"I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom. I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in quest of the sacred knowing of the ancients." Gustave Courbet

03 December 2019

Ritualized.


The table is laid according to rules of symmetry, choosing the right cutlery.  Everything is controlled by aesthetic norms, and these norms, freely obeyed and freely varied, convey some of the meaning of life.  It speaks of tranquility, gentleness and things that remain forever the same.  Serving the food is also ritualized and you witness in the family meal the continuity of manners and aesthetic values.

Roger Scruton, from How to Think Seriously about the Planet: The Case for an Environmental Conservatism

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