DIA Beacon

The Volokh Conspiracy's Tyler Cowen on the new DIA museum in Beacon, New York.

Let's not argue about the art, the point is simpler than that. If a large number of intelligent viewers (listeners, etc.) find that the stuff moves them, in a deep and lasting way, doesn't it have to be good? If not objectively good (whatever that means), at least 'pluralistically or relativistically good enough not to be knocked down in objective terms' good.

Esthetics is, of course, a branch of philosophy.  There are a host of other philosophies out there.  One would not generally say, for example:

"Let's not argue about the politics, the point is simpler than that. If a large number of intelligent people find that Marxism moves them, in a deep and lasting way, doesn't it have to be good? If not objectively good (whatever that means), at least "pluralistically or relativistically good enough not to be knocked down in objective terms" good."

One still has to defend one's philosophical or esthetic choices straight up rather than simply counting noses.

I listened to the WNYC piece on the new museum and I thought that I might preder the aritechture to the art inside.  I'll have to see.

DCF

Wired News: Gaming the Safeway Club Card

Libertarians who have been concerned about those who provide false information to obtain shopper's discount cards (or swap the cards or barcodes after obtaining them) can relax.  At least as far as Safeway is concerned, there's no contractual breach.  A spokesman with apparent authority to bind the Corporation has informed us that Safeway doesn't mind how creative its card users get: 

http://wired.com/news/print/0,1294,59589,00.html

For its part, Safeway isn't concerned about Cockerham's project and shrugs off any Big Brother accusations. "It's an odd sort of prank with not any significant impact at all on the operation of our card business," says Safeway spokesman Brian Dowling. "We work hard to protect the privacy of our customers, and don't believe there is any sound rationale behind what (Cockerham's) doing. But he can do whatever he wants."

One can assume (in the absence of contrary evidence) that other companies share the same attitude towards their customers.  So I don't want to hear any more lectures about how we have to provide truthful info on card applications or forgo the discounts.