Examining the relationship between traditional arts and practical ethics: relying on Seyyed Hossein Nasr's opinions

"Beyond their formal and aesthetic nature, artworks undoubtedly also possess ethical characteristics. The ethical dimension in art is so important that it cannot be overlooked. The relationship between art and ethics is the most complex issue in the philosophy of art, to the extent that the immoral nature of an artwork diminishes its aesthetic value. This research aims to examine the relationship between traditional arts and applied ethics. In this regard, the views and perspectives of various Western and Islamic thinkers are presented, among which the viewpoint of Seyyed Hossein Nasr—as the most renowned living traditionalist figure in the world—is discussed. According to him, art is a fundamental and deep human need for the manifestation of God, and the goal of ethics is human perfection. From Seyyed Hossein Nasr's perspective, ethics resides within the inner self (batin), and through its inward existence, it is connected to human nature (fitrah) and his divine creation. What takes place outside the cosmos is not related to ethics; rather, the essence of all things lies in what constitutes ethics, just as Nasr emphasizes tradition and places it at the heart of ethics. Although the artist is not to be conflated with the person, he is still a human person, and therefore must fulfill his human duty and pursue the purpose designated for humanity, which is to actualize moral good."