Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Wittgenstein' and 'Preface to 'Dorian Gray''

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5 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / d. Other minds by analogy

7091	The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot [Grayling]
	Full Idea: The argument from analogy is a weak one, because it does not logically guarantee the inference I draw to the other's inner states, for he might be dissimulating or acting, or may even be a cleverly contrived robot which feels nothing.
	From: A.C. Grayling (Wittgenstein [1988], Ch.3)
	A reaction: This gives the impression that for an argument to be strong it must logically guarantee its inference. It strikes me that analogy is a good reason for believing in other minds, but that is because I am looking for the best explanation, not logical proof.

21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 6. Value of Art

7276	All art is quite useless [Wilde]
	Full Idea: All art is quite useless.
	From: Oscar Wilde (Preface to 'Dorian Gray' [1891])
	A reaction: Echoes Kant's thought that art is 'purposive without purpose'. Although I find Wilde's claims that morality has nothing to do with art to be naïve, I find this remark sympathetic. Art may play with moral feelings, but is unlikely to affect actions.

21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality

7274	Books are only well or badly written, not moral or immoral [Wilde]
	Full Idea: There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.
	From: Oscar Wilde (Preface to 'Dorian Gray' [1891])
	A reaction: This is simply false. Novels that are viciously (or subtly) racist, sexist, homophobic, or egotistical can obviously be immoral. I could write a nasty story about Oscar Wilde. It might, though, be very well written. If life is moral, so are novels.

7275	Having ethical sympathies is a bad mannerism of style in an artist [Wilde]
	Full Idea: No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style.
	From: Oscar Wilde (Preface to 'Dorian Gray' [1891])
	A reaction: This has a Nietzschean suggestion that the artist is 'beyond good and evil', and operates on some higher level of values, which in Wilde's case seem to be purely aesthetic. You can't justify a callous murder by executing it beautifully.

468	Musical performance can reveal a range of virtues [Damon of Ath.]
	Full Idea: In singing and playing the lyre, a boy will be likely to reveal not only courage and moderation, but also justice.
	From: Damon (fragments/reports [c.460 BCE], B4), quoted by (who?) - where?