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Single Idea 1907
[filed under theme 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality
]
Full Idea
The Stoics used 'kalon' [fair, i.e. beautiful] as a synonym for 'agathon' [good]
Clarification
'Kalon' normally translates as 'fine' or 'beautiful'
Gist of Idea
Stoics use 'kalon' (beautiful) as a synonym for 'agathon' (good)
Source
comment on Stoic school (fragments/reports [c.200 BCE]) by R.G.Bury - notes on Sextus Empiricus 69:245
Book Ref
Sextus Empiricus: 'Outlines of Pyrrhonism', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Prometheus 1990], p.245
A Reaction
I consider this to be a very important idea, which has been lost in modern moral philosophy - even in modern virtue theory. I've seen the suggestion that the best translation of 'kalon' is 'Wow!'. Imagine deeds that elicit 'Wow!'.
The
39 ideas
with the same theme
[relationship between moral and aesthetic values]:
468
|
Musical performance can reveal a range of virtues
[Damon of Ath.]
|
297
|
What is fine is the parent of goodness
[Plato]
|
8239
|
If the King likes music then there is hope for the state
[Mengzi (Mencius)]
|
635
|
The good is found in actions, but beauty can exist without movement
[Aristotle]
|
2846
|
Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body)
[Aristotle]
|
3044
|
Stoics say that beauty and goodness are equivalent and linked
[Chrysippus, by Diog. Laertius]
|
1907
|
Stoics use 'kalon' (beautiful) as a synonym for 'agathon' (good)
[Bury on Stoic school]
|
22022
|
Beauty motivates morality, by harmonising feeling and reason
[Schiller, by Pinkard]
|
22710
|
People estimate art according to their moral values
[Tolstoy]
|
8125
|
The upper classes put beauty first, and thus freed themselves from morality
[Tolstoy]
|
8064
|
We separate the concept of beauty from goodness, unlike the ancients
[Tolstoy]
|
7274
|
Books are only well or badly written, not moral or immoral
[Wilde]
|
7275
|
Having ethical sympathies is a bad mannerism of style in an artist
[Wilde]
|
20426
|
For pure moralists art must promote right action, and not just be harmless
[Fry]
|
22691
|
Only artistic qualities matter in art, because they also have the highest moral value
[Bell,C]
|
23898
|
Those who say immorality is not an aesthetic criterion must show that all criteria are aesthetic
[Weil]
|
22347
|
Appreciating beauty in art or nature opens up the good life, by restricting selfishness
[Murdoch]
|
22712
|
Art and morals are essentially the same, and are both identical with love
[Murdoch]
|
22714
|
Because art is love, it improves us morally
[Murdoch]
|
22688
|
The Aristotelian idea that choices can be perceived needs literary texts to expound it
[Nussbaum]
|
20456
|
Interesting art is always organised around ethical demands
[Critchley]
|
22696
|
'Autonomism' says the morality is irrelevant to the aesthetics
[Jacobson,D]
|
22697
|
Moral defects of art can be among its aesthetic virtues
[Jacobson,D]
|
22700
|
Immoral art encourages immoral emotions
[Jacobson,D]
|
22702
|
Audiences can be too moral
[Jacobson,D]
|
22699
|
Moderate moralism says moral qualities can sometimes also be aesthetic qualities
[Jacobson,D]
|
22698
|
We can judge art ethically, or rate its ethical influence, or assess its quality via its ethics
[Jacobson,D]
|
22685
|
Good art does not necessarily improve people (any more than good advice does)
[Gaut]
|
22684
|
Good ethics counts towards aesthetic merit, and bad ethics counts against it
[Gaut]
|
22689
|
If we don't respond ethically in the way a work prescribes, that is an aesthetic failure
[Gaut]
|
22690
|
'Moralism' says all aesthetic merits are moral merits
[Gaut]
|
22692
|
A work can be morally and artistically excellent, despite rejecting moral truth
[John,E]
|
22693
|
The works we value most are in sympathy with our own moral views
[John,E]
|
22694
|
We should understand what is morally important in a story, without having to endorse it
[John,E]
|
22695
|
We value morality in art because that is what we care about - but it is a contingent fact
[John,E]
|
22704
|
Immorality may or may not be an artistic defect
[Davies,S]
|
22705
|
If the depiction of evil is glorified, that is an artistic flaw
[Davies,S]
|
22707
|
It is an artistic defect if excessive moral outrage distorts the story, and narrows our sympathies
[Davies,S]
|
22706
|
A work which seeks approval for immorality, but alienates the audience, is a failure
[Davies,S]
|