Beyond Logos

Matthew Del Nevo (Catholic Institute of Sydney)

Abstract. There is a distinction in the work of the atheist philosopher Schopenhauer (and in all major religions) between that part of us (the person) that dies and an interior life-nature (with different names in different traditions and more than one name in any one tradition) that does not die. This nature is ineffable and the character of this ineffability is to exteriorize, which we, embodied as we are, experience through art, as what we call ‘inspiration’. Inspiration (not theory, as much modern art would have us suppose) is the core value of art as it is connected with the ineffable in immediate relation. Of all the arts, music may be the direct performance of the ineffable (drastic, not gnostic). Criteria for ‘timeless’ inspired or ineffable art are enumerated and described. The parallels between what is said about art and what might be said about religion – especially Catholicism – are reflected upon.

Bio: Matthew Del Nevo backpacked around the world, starting from England, for a number of years, crossing from Bali to Australia (not by boat) in 1986 to have a look, liked Sydney, and stayed on. Since then Matthew has studied at Sydney University and eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. He is author of ‘the soul trilogy’ comprised of The Valley Way of Soul (2008), about the value of melancholy; The Work of Enchantment (2011), about the value of enchantment; and Art Music: Love, Listening and Soulfulness (2013). His work integrates aspects from the arts, therapy and activist communities with his philosophical and religious knowledge. The Metaphysics of Night, due to be published next year by Transaction at Rutgers NJ, deals with the ineffable and has more to do with religion than his previous books. Before turning to teaching in the mid-90s Matthew worked for many years with disabled people, starting in Jerusalem where he lived for a number of years and helped Jean Vanier set up a L’Arche community.