Beauty and Desecration

Published on July 09, 2009 by Discussion Cafe

Discussion Resource:
City Journal | Spring 2009
"Beauty and Desecration"
We must rescue art from the modern intoxication with ugliness.
By Roger Scruton

1. What is the "illunminated sphere of contemplation?" What are your expereiences with it?
2. What is the relationship between beauty and home? And then, what of your own home? House -> Neighborhood -> City -> etc.
3. How has it come to be that "[f]or the most part, trasitory purposes orgainze our lives?" Do you, in fact, find this to be the case in your own life?
4. "But why is beauty a value?" (emphasis added)
5. As we live in a Scruton's so called "culture of transgression," what, if any, responsibilties fall to us, especially regdarding beauty and the sacred?

(NOTE: It is suggested that you tackle a few, but probably not all of, the following. In a group of 3-10, it is likely that one or two of these questions can result in the conversation taking off on it's own. Let it! These are merely here to help steer the conversation when needed.)

(This article was the source material for the July 8 IAM New York Wednesday Morning Discussion Group.)