Friday, 7th
September, 2012
Brandon Bay, Kerry
The sun is shining. It is a
beautiful morning.
Aquinas’ 4th way
relates to the concept of perfection and in order for perfection to be
acknowledged it requires the existence of a being that embodies perfection. As Vernon states how else
could humans, who embody imperfection, have come up with such a notion. If we
did not have the notion of perfection we could not determine that everything is
flawed.
The notion of what is perfect
within a contemporary Western society has often been dictated and directed by men
and the media. This can be traced back throughout history as authors such as
Perlmutter and Koppman have done.
However, as Vernon sets out, the sceptic of the 4th
way would argue that who can describe what perfection is? No-one. Yet in terms
of body image a notion of perfection has always been evident as Greek sculpture
highlights.
In terms of here and now I
can describe perfection. Perfection would relate to the world of Wordsworth and
the Romantics, as I gaze across the bay to the peak of Brandon
Mountain and its surroundings. The clouds roll over in what seems to be a solid
mass. It’s stunning and forever changing and I could happily gaze upon this
scene forever. I want to walk within their confines. However, a photograph
could not convey the scene/seen in its entirety with the emotion I feel. As de
Botton states a painter and a photographer selects yet the whole is
magnificent.
This scene would be perfect
if between the mountain and I there was not plastic and other forms of debris,
dog mess, a dead bull seal and a dead porpoise. Death is part of nature and
could be argued against but how did these animals die? The detritus of humans
in the form of plastic contradicts perfection.
As Vernon states, if perfection is beyond our
grasp and I don’t believe it is, then we are unable to grasp a full
appreciation of God’s perfection, and so God.
For Vernon, the 4th way, much like the
“uncaused cause” and “unmoved move” are warnings against idolatry. If wanting
to gaze upon a perfect scene is a form of idolatry then I am a heathen.
Bibliography
Cotton C, 2007 The Photograph As Contemporary Art Thames
& Hudson: London
De Botton A, 2003 The Art of Travel Penguin: London
Newby E, 1995 A Book of Travellers’ Tales Pan Books
Ltd: London
Perlmutter D and Koppman D,
1999 Reclaiming the Spiritual in Art:
Contemporary Cross-cultural Perspectives State University
of New York Press: New York
Sontag S, 2002 On Photography Penguin Group: London
Tolstoy L, 1969 What Is
Art? And Essays on Art London: University Press Oxford
Turner V, 1967 The Forest of Symbols Ithaca, NY: Cornell
University Press
Turner V, 1969 The Ritual Process Penguin 1969
Various, 1987 The Age of God-Kings 3000-1500 BC Time
Life Books: USA
Vernon M, 2012 God The
Big Questions Quercus: London
Copyright Mark King 2012
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