Single Idea 22712

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality]

Full Idea

Art and morals are (with certain provisos) one. Their essence is the same. The essence of both of them is love. Love is the perception of individuals.

Gist of Idea

Art and morals are essentially the same, and are both identical with love

Source

Iris Murdoch (The Sublime and the Good [1959], p.215)

Book Reference

Murdoch,Iris: 'Existentialists and Mystics', ed/tr. Conradi,Peter [Chatto and Windus 1997], p.215


A Reaction

The idea that art, morals and love are all just a single thing seems unhelpful. What about satire? What about duty without love? What about pure abstract painting? What about Stravinsky's highly formal view of his music?

Related Idea

Idea 22714 Because art is love, it improves us morally [Murdoch]