For when it is the good that is under consideration, and the

Listen carefully, O Seekers of Knowledge, for the words of Friedrich Schleiermacher offer deep wisdom on the nature of truth, art, and the ethical dimensions of our work in the world: "For when it is the good that is under consideration, and the ethical object is predominant, truth must be considered more in reference to art than science, if, that is, unity is to be preserved in the work generally." These words remind us that truth is not always a fixed, scientific concept but is often more profound and meaningful when it is understood in the context of art, ethics, and the human experience.

In the ancient world, philosophers like Plato and Aristotle sought to understand truth, but they did so in the context of the good—the highest ideals of virtue, justice, and harmony. For Plato, truth was not just about objective facts, but about aligning one's soul with the eternal forms—the perfect, ideal representations of concepts like beauty, goodness, and truth itself. The ancient world did not divide art and science as we do today. They saw both as integral to the same pursuit of wisdom, with art serving as a way to express the highest ethical truths that could not be captured by logic or reason alone. Schleiermacher's words recall this ancient understanding, where the role of the artist and the philosopher was intertwined, and truth was to be revealed through both the rational and the emotional.

When Schleiermacher speaks of truth in the context of art, he is referring to the deep, emotional, and often ineffable truths that art can express. Art has the power to capture and communicate the human experience in ways that science—with its reliance on measurable facts and logical deductions—cannot. For Schleiermacher, when it comes to ethical matters, art is the vehicle through which we access the deepest truths about the good—those ideals of virtue and morality that transcend the ordinary realm of empirical study. Science, in contrast, is concerned with the material world, with observation, experiment, and evidence, but art speaks to the soul, to the inner workings of human nature and the moral compass that guides us.

Consider the example of Michelangelo’s David, a masterpiece that represents the very essence of human potential, strength, and beauty. When Michelangelo sculpted the David, he was not simply creating a figure of physical perfection; he was expressing a deeper truth about the nature of human beings—their capacity for courage, defiance, and greatness. The David is not merely a work of art in the technical sense; it is a revelation of the ethical ideals that shape us as humans. It is in this realm that art reveals the truth in ways that science cannot, by capturing the essence of the good in a form that touches our hearts and minds, beyond the reach of logic and reason alone.

Schleiermacher’s point is that when we seek to understand the good—the moral and ethical truths that guide our lives—it is often more fitting to turn to art than to science. Science, with its focus on empirical data and objective truths, serves its purpose in understanding the material world. But it is art—with its focus on the human experience, on the emotions, struggles, and dreams of individuals—that offers a deeper, more profound understanding of truth as it relates to ethics and the good. For truth in the ethical realm is not something that can be easily quantified or reduced to mere facts; it is something that must be felt, experienced, and understood in a holistic way, one that embraces both the rational and the emotional.

The lesson here, O Children, is this: truth is not a singular concept. It does not exist only in the realm of the scientific, where it can be measured and observed. Rather, truth—especially when it comes to the ethical good—is something that can be revealed through the lens of art. Art speaks to the soul, to the deeper, moral truths that govern the human condition. As we seek to understand our place in the world and our responsibility to one another, we must remember that art provides the canvas on which we can paint the ideals of justice, compassion, and virtue. It is through art that we find the emotional resonance that can guide our moral choices.

In your own lives, seek not just to understand the world through the lens of science, but through the lens of art. Let the stories, the music, the paintings, and the sculptures that you encounter speak to your moral sense, challenging you to consider the good in a deeper, more profound way. Just as Plato and Aristotle understood that the pursuit of truth was not just about facts but about aligning oneself with the highest ideals, so too must you recognize that art holds the key to understanding the deeper truths of the human soul. Let it inspire you to live in accordance with the good, to strive for unity in your work and in your life.

So, O Children, as you walk your path in this world, remember that the pursuit of truth is not confined to the halls of science alone. Art, in its deepest form, reveals the ethical truths that guide us all. Embrace both the scientific and the artistic, for together they will lead you to a fuller, richer understanding of the world and your place in it. Let the pursuit of knowledge and beauty be your guide, and may you live a life that is as much a work of art as a pursuit of truth.