TWENTY: SOURCES OF CONTENT: THE ORGANIZING STRUCTURE AND TRANSCENDENTAL GOODS
The Organizing Structure
The organizing structure of any domain, whether in science or the arts, greatly influences the level and quality of accomplishments. This structure serves as the framework that guides practices and sets the criteria for evaluating success. In science, this organizing structure has evolved primarily around the scientific method since the Renaissance, while in the arts, it differs not only between various forms like visual arts, literature, and music but also across different cultures and eras.
One important aspect of structure is its richness, which can be compared using the analogy of games like checkers and chess. Both games use the same board, but chess has a more complex and varied structure with multiple types of pieces and movements, leading to a richer set of strategies and accomplishments associated with it. This complexity results in extensive study and literature around chess compared to the simpler game of checkers.
To assess the richness of a structure, three key elements are considered: principles, craft, and tools. In science, principles include concepts such as replicability and falsifiability, while craft encompasses the creation and testing of hypotheses. Tools are essential as they can either develop in response to needs or unexpectedly enhance capabilities in a discipline. For example, the invention of the diffraction grating not only met a scientific need but also expanded the field of astronomy.
The arts also incorporate principles, craft, and tools. In visual arts, linear perspective serves as a principle, specific painting techniques as craft, and oil paint as a crucial tool. Similarly, in literature, the principles of character development guide writing while the quill pen serves as a tool.
A successful structure must balance freedom and order. The scientific method exemplifies this by imposing rigorous standards while allowing scientists the freedom to explore various questions. In the arts, achieving this balance presents challenges, as true innovation often requires a compromise between personal expression and adhering to established forms, like the greater flexibility offered by novels compared to structured poetry forms like haiku.
Another critical factor in understanding structures is their age. An older structure might fill up with remarkable work, pushing artists to innovate and seek new frameworks. Historical developments show clear patterns where advancements in art and literature often coincide with significant changes in their structures.
For instance, the visual arts saw a burst of creativity after 1420, largely due to the introduction of linear perspective and oil paints, which significantly enhanced artistic capabilities. In literature, the advent of the printing press around 1454 allowed writers to reach broader audiences, leading to increased literary accomplishments. Similarly, in music, the development of polyphony in the 15th century led to more complex musical compositions.
In the sciences, the emergence of the scientific method in the 1600s triggered significant advancements across various fields. Different branches of science, like astronomy and biology, experienced bursts of activity following the introduction of new principles or tools, showcasing how changes in the organizing structures facilitated progress.
Overall, to understand periods of increased accomplishment in any field, examining the accompanying changes in organizing structures is crucial. Recognizing how principles, craft, and tools evolve provides insight into the nature and timing of significant achievements within that domain.
Transcendental Goods
A clear vision of transcendental goods, which are ideals like truth, beauty, and goodness, is essential for success in any area. The term "Platonic ideal" highlights the belief that while we encounter imperfect examples of these qualities in everyday life, we can still imagine their perfect forms. In Western thought, the value of things can be measured by these three dimensions, which are also acknowledged as important in many other cultures around the world. These transcendental goods guide our understanding of what is valuable.
The Transcendentals
The concept of transcendentals in metaphysics refers to properties of existence that stem from Aristotle's exploration of the nature of being. In particular, Thomas Aquinas identified four key properties: one, true, good, and beautiful. While terms like "true" and "beautiful" are widely recognized, "good" is less commonly used today, so it’s important to clarify its meaning. In this context, the good relates to the ultimate purpose or aim of human beings, which Aristotle explained as the pursuit of some form of excellence. Each object or being has an inherent purpose and excels in achieving that purpose. For humans, this involves figuring out what defines excellence and flourishing.
The good is different from mere moral principles; it expresses a vision of what humans can become rather than a set of rules to follow. For a culture to grasp the good, it must understand what distinguishes humans and their unique potentials. For example, limiting the good to mere survival needs reflects a shallow understanding of human excellence. A rich sense of the good encourages moral considerations but is fundamentally about the ideals of humanity.
Accomplishment in arts and sciences relies on these transcendental goods. While great achievements can occur without a deep engagement with these concepts, a civilization thrives when artists and thinkers aspire towards them. Historical examples include the Italian Renaissance, where the beautiful was a guiding principle, and modern scientific endeavors that emphasize truth.
The role of the transcendental goods in science highlights a strong emphasis on truth. The pursuit of scientific knowledge is not about ethical considerations but about understanding the world as it is. While moral debates can influence scientific research, they do not define its core; truth remains paramount. When cultures prioritize understanding the truth about the natural world, scientific progress flourishes.
In the realm of the arts, the relationship between the beautiful, the true, and the good varies over time. Beauty has often served as a benchmark of excellence for artists. Conceptions of beauty differ across periods but having a coherent idea of beauty is essential for artists. Conversely, during certain eras, such as medieval times or the interwar period of the 20th century, the idea of beauty was subordinated to other concerns, complicating the artistic process.
