"So what is the point of philosophical aesthetics? Why force aesthetics and philosophy together?"
Where the Mental meets the Physical
The Spirit is Set Loose
There are three things of which a soul consists: a mind, a body, and a spirit. The mind is a manager and develops educated analysis, organization, and decisions while the body is an executive that delivers action and the spirit is our human resources capitalizing upon emotion, conviction, and faith. These entities connect in a multifarious manner of ways, which are epitomized in aesthetics, exercise, and philosophy. The physical meets the mind in aesthetics. Physical (especially sex) provides the connection between the physical and the spiritual. Philosophy provides the connnection between the mind and the spirit. Each has its own specialty, yet they all manage to combine in a spectacularly harmonious manner.
Why is this important? How could it possibly be relevant? Because it's a system we see everywhere. God is comprised of a trinity -- three-in-one -- just as much as we are. God the father is the divine form of a mind, Jesus bears the divine body (which is also a mind-body-spirit), and the Holy Spirit is self-definitive. We formed our government similarly, whereas the legislative branch is most like the spirit, the executive branch is most like the body, and the judicial is most like the mind. It is everywhere and, with this concept understood, both the source of conflict and the key to harmony are revealed.
Is this ever going to connect to art? It already has. As we have said, aesthetics are a key part of the interactions of our soul -- one of the quintessential arches that bridge the soul. The synthesis of the body and the mind make for way for the perfect communication of the spirit's emotions, although the act itself is somewhat exclusive of it. (Such is the way with the others as well, I might add, because although philosophy is determined by the mind and the spirit, it is enacted by the body; also, a stupid exercise goes hardly anywhere.)
The mind and the body are beautiful when cooperative, but can also be feisty rivals. One concerns itself entirely with order, the other entirely with experience and sensation. Should the body disregard orders from the mind or the mind disregard reports from the body, we often find ourselves in places we don't like which are often awkward social situations, like speaking thoughtlessly or pooping one's pants (hey, we were all toddlers once!). When they can synthesize in art, the soul is at balance. Thanks, philosophical aesthetics!
Why force aesthetics and philosophy together? Why, because we exist, silly! We are a combination of a great many activities, some of the greatest of which I have already mentioned. Why push aesthetics and sex together, as so many have? Why combine a workout and a philosophy? The answer, I think, is pretty simple. It's because we, each our own mind-body-spirit, carry these things through naturally and splendidly.
We were designed to combine physical activity, philosophy, and aesthetics in order to glorify God. Doing so is our purpose, our "good" as Socrates would call it, and the foremost desire of a healthy soul.
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