Theory and Practice of Aesthetics in International Politics
by Nadim Sradj, Regensburg / Germany
Lecture held on, 23th of May 2023 at the UN Headquarters, New York
The relationship between theory and practice has always been a tense one, a tension between thought and experience. In his essay “About the common saying: This may be correct in theory, but it is not suitable for practice”, Immanuel Kant comments on the objection "This may be correct in theory, but it's no good in practice". as follows: "If a theory is not fit for practice, it is not because the theory is wrong, but because there was not enough theory in the theory." Our theoretical approach is based on two pillars; 1. on the scientific knowledge of sensory physiology (Ernst Mach), sensory pathology (ophthalmology), mathematical topology (positional relationship of geometric structures) and the Golden Section (a mathematical relationship between part and whole) and 2. the epistemological basis of logical empiricism and the theory of values (ethics).
The process of aesthetic perception takes place as a stimulus-response relationship. For example, the sensory-physiological stimulus of the eye is light; that of the ear is sound. The response to stimuli of any kind can be either adequate or non-adequate and can relate to biological processes as well as to social-psychological or political processes. An example of a non-adequate response is the utterance of a well-known American politician on the subject of "global warming" who suggested against building more refrigerators.
On the level of sensory pathology, metamorphopsia (distorted vision) should be mentioned as a form of "misperception". Such disturbances occur in patients with macular degeneration (circulatory disturbance of the retina), which often result in a misorientation in space and time.
On the psychological level, perception takes place as senso-motoric sensation, as intuitive cognition.
The scientification of aesthetics
An autonomous aesthetics needs its own epistemology, i.e. its own logic, method and procedures. The goal is to transform aesthetics from art as subjectivity, as a "matter of taste" into scientificity, into an ordered structure. Thus, along with logic and ethics, it becomes the third part of systems philosophy in the sense of practical reason. The epistemology of sensory-physiological and sensory-pathological aesthetics primarily invokes the logical empiricism of the philosophical Vienna Circle, and here specifically Ernst Mach and Hermann von Helmholtz. The formal logic of scientific aesthetics is inductive; the method is experimental, the procedure is the formulation of a hypothesis or a general statement. This logical strategy invokes the remarks of philosopher John St. Mill (1842).
The dynamics of perception can reach a higher level by changing from purely sensual perception to abstract , to a new level of consciousness. We define consciousness as an inner compass for general orientation in space and time. These two concepts, space and time, will be differentiated and deepened in the following.
The Space
Sensory-physiological aesthetics extends Euclidean geometry into non-Euclidean geometries, such as hyperbolic, spherical, and fractal form. A "misperception" of space can result in dystopia, i.e., a disruption of one's coordinate system, resulting in a disorientation (local and global).
The time
The expansion of the concept of time takes place through the distinction between calendrical, historical and natural, seasonal time. Time can mean movement (kinesis) or change (metabole) on the one hand. The concept of metabole is generally known as "change of substance", as transformation.
The notion of fractal geometry led to the development of "polyachsial chronometry", multi-axial representations of time. Under these conditions, the world is seen as multicentric in dynamic alternations of demise and emergence of structures and centers of culture and power. The irregular dynamics of change evoke the phenomenon of anachronism, an untimely understanding of time. Man's consciousness of time determines his structure of domination. For example, the Taliban's backward-looking understanding of time has corresponding implications for their behavior toward women, which is out of date today. In this case, anachronism is the cause of antagonism, of religious and ideological theories fighting against each other.
Change of consciousness
By "change of consciousness" we understand a process of reevaluation of all values, which takes place after a radical questioning of the existing. The starting point of such a change is a conflict situation between different interests and paradigms, such as between economy and ecology, or technology and biology, from purpose rationalism to naturalism.
Definition
Political aesthetics is oriented towards universal values and a balance between objective knowledge and interest, not individual profit. Thus it overcomes Machiavellianism, which ultimately ends in friend-foe thinking and then inevitably in war.
Application
The object of thought in classical politics and diplomacy is exclusively man as the "measure of all things". This way of thinking is expressed in Kant's famous sentence: "Man prescribes his laws to nature" and culminates in anthropocentrism, which is still widespread today. Only man is considered a being whose dignity must be protected (Art. 1, GG). All other living beings are considered available objects. In contrast, the trinity of human, animal and plant is an expression of an understanding of nature as an unconscious spirit.
Feminine versus masculine politics and diplomacy
Access to nature tends to be different for men, and women often have more sensitivity to the specific charms of nature, such as smells, colors, shapes, changes, or threats.
The idea of dominating nature along the lines of "subdue the earth" is obviously a more masculine idea.
Practice of aesthetics in international politics
With the contact of aesthetics and politics, aesthetics enters the realm of power thinking. Side effects of power - if strong enough - can result in a rush of power. Aesthetics in such a situation, under the influence of extreme thought, becomes anti-aesthetics and at this stage tends to destroy values, such as cultural assets worth preserving. Through the blowing up of the Buddha figures of Bamiyan, the idea of aesthetics entered the consciousness of mankind for the first time and triggered general incomprehension. The destruction of historical sites such as Palmyra, churches and monasteries (e.g. Ma "alula/ Syria), museums (Iraq) was far more than an attack on buildings and objects, but on the identity and symbols and traditions of cultural nations. Therefore, we call on UNESCO to get more seriously involved, to prosecute such terrorist atrocities and bring them before international courts.
Results
1. it is time to go beyond the concept of world ethics and to develop a world aesthetics that can meet these contemporary demands. We see this as a qualitative leap of political philosophy in the 21st century.
2. introducing aesthetics into the textbooks of political science and diplomacy as a new category of human thought and action.
3. and thus the application of aesthetics in real politics, as the Austrian philosopher Hubert Thurnhofer has already been practicing since 2022.
4. ecology gets a new emotional meaning through the idea of beauty, whereby nature is seen as a source of fascination, imagination and happiness.
This general positive basic feeling serves the understanding between nations and world peace.