Philosophies of Love and Art

In the vast canvas of human emotion, love stands as one of the most enigmatic and profound experiences. Let us first hold our gaze on the love between women and men, a force that has inspired poets, philosophers, and artists alike, before we delve into the love from which art is born.

In the realm of sexual love, Arthur Schopenhauer presents a compelling discourse in his work "Metaphysics of Love." Avoiding complete abstraction, Schopenhauer grounds his philosophy between the corporeal and the emotional, echoed in Spinoza's sentiment: "Love is a tickling, followed by the idea of an external cause." Schopenhauer posits that love, in its essence, serves to satisfy the sexual instinct. The myriad of feelings that love evokes are merely intermediaries leading to physical gratification. The seed of every lover's desire is rooted in this instinct, which can be so overpowering that love's course becomes hostile, transforming, seducing, and destroying everything in its path.

At the core of Schopenhauer's philosophy lies the premise that every individual's will is subservient to the will of the species. The ultimate purpose of the union between two individuals is the propagation of the human race. The individual, driven by instinct, is deceived into believing in the uniqueness of their feelings, when in reality, these feelings are mere illusions created to facilitate procreation. Love, therefore, exists to perpetuate the generations of the human species. The illusions manifest through the base of love, where the desire for the beloved is both pathetic and sublime, and transcendence is found in enthusiasm and pain. Schopenhauer eloquently states, "That exact determination of individuality for the future generation is not a much higher and more worthy goal than their exaggerated feelings and super street soap bubbles? Is there a more important and greater goal in the world than this? The only one is worthy of that force, which feels in passionate love, that seriousness in which it occurs, and those of importance, which it attaches even to the verses, which are in its area and are domiciled."

Schopenhauer acknowledges the countless nuances of love that writers have described, yet love remains an enigma. Longing, he argues, is intrinsically linked to possession. When possession does not occur, pain ensues, explaining the cycle of longing and pain in the "sigh of the species." This is the subject of all amorous poetry, which seeks to express transcendence through lofty metaphors. Schopenhauer asserts, "Only the species has an infinite life, and therefore is eligible for infinite desires, infinite pleasures and infinite pain."

The similarity between Plato's praise of love, expressed through dialogues, and Schopenhauer's monopolization of love lies in the constant awareness of the body's physical limits and the feelings that transcend these boundaries. Yet, these feelings are inseparable from the body. If we disregard the concept of "Platonic love" (originally Diotima's), we must concede a truth from Schopenhauer's "metaphysics": love is reduced to the bare body, its purpose being other naked bodies. There is no experience of love without the experience of touch.

These philosophies stand as polar opposites. Plato's philosophy transcends all views, pointing towards "beauty in itself," while Schopenhauer's philosophy recognizes metaphysics only to reduce it to physical enjoyment and the perpetuation of the species.

Shifting our focus to the love that begets art, we encounter a complex question: how does conception occur in the spirit that gives birth to art under love's supervision? Unlike the physical union between a man and a woman, the materialization of spirit in art is less tangible. Yet, all literature is replete with descriptions and depictions of love between women and men. Due to this obvious fact, poets often refer to their creations as children, metaphorically linking the human experience of love to the experience of art and vice versa.

Art, like love, is a creative force that transcends the individual. Just as Schopenhauer's will of the species drives individuals to procreate, the will of artistic creation drives artists to produce works that outlive their creators. The feelings that inspire art, like those that inspire love, can be both pathetic and sublime, reflecting the human condition in all its complexity.

Moreover, the longing and pain inherent in love are also present in the artistic process. The artist's longing to create is linked to the desire to possess and express an idea or emotion. When this possession does not occur, when the artistic vision remains elusive, pain ensues. This cycle of longing and pain is the driving force behind many great works of art.

The relationship between the artist and their creation mirrors the relationship between lovers. Just as lovers are drawn together by a force beyond their control, artists are compelled to create by a force that transcends their individual will. And just as the union of lovers results in the creation of new life, the union of artist and inspiration results in the creation of art.

In this context, the question of conception in art becomes clearer. Conception occurs when the spirit of the artist is fertilized by inspiration, under love's watchful eye. The result is a new creation, a work of art that embodies the spirit of its creator and the essence of the inspiration that sparked its genesis.

This creative process is not merely a metaphorical reflection of physical procreation. Rather, it is a manifestation of the same life force that drives the propagation of the species. In both love and art, this life force is expressed through the creation of something new, something that transcends the individual and contributes to the ongoing evolution of human culture.

In conclusion, the love between women and men, as explored through the philosophies of Schopenhauer and Plato, provides a rich framework for understanding the love that begets art. Whether driven by the will of the species or the pursuit of beauty in itself, both forms of love involve a complex interplay of longing, pain, and transcendence. Through this lens, we can appreciate the profound connection between the human experience of love and the creative process that gives birth to art.