美的価値の問題 (第五百五十號記念特集號)

Abstract

Value, in general, is something which we consider to be a desirable thing. It is not to be found in something which an individual wants for himself, but rather in something which is treasured by everyone. Clean rivers, deep forests, consideration of others, honesty...these have value insofar as they are treasured by humanity. But it is not possible to explain on the basis of theory why these things must be treasured; value is an object of human love. Aesthetic value may be found in nature or in a work of art, but in both cases it is as value that it is an object of love. Aesthetic value differs from the universal values of love for one's neighbor, or honesty, in that it cannot be discussed separately from an actual object or thing. If Leonardo's Last Supper or Jōchō's Amida Nyorai of Byōdō-in were to be destroyed by fire, we would feel that something irreplaceable had been lost. Because aesthetic value is to be found in intuition, if the concrete object of that intuition is removed, the aesthetic value simultaneously ceases to exist. Of course, down through the ages man has made many objects, i. e., superior works of art, which have aesthetic value. There are many people today who make what they intend to be art works which are seemingly not aesthetic, but as long as there is still a pursuit of that which gives rise to a pure intuitive joy in the human heart, aesthetic value will survive. Aesthetic value is based on concrete phenomena, and since there are various types of phenomena, some may say that aesthetic value is thus only relative. But just as men must understand and get along with each other in spite of the fact that each individual's face is different, aesthetic value also must become a universal object of love. In this way aesthetic value is neither relative nor subjective in nature; to the contrary, it is universal and objective.