Stream2

The presocratic ancient Greeks were an artful people. They might have had little idea of what happiness was, instead caught up in the ongoing drama. With the birth of Socrates, things changed. The introduction of radical intellectualism was a destructive factor on the ancient Greek art scene.

Following the fruit of ancient philosophical intellectualization several projects were kicked off. The next thing that occupied the people’s imagination was Christianity. Christianity is artful, but it is also primarily moral. For two thousand years the West, and those who the West met, were engaged in a new drama. The drama of God.

There was an attempt to return to art in the 1500s that we all know: the Renaissance. However this great artfulness that was built on the back of Christianity did not last. It led to yet another new project to occupy the Western people’s hearts: the project of science.

In some sense the project of science is ongoing and it is true that there are still many Christian peoples.

I do think that the intention of the ancient Greek philosophers was to share the art that they destroyed with a far larger audience. A worldwide audience.

We can start to see in 2026 that there is some reality to this. It is my belief that the stream of music originating from the Blues is one of the most influential factors in facilitating the return to art.

However the Buddhist stream provides an excellent vehicle for internalizing the art of the present moment that is very real and very true.

In the present moment we do have a very concrete conception of happiness, and often it is elusive and our grasping backfires. The thing about art though is that it doesn’t hurt.

The sad thing is that many artists are still attached to ancient moral conventions and modern pseudo-scientific judgements, often towards the self. I often see some art that is better than bliss and then see the artist and am shocked by how normal they are.

However when I listen to some of the modern artists these days I find an unshakeable faith that true art does sing through us, and no amount of counter-forces can ruin this.

Hopefully if there’s another round of philosophers in the future they don’t ruin it again…