I wasn't familiar with the context of this painting, so it was nice to check out the surrounding artwork.
Before now, I hadn't seen the above image of Philosophy--femininely personified, of course--sitting between the Latin words, "Causarum Cognitio," which can be translated, "Know the causes." What a succinct way of describing the quest for truth or, at least, one of its many forms. And I think this is one of the biggest reasons why I'm an atheist: the comparatively superior power of science to offer a naturalist account of the whys/hows/etc. of the universe. The power to explain, to know the causes, is compelling, indeed.
Interestingly, a glance up and over from these images set my eyes on this:
Adam, Eve, and a talking snake next to Lady Philosophy, Plato, and Aristotle! It's worth remembering that these were days when the quest for truth and religion (in this context, Christianity/the Bible) went hand-in-hand. Then again, maybe there's a subversive interpretation of this myth that can resonate with humanity's preference for knowledge above blissful ignorance and eternal life (note that one price of knowledge in this tale is death, or, to use Hagglund, finitude).
Maybe y'all can tour around and find some remarkable representations of the relationship between religion and science? The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is a blast!
If you were going to have a pandemic, I guess this is a good time in history for it (in terms of the diversionary potential offered by the internet, at least). Virtual museum-going sounds appealing, though it also sounds a bit like a rabbit-hole. But the internet already is that, so we may as well check out a more cultured hole.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that the Vatican hosts the School of Athens -- some might call that cultural appropriation.
ooh i've been wanting to do this! thanks for the tip
ReplyDeleteAlso, the louvre, nasa, and many other museums are doing virtual tours! I have done so many during my breaks at work and these places are so beautiful!!!
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