To discuss a woman’s breasts feels awkward, even to me. I have no issue with discussing the woman’s breasts as such, as a serious philosophical question, or even challenge, but I’m not used to focusing on specific breasts - unless behind closed doors. In this case I’ll make an exception, though. Firstly, because these specific breasts have already been brought into the open by their former mistress; and secondly, because for better or for worse this pair has long been a concern of all men of good will. (In fact I believe that all female breasts are our concern, but due to their sensitive nature, it’s not something I would normally discuss openly; again - unless philosophically).
Once we have established the subject is legitimate, it is only appropriate to start by expressing sympathy for Angelina Jolie. How hard, painful and at times devastating – or nearly devastating - the ordeal must have been – I just cannot imagine. That she has kept, or regained, her composure commands highest respect.
However, my immediate thought on hearing the terrible news was: “What defeatism!” The issue I have with the path Mrs Pitt took – and it is an issue of principle – is that she decided to remove her breasts as a preventative measure and I view the thinking behind it a fallacy.The correct philosophical mantra, in my opinion, should go: always give life a chance, always take risks, always expect the good, even if not the best, and - change tack not when a storm is possible, but when it’s coming. We know that death, illness, general deterioration of health are all imminent and we also know that all of them work in surprising ways. Odds can, and often are, beaten. Living by statistics can be not only inhumane, but also inhuman.
Secondly: in this case the tension was between quantity and quality, between the statistically predicted – but merely predicted – length of life and the beauty of life. And, in the long run, it is beauty that seems to be a safer and more rational bet. We know that our present life will let us down, and if any of us have any aspiration of continued existence, it is exactly through beauty that we hope to achieve it. True, it is on the moral beauty, i.e. the beauty of one's character, that our bet is usually placed, not the corporeal kind. But is it not sometimes hard - for a man at least - to distinguish one from the other?
And finally: shouldn't this sombre story of a tragic alternative and a loss of beauty reinforce in all of us a desire of and a belief in a new world and new creation, where Angelina Jolie will be forever beautiful, forever physically attractive (as she still is; but much less now - there's no escaping this truth) and forever boasting two magnificent breasts? And if there are those who lack this desire and this belief, shouldn't we pray that Angelina's physical loss may turn into their spiritual gain - and make them desire to gain that belief*?
The game is not only about raiding tombs, but also getting out of them.
*as a precondition of a new, even better body#; new, even better boobs - and new, better everything. (Amen.)
#hard to imagine in Mrs Pitt's case; until now.
PS And if you tell me that you've put up with your (upcoming) loss of beauty, health and life, I'll tell you - humbug!
Edouard Manet Blonde with Bare Breasts. c.1878. Oil on canvas. Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
