Spencer Heath Archive

Item 286

Penciling by Heath beginning on the back of page 78 of a pocket notepad (originals envelope of Item 274) containing many names of people met and notes from classes probably at Teachers’ College, Columbia University.

February, 1933?

 

Properties of Organisms

The Physiology of Society

The three Ps

1. Physiology   2. Pathology   3. Policy  (Remedies-Treatments)

Organism — Aspects and Functions:

Physical ——— Mental ——— Aesthetic (Spiritual)

The base is Physical. The mental ministers to the physical. The aesthetic ministers to the mental.

Pain and desire are emotions to release physical energy. The mental gives it direction.

Aesthetic experience (positive) releases both physical and mental energy and directs both creatively.

The creative function of art is to give positive aesthetic experience. This induces inspiration. The destructive use of art forms is to give negative aesthetic experience. This induces desperation (and, in the highly organized, exaspera­tion)