Emily Dickinson, beauty and truth

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth - the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a-night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

Emily Dickinson, I died for Beauty, 1862

This poem by Miss Dickinson is not only musical and beautiful. It also contains ideology, and a metaphysical statement. A strong vision of reality, as usual in her poetry. Truth and beauty are one and the same, or at least, they go hand in hand.

Since the second half ot the 20th century, there has been around, among sociologists, intelectuals and the like, an insistent idea: Truth does not exist. And scientific truth and science itself are nothing but social constructions. Therefore, Beauty has no particular relation with the Truth, since Truth is a cultural invention.

Realists and Scientists obviously claim the opposite. Truth does exist. There is an outer truth out there, independent fom our senses and our minds. Without denying the influence of these in the truth and the construction of reality.

And since truth exists, according to realists, scientists and miss Dickinson, could there be something more beautiful than the discovery and enjoying of it?. This was very clear to Nabokov, a great artist who liked discovering the inner truth of his insects, knowing them, which added to their beauty. Knowledge, positive and real one, was aesthetic.

Yes, beauty is truth and truth beauty. Even if we admit that the creations and products of the mind can also be beautiful. Of course. We have known that for millenia.