Truth also plays significant roles in the arts, often tied to how accurately emotions, human experiences, and moral lessons are conveyed. Literature like Shakespeare's often showcases profound truths about humanity. Music, in turn, may draw on compositional logic to express truth through its structure.
The good influences how artists approach their work. It shapes the moral framework through which their art is realized. Great art often delves into moral complexities, portraying both the highs and lows of human nature. Without a strong conception of the good, artworks can lose depth and become mere entertainment.
Throughout cultures and eras, variations in how the transcendental goods are perceived lead to significant changes in artistic expression. From around 1400 to 1900, artists and scholars largely recognized and engaged with these goods. However, during the late 19th century to mid-20th century, many artists began to consciously distance themselves from traditional ideals. In literature, many writers continued to value beauty and truth even while some avant-garde figures pushed against literary conventions. A notable shift was the diminishing emphasis on the moral vision that typically accompanied artistic endeavors, leading many artists to focus more on political themes without a transcendental context.
In the visual arts and music, the break from the past was felt more acutely. Artists rejected previous conventions, feeling trapped by the legacy of older masters. New movements emphasized various forms of experimentation and individual expression over connection to the transcendental goods. This rejection can lead to a sense of alienation from audiences, with some artists prioritizing their own vision above traditional artistic aims.
Contemporary artists often challenged the very definition of art and beauty, sometimes at the expense of connecting with audiences. While a few maintained a dialogue with historical traditions, the majority sought to forge new paths free from conventional parameters. The result was a dramatic transformation in the arts, where a lack of engagement with the transcendental goods often led to art that might struggle to resonate on a deeper level.
Overall, the concept of the transcendentals—good, true, and beautiful—provides a framework for understanding excellence in human achievement. Cultures that foster a coherent conception of these goods are likely to witness greater accomplishments in both the arts and sciences, while those that abandon these ideals may face artistic decline.
Summing Up
Great accomplishments in arts and sciences depend on having a strong organizing structure and a clear sense of higher values. These two elements do not always develop together. In 18th century Europe, for example, the visual arts retained a focus on beauty and goodness, but their organizing structures were becoming outdated. In contrast, 20th century arts introduced new structures like atonality and serialism but moved away from higher values. A balance between structure and higher ideals leads to significant achievements, often seen in golden ages of history.
The Organizing Structure
The organizing structure of any domain, whether in science or the arts, greatly influences the level and quality of accomplishments. This structure serves as the framework that guides practices and sets the criteria for evaluating success. In science, this organizing structure has evolved primarily around the scientific method since the Renaissance, while in the arts, it differs not only between various forms like visual arts, literature, and music but also across different cultures and eras.
One important aspect of structure is its richness, which can be compared using the analogy of games like checkers and chess. Both games use the same board, but chess has a more complex and varied structure with multiple types of pieces and movements, leading to a richer set of strategies and accomplishments associated with it. This complexity results in extensive study and literature around chess compared to the simpler game of checkers.
To assess the richness of a structure, three key elements are considered: principles, craft, and tools. In science, principles include concepts such as replicability and falsifiability, while craft encompasses the creation and testing of hypotheses. Tools are essential as they can either develop in response to needs or unexpectedly enhance capabilities in a discipline. For example, the invention of the diffraction grating not only met a scientific need but also expanded the field of astronomy.
The arts also incorporate principles, craft, and tools. In visual arts, linear perspective serves as a principle, specific painting techniques as craft, and oil paint as a crucial tool. Similarly, in literature, the principles of character development guide writing while the quill pen serves as a tool.
A successful structure must balance freedom and order. The scientific method exemplifies this by imposing rigorous standards while allowing scientists the freedom to explore various questions. In the arts, achieving this balance presents challenges, as true innovation often requires a compromise between personal expression and adhering to established forms, like the greater flexibility offered by novels compared to structured poetry forms like haiku.
Another critical factor in understanding structures is their age. An older structure might fill up with remarkable work, pushing artists to innovate and seek new frameworks. Historical developments show clear patterns where advancements in art and literature often coincide with significant changes in their structures.
For instance, the visual arts saw a burst of creativity after 1420, largely due to the introduction of linear perspective and oil paints, which significantly enhanced artistic capabilities. In literature, the advent of the printing press around 1454 allowed writers to reach broader audiences, leading to increased literary accomplishments. Similarly, in music, the development of polyphony in the 15th century led to more complex musical compositions.
In the sciences, the emergence of the scientific method in the 1600s triggered significant advancements across various fields. Different branches of science, like astronomy and biology, experienced bursts of activity following the introduction of new principles or tools, showcasing how changes in the organizing structures facilitated progress.
