Are There Any Valid Criticisms? (aka Kalessin's Rant)

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Those who believe in transcendant Truth would say yes, that enjoyment of something Good leads to a deeper (not necessarily intellectual) understanding of that Good; that enjoyment of Truth leads to deeper understanding (again, not necessarily intellectual) of that Truth. Further, the reason that such enjoyment is subjective is due to the variety and subtlety inherent in the individual's perception of Truth, not because the Truth itself is inconsistent.

But is this true of every work of art that one who believes thusly perceives? And surely much the same might be said of art which such an individual considers to be "bad" - that the negative reaction enhances understanding.

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Those who neither believe in, nor pursue, Good or Truth, would say there are no such effects.

And does that render valueless to the believer the enjoyment of art by the non-believer that he or she finds to be "good"?