I couldn't have written because I--and I'm not alone, by any means--do not have Carey's breadth of reading, nor his calm, wry logic, which enables him to demolish the arguments of just about everyone who has ever talked tosh about objective aesthetic principles. And this group, it turns out, includes anyone who has ever talked about objective aesthetic principles.
In "Housekeeping vs. the Dirt," Nick Hornby expresses a sense of admiration and humility regarding the intellectual prowess of Carey, an individual with extensive reading and a rational mindset. Hornby acknowledges that he, along with many others, lacks the same depth of knowledge and the ability to effectively counter various arguments concerning objective aesthetic principles. This recognition highlights the complexity of aesthetic discussions and the difficulty in establishing universal standards in...
