endorsing the 'food' view against the 'handling' view. Beauty should nourish, she says.