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Full Idea
The enjoyment of art is a training in the love of virtue.
Gist of Idea
Art trains us in the love of virtue
Source
Iris Murdoch (The Sovereignty of Good [1970], III)
Book Ref
Murdoch,Iris: 'The Sovereignty of Good' [RKP 1974], p.86
A Reaction
Very Aristotelian to talk of 'training'. Unfortunately it is children who have the greatest need for training, but most art is aimed at mature adults. Can you be too old to be trained by art, even if you enjoy it?
Related Idea
Idea 22347 Appreciating beauty in art or nature opens up the good life, by restricting selfishness [Murdoch]
| 22338 | An unexamined life can be virtuous [Murdoch] |
| 22337 | Philosophy must keep returning to the beginning [Murdoch] |
| 23563 | Philosophy moves continually between elaborate theories and the obvious facts [Murdoch] |
| 22343 | If I attend properly I will have no choices [Murdoch] |
| 22339 | Love is a central concept in morals [Murdoch] |
| 22341 | Literature is the most important aspect of culture, because it teaches understanding of living [Murdoch] |
| 22340 | It is hard to learn goodness from others, because their virtues are part of their personal history [Murdoch] |
| 22342 | Kantian existentialists care greatly for reasons for action, whereas Surrealists care nothing [Murdoch] |
| 22345 | Moral philosophy needs a central concept with all the traditional attributes of God [Murdoch] |
| 22346 | Moral reflection and experience gradually reveals unity in the moral world [Murdoch] |
| 22347 | Appreciating beauty in art or nature opens up the good life, by restricting selfishness [Murdoch] |
| 22348 | Ordinary human love is good evidence of transcendent goodness [Murdoch] |
| 22349 | Art trains us in the love of virtue [Murdoch] |
| 22350 | Only trivial virtues can be possessed on their own [Murdoch] |
| 22351 | Only a philosopher might think choices create values [Murdoch] |