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Single Idea 18553

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

Full Idea

Beauty speaks to us of human fulfilment: not of things that we want, but of things that we ought to want, because human nature requires them. Such, at least, is my belief.

Gist of Idea

Beauty shows us what we should want in order to achieve human fulfilment

Source

Roger Scruton (Beauty: a very short introduction [2011], 7)

Book Ref

Scruton,Roger: 'Beauty: A Very Short Introduction' [OUP 2011], p.123


A Reaction

I'm not sure how this works with a beautiful natural landscape. And what should I see that I ought to desire after viewing a great Rembrandt self-portrait? That I don't want to end up looking as bleak as that? Hm. Lofty words.