TWENTY-TWO: SUMMATION
The Reality of Excellence
Excellence should be recognized and celebrated because certain individuals have significantly contributed to knowledge and society. While equality is an important ideal, it does not lessen the value of excellence, which deserves acknowledgment as well. Each person is unique and should be treated equally, but this does not imply that all abilities and achievements are the same. Excellence can be objectively assessed through specific attributes and criteria, and those who are acknowledged often show the highest levels of success in their fields. Discussions about excellence should go beyond personal opinions, making it essential to establish clear standards for defining and evaluating excellence across various domains.
The Foundations of Accomplishment
The understanding of what drives significant human accomplishments is divided into two main areas. First, there are clear, testable data about specific factors, like the historical dominance of Europe and white males, which create less debate. There are also more complex analyses regarding how past generations influence future accomplishments. While findings seem reliable, there is potential for discovering new data that might change these conclusions.
The second area is more speculative, focusing on the conditions necessary for great achievements. It suggests that cultural factors like purpose, autonomy, and structure predict accomplishments. Different fields may show varying levels of vitality in these dimensions at the same time. Cultures like East Asian and South Asian have their challenges but still produced notable accomplishments by balancing traditional and innovative elements. In arts, structured traditions may limit creativity, while in sciences, individualism fosters breakthroughs. Overall, successful work in any field requires coherent ideals of beauty, goodness, and truth; otherwise, the accomplishments may lack depth and lasting value.
Past 1950
Since 1950, society has experienced significant wealth, health, and security, making this time arguably the best in history. The scientific field continues to thrive, with a commitment to truth and a self-renewing scientific method that supports ongoing discoveries. While the pace of adding new knowledge might slow, the potential for impactful changes in human life remains high.
In contrast, the arts have not seen similar success. Key conditions that support artistic accomplishment have deteriorated, leading to speculation that the quality of art produced has also declined. It is hard to identify many significant artistic works from 1950 to 2000 that will endure in two centuries. Despite some noteworthy art emerging in specific regions, the overall impression is one of pessimism about lasting value in more recent works.
Even though popular culture has produced engaging entertainment, it lacks the deeply compelling and substantial works that older classics possess. While contemporary films, television, and music can be remarkable, they often do not have the lasting quality or depth associated with historical masterpieces. The challenge remains: can we find satisfaction in these entertaining but possibly less enduring creations?
The Aristotelian Principle Recast
Human beings find joy in witnessing the accomplished abilities of others, particularly when those abilities are exercised at a high level. This enjoyment grows with the excellence and complexity of the performance. Observing greatness, whether in art, sports, or intellectual achievements, inspires excitement and admiration, even if we don't fully understand the intricacies involved. The satisfaction we get from these experiences increases with the challenges involved, as seen in extreme situations like heroic acts in war or groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
A culture that merely produces entertaining yet simplistic works lacks depth and cannot be considered advanced. Despite improvements in wealth and political freedom, failing to reach the artistic heights of the past leads to a sense of cultural stagnation. There is a strong desire for a culture that fosters the creation of significant new art and achievements.
Religion plays a key role in encouraging great accomplishments in the arts. This does not necessarily mean traditional religious practices but rather a deeper engagement with moral and philosophical questions about existence and meaning. Secular ideologies that disregard transcendental truths can hinder artistic expression. However, history shows that interest in profound questions about life's purpose and the universe is inevitable, suggesting that the current trends are temporary.
As societies evolve, it is likely that appreciation for art that explores beauty, truth, and the good will return to prominence. This shift will allow new generations of creators to embrace worthy ideals of greatness. While many past thinkers may seem misguided, their exceptional contributions indicate they understood profound truths about our existence.
True artistic achievement often involves hard work, persistence, and a search for perfection, rather than just natural talent. Stories about medieval masons highlight this dedication, as they crafted beautiful sculptures for a higher purpose, often unseen by people. This reflects a deeper message about human accomplishment; individuals engage in meaningful work for the sake of excellence, which resonates with our quest for a fulfilling human experience.
