Single Idea 23854

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / a. Idealistic ethics]

Full Idea

When the subject in question is the good, beauty is a rigorous and positive proof.

Gist of Idea

Beauty is the proof of what is good

Source

Simone Weil (The Need for Roots [1943], III 'Growing')

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'The Need for Roots' [Routledge 2002], p.266


A Reaction

Purest platonism! It is incomprehensible to say 'this thing is evil, but it is beautiful'. But there are plenty of things which strike me as beautiful, without connecting that in any way to moral goodness.