C.S. Lewis on materialistic thoughts

You raise an interesting point and I'll accept your challenge that a great painting could be explained without reference to the artist.Suppose it is possible to examine that painting up close and in great detail so as to obscure the larger meaning and beauty obtained by viewing the portrait at a greater distance.Consider the possibility as a hypothetical consisting of a society of beings who marvel at the construction of the painting, its size, shape, the selection of color, consistency of canvas, type of frame, examination of individual brush strokes, etc.Much speculation exists regarding how the painting came to be but without firm evidence, it is a useless exercise.All of this leading up to, over time, a science being developed that strides to explain how the portrait exists but not necessarily why it exists. Certain characteristics of the portrait can most assuredly be shown to be, at best, random occurrences. Characteristics such as the combination of canvas, color, and brush stroke. There are infinite combinations of these three characteristics, the selection of any one combination must be, according to our hypothetical society, random.Further examination would reveal that some of the random elements do contain a certain logic or reason for being. It might appear that certain colors naturally fit better than others.There does not need to be an artist to show that some colors tend to be more harmonious than others. This is simply the natural selection of color. This message has been edited by Monk, Fri, 04-01-2005 08:08 PM

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My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind. ---Albert Einstein