Beauty as Utility

Which perspective is the right one?




Among the words I've loved, here’s a thought from Professor Ralph Williams at the University of Michigan. I don't have the statement in print, so I’m paraphrasing, but this is close:

“We talk about setting virtue against evil; maybe it’s time to set beauty against evil.”

Maybe one implication is that humans are more likely to agree upon what is beautiful—and its sanctity—than what is good, moral, ethical, legal, and such.






“The Waking” by Theodore Roethke

http://gawow.com/roethke/poems/104.html

I’m a little worn out after the last couple of posts, and I’m busy with readying myself to return to teaching any day now, depending on strike negotiations. Therefore, I’m going to try something I’ve been meaning to do here from time to time—post links to poems that I've found valuable. (I wish I could simply paste the poems into Banjo52, but I’m too wary of copyright issues for that).

In these rancorous times, I’ll try to keep the selections somewhat upbeat, or soothing, or at least interesting enough in language or thought to act as counterpoints to the blaring of hate-mongers out there. No promises, however; I am not a robot.

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