Overall, to understand periods of increased accomplishment in any field, examining the accompanying changes in organizing structures is crucial. Recognizing how principles, craft, and tools evolve provides insight into the nature and timing of significant achievements within that domain.
Transcendental Goods
A clear vision of transcendental goods, which are ideals like truth, beauty, and goodness, is essential for success in any area. The term "Platonic ideal" highlights the belief that while we encounter imperfect examples of these qualities in everyday life, we can still imagine their perfect forms. In Western thought, the value of things can be measured by these three dimensions, which are also acknowledged as important in many other cultures around the world. These transcendental goods guide our understanding of what is valuable.
The Transcendentals
The concept of transcendentals in metaphysics refers to properties of existence that stem from Aristotle's exploration of the nature of being. In particular, Thomas Aquinas identified four key properties: one, true, good, and beautiful. While terms like "true" and "beautiful" are widely recognized, "good" is less commonly used today, so it’s important to clarify its meaning. In this context, the good relates to the ultimate purpose or aim of human beings, which Aristotle explained as the pursuit of some form of excellence. Each object or being has an inherent purpose and excels in achieving that purpose. For humans, this involves figuring out what defines excellence and flourishing.
The good is different from mere moral principles; it expresses a vision of what humans can become rather than a set of rules to follow. For a culture to grasp the good, it must understand what distinguishes humans and their unique potentials. For example, limiting the good to mere survival needs reflects a shallow understanding of human excellence. A rich sense of the good encourages moral considerations but is fundamentally about the ideals of humanity.
Accomplishment in arts and sciences relies on these transcendental goods. While great achievements can occur without a deep engagement with these concepts, a civilization thrives when artists and thinkers aspire towards them. Historical examples include the Italian Renaissance, where the beautiful was a guiding principle, and modern scientific endeavors that emphasize truth.
The role of the transcendental goods in science highlights a strong emphasis on truth. The pursuit of scientific knowledge is not about ethical considerations but about understanding the world as it is. While moral debates can influence scientific research, they do not define its core; truth remains paramount. When cultures prioritize understanding the truth about the natural world, scientific progress flourishes.
In the realm of the arts, the relationship between the beautiful, the true, and the good varies over time. Beauty has often served as a benchmark of excellence for artists. Conceptions of beauty differ across periods but having a coherent idea of beauty is essential for artists. Conversely, during certain eras, such as medieval times or the interwar period of the 20th century, the idea of beauty was subordinated to other concerns, complicating the artistic process.
Truth also plays significant roles in the arts, often tied to how accurately emotions, human experiences, and moral lessons are conveyed. Literature like Shakespeare's often showcases profound truths about humanity. Music, in turn, may draw on compositional logic to express truth through its structure.
The good influences how artists approach their work. It shapes the moral framework through which their art is realized. Great art often delves into moral complexities, portraying both the highs and lows of human nature. Without a strong conception of the good, artworks can lose depth and become mere entertainment.
Throughout cultures and eras, variations in how the transcendental goods are perceived lead to significant changes in artistic expression. From around 1400 to 1900, artists and scholars largely recognized and engaged with these goods. However, during the late 19th century to mid-20th century, many artists began to consciously distance themselves from traditional ideals. In literature, many writers continued to value beauty and truth even while some avant-garde figures pushed against literary conventions. A notable shift was the diminishing emphasis on the moral vision that typically accompanied artistic endeavors, leading many artists to focus more on political themes without a transcendental context.
In the visual arts and music, the break from the past was felt more acutely. Artists rejected previous conventions, feeling trapped by the legacy of older masters. New movements emphasized various forms of experimentation and individual expression over connection to the transcendental goods. This rejection can lead to a sense of alienation from audiences, with some artists prioritizing their own vision above traditional artistic aims.
Contemporary artists often challenged the very definition of art and beauty, sometimes at the expense of connecting with audiences. While a few maintained a dialogue with historical traditions, the majority sought to forge new paths free from conventional parameters. The result was a dramatic transformation in the arts, where a lack of engagement with the transcendental goods often led to art that might struggle to resonate on a deeper level.
Overall, the concept of the transcendentals—good, true, and beautiful—provides a framework for understanding excellence in human achievement. Cultures that foster a coherent conception of these goods are likely to witness greater accomplishments in both the arts and sciences, while those that abandon these ideals may face artistic decline.
Summing Up
Great accomplishments in arts and sciences depend on having a strong organizing structure and a clear sense of higher values. These two elements do not always develop together. In 18th century Europe, for example, the visual arts retained a focus on beauty and goodness, but their organizing structures were becoming outdated. In contrast, 20th century arts introduced new structures like atonality and serialism but moved away from higher values. A balance between structure and higher ideals leads to significant achievements, often seen in golden ages of history.