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]