The Reality of Excellence
Excellence should be recognized and celebrated because certain individuals have significantly contributed to knowledge and society. While equality is an important ideal, it does not lessen the value of excellence, which deserves acknowledgment as well. Each person is unique and should be treated equally, but this does not imply that all abilities and achievements are the same. Excellence can be objectively assessed through specific attributes and criteria, and those who are acknowledged often show the highest levels of success in their fields. Discussions about excellence should go beyond personal opinions, making it essential to establish clear standards for defining and evaluating excellence across various domains.
The Foundations of Accomplishment
The understanding of what drives significant human accomplishments is divided into two main areas. First, there are clear, testable data about specific factors, like the historical dominance of Europe and white males, which create less debate. There are also more complex analyses regarding how past generations influence future accomplishments. While findings seem reliable, there is potential for discovering new data that might change these conclusions.
The second area is more speculative, focusing on the conditions necessary for great achievements. It suggests that cultural factors like purpose, autonomy, and structure predict accomplishments. Different fields may show varying levels of vitality in these dimensions at the same time. Cultures like East Asian and South Asian have their challenges but still produced notable accomplishments by balancing traditional and innovative elements. In arts, structured traditions may limit creativity, while in sciences, individualism fosters breakthroughs. Overall, successful work in any field requires coherent ideals of beauty, goodness, and truth; otherwise, the accomplishments may lack depth and lasting value.
Past 1950
Since 1950, society has experienced significant wealth, health, and security, making this time arguably the best in history. The scientific field continues to thrive, with a commitment to truth and a self-renewing scientific method that supports ongoing discoveries. While the pace of adding new knowledge might slow, the potential for impactful changes in human life remains high.
In contrast, the arts have not seen similar success. Key conditions that support artistic accomplishment have deteriorated, leading to speculation that the quality of art produced has also declined. It is hard to identify many significant artistic works from 1950 to 2000 that will endure in two centuries. Despite some noteworthy art emerging in specific regions, the overall impression is one of pessimism about lasting value in more recent works.
Even though popular culture has produced engaging entertainment, it lacks the deeply compelling and substantial works that older classics possess. While contemporary films, television, and music can be remarkable, they often do not have the lasting quality or depth associated with historical masterpieces. The challenge remains: can we find satisfaction in these entertaining but possibly less enduring creations?
The Aristotelian Principle Recast
Human beings find joy in witnessing the accomplished abilities of others, particularly when those abilities are exercised at a high level. This enjoyment grows with the excellence and complexity of the performance. Observing greatness, whether in art, sports, or intellectual achievements, inspires excitement and admiration, even if we don't fully understand the intricacies involved. The satisfaction we get from these experiences increases with the challenges involved, as seen in extreme situations like heroic acts in war or groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
A culture that merely produces entertaining yet simplistic works lacks depth and cannot be considered advanced. Despite improvements in wealth and political freedom, failing to reach the artistic heights of the past leads to a sense of cultural stagnation. There is a strong desire for a culture that fosters the creation of significant new art and achievements.
Religion plays a key role in encouraging great accomplishments in the arts. This does not necessarily mean traditional religious practices but rather a deeper engagement with moral and philosophical questions about existence and meaning. Secular ideologies that disregard transcendental truths can hinder artistic expression. However, history shows that interest in profound questions about life's purpose and the universe is inevitable, suggesting that the current trends are temporary.
As societies evolve, it is likely that appreciation for art that explores beauty, truth, and the good will return to prominence. This shift will allow new generations of creators to embrace worthy ideals of greatness. While many past thinkers may seem misguided, their exceptional contributions indicate they understood profound truths about our existence.
True artistic achievement often involves hard work, persistence, and a search for perfection, rather than just natural talent. Stories about medieval masons highlight this dedication, as they crafted beautiful sculptures for a higher purpose, often unseen by people. This reflects a deeper message about human accomplishment; individuals engage in meaningful work for the sake of excellence, which resonates with our quest for a fulfilling human experience.