Art, Artists and Museums

Abstract

It is easy to forget that values are ultimately intrinsic. “The useful,” says Santayana, “is good because of the excellence of its consequences; but these must somewhere cease to be merely useful in their turn, or only excellent as means; somewhere we must reach the good that is good in itself and for its own sake, else the whole process is futile, and the utility of our first object illusory.” I assume that the good which is good in itself is known as immediately as a tack that has been stepped on (it may be equally profane), and that experience and reflection may lead us to a good that is better in itself.