________________
rely other a weddin.chitecturea
good.
458
ARCHIE J. BAHM stances leaves the field wide open for it as art and life as artistic. Thus a wellasserting preferences of one sort or an- planned and well-executed wedding, or other. To the extent that people are in- funeral, or inauguration of a president, fluenced in their appreciation and en- may indeed be among life's greatest works joyment by expressions of criticism, such of art. The Catholic sacraments are escriticism takes on additional moral involve- sentially both artistic and religious in ments. The problem of seeking standards intent. Art which is appreciated both for for judging standards of judgment becomes its symbolism and for its immediate values a central one for aesthetics as a science. tends to be greater than that which is The science of aesthetics, like all sciences, merely one or the other alone. is a moral endeavor. For, as scientist, one Consider a wedding, for example, with seeks to understand what is true so that he, beautiful church architecture, beautiful or others, may better use such understand music, beautiful costumes and coiffures, ing in order to obtain more of what is beautifully conducted. It is richer when,
and because, it is experienced by all, both
as presently enjoyed and as significant (i.e., RELIGION
moral) in contributing to the fulfillment
of life as a whole, and still richer when it Religion, as conceived here, is man's quest contributes to other lives, of parents and for his ultimate values. That is, one does ancestors, children in prospect and other not become religious until he discovers descendants, and contributor to local that his life is worth while and that he society, to mankind and, if possible somelacks something in the way of achieving how, to cosmic value. The artist, struggling its fullness. How one conceives that lack, with details of recalcitrant materials, may and what will be required to eliminate be unable to keep in mind the interrelait, varies with cultures, societies, and in- tions of his particular artistic activity dividuals. But, however depicted, the ulti- with the intrinsic value of life as a whole, mate value is regarded as an intrinsic but it is a function of Organicism, as a value which must be intuited in order philosophy, art, morality, and religion, to to be appreciated. Hence, the goal of life help more people become more aware of is aesthetic in its fulfillment. And the their interdependence, and of how to quest itself, to the extent that the end enrich life by regarding them as joint is not already being enjoyed, is highly aspectival contributors to its enjoyment. moral. The art of living is the supreme art. Religious art, in this meaning of the term religious, is the greatest art. To the extent that living is essentially social, 1 See my "Comparative Aesthetics," JAAC, XXIV social arts, and socialized art, may con
(Fall, 1965), 109.
See my "Organicism A New World Hypothetribute fundamentally to religion.
sis," Memorias del XIII Congreso Internacional de For Organicism, art tends to be more
Filosofia (Mexico City, Sept. 7-14, 1962), IX, 21-43; valuable when integrated with life; and and my "Organicism-The Philosophy of Interdethe more ways in which it is integrated pendence," International Philosophical Quarterly, with life, the more valuable it is. And,
VII (June, 1967), 251-284.
See Jeremy Bentham, Principles of Morals and conversely, life is more valuable when it
Legislation, Ch. IV, and John Stuart Mill, Utiliis organically integrated with art, and
tarianism, Ch. II. with art in more ways. Although each art, Romanticism appears in various forms in the and each aspect of each art, including each writings of J. J. Rousseau (will to freedom from reshade of each color. may be appreciated. striction), J. G. Fichte (will to be a self opposing, momentarily, for what it is in isolation a not-self), F. Nietzsche (will to power), R. W. Emerfrom all else, appreciation of both its
son (will to appreciate), and the Existentialists (will
to exist significantly). value in itself and its contribution to DeWitt H. Parker, Human Values (New York, other value-aspects of life enhances both 1981), p. 24.
social e fundanicism, artated wiis integrand
and each in more wegrated with le when it
