登陆注册
5164000000040

第40章

I shall now say something on that part of taste which, as I have hinted to you before, does not belong so much to the external form of things, but is addressed to the mind, and depends on its original frame, or, to use the expression, the organisation of the soul; I mean the imagination and the passions.The principles of these are as invariable as the former, and are to be known and reasoned upon in the same manner, by an appeal to common sense deciding upon the common feelings of mankind.This sense, and these feelings, appear to me of equal authority, and equally conclusive.

Now this appeal implies a general uniformity and agreement in the minds of men.It would be else an idle and vain endeavour to establishrules of art; it would be pursuing a phantom to attempt to move affections with which we were entirely unacquainted.We have no reason to suspect there is a greater difference between our minds than between our forms, of which, though there are no two alike, yet there is a general similitude that goes through the whole race of mankind; and those who have cultivated their taste can distinguish what is beautiful or deformed, or, in other words, what agrees with or what deviates from the general idea of nature, in one case as well as in the other.

The internal fabric of our mind, as well as the external form of our bodies, being nearly uniform, it seems then to follow, of course, that as the imagination is incapable of producing anything originally of itself, and can only vary and combine these ideas with which it is furnished by means of the senses, there will be, of course, an agreement in the imaginations as in the senses of men.There being this agreement, it follows that in all cases, in our lightest amusements as well as in our most serious actions and engagements of life, we must regulate our affections of every kind by that of others.The well-disciplined mind acknowledges this authority, and submits its own opinion to the public voice.

It is from knowing what are the general feelings and passions of mankind that we acquire a true idea of what imagination is; though it appears as if we had nothing to do but to consult our own particular sensations, and these were sufficient to ensure us from all error and mistake.

A knowledge of the disposition and character of the human mind can be acquired only by experience: a great deal will be learned, I admit, by a habit of examining what passes in our bosoms, what are our own motives of action, and of what kind of sentiments we are conscious on any occasion.We may suppose a uniformity, and conclude that the same effect will be produced by the same cause in the minds of others.This examination will contribute to suggest to us matters of inquiry; but we can never be sure that our own sensations are true and right till they are confirmed by more extensive observation.

One man opposing another determines nothing but a general union of minds, like a general combination of the forces of all mankind, makes astrength that is irresistible.In fact, as he who does not know himself does not know others, so it may be said with equal truth, that he who does not know others knows himself but very imperfectly.

A man who thinks he is guarding himself against Prejudices by resisting the authority of others, leaves open every avenue to singularity, vanity, self-conceit, obstinacy, and many other vices, all tending to warp the judgment and prevent the natural operation of his faculties.

This submission to others is a deference which we owe, and indeed are forced involuntarily to pay.

In fact we are never satisfied with our opinions till they are ratified and confirmed by the suffrages of the rest of mankind.We dispute and wrangle for ever; we endeavour to get men to come to us when we do not go to them.

He therefore who is acquainted with the works which have pleased different ages and different countries, and has formed his opinion on them, has more materials and more means of knowing what is analogous to the mind of man than he who is conversant only with the works of his own age or country.What has pleased, and continues to please, is likely to please again: hence are derived the rules of art, and on this immovable foundation they must ever stand.

This search and study of the history of the mind ought not to be confined to one art only.It is by the analogy that one art bears to another that many things are ascertained which either were but faintly seen, or, perhaps, would not have been discovered at all if the inventor had not received the first hints from the practices of a sister art on a similar occasion.The frequent allusions which every man who treats of any art is obliged to draw from others in order to illustrate and confirm his principles, sufficiently show their near connection and inseparable relation.

All arts having the same general end, which is to please, and addressing themselves to the same faculties through the medium of the senses, it follows that their rules and principles must have as great affinity as the different materials and the different organs or vehicles by which they pass to the mind will permit them to retain.

We may therefore conclude that the real substance, as it may be called, of what goes under the name of taste, is fixed and established in the nature of things; that there are certain and regular causes by which the imagination and passions of men are affected; and that the knowledge of these causes is acquired by a laborious and diligent investigation of nature, and by the same slow progress as wisdom or knowledge of every kind, however instantaneous its operations may appear when thus acquired.

同类推荐
  • Selected Prose of Oscar Wilde

    Selected Prose of Oscar Wilde

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汉官旧仪

    汉官旧仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 曲洧旧闻

    曲洧旧闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • International Law

    International Law

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西藏风俗记

    西藏风俗记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 贺兰师魂:北方民族大学师德师风建设征文选编

    贺兰师魂:北方民族大学师德师风建设征文选编

    本书分为教师篇和学生篇。结集的文章是北方民族大学教师教学科研活动与学生求知求学经历的生动再现,集中反映了该校新老教师高昂的工作热情和饱满精神面貌,学生旺盛的求知欲望及温馨的师生情谊等。
  • 这个异界果然有问题

    这个异界果然有问题

    两个宅男变身游戏角色开始了艰难的异界生活,可惜这个异界对穿越者的态度极其不友好,于是两位主人公只能低调生存,顺便找穿越者同伴。
  • 泰尔亲王配力克里斯

    泰尔亲王配力克里斯

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 世子当嫁:邪魅冥王追妻忙

    世子当嫁:邪魅冥王追妻忙

    简介:两世纠葛,一朝命丧黄泉,死后竟知一切不过是一场阴谋。再次睁眼,她是南祁国十八年从未出府的“病世子”言墨辰。重活一世,言墨辰决心定要让背后之人付出代价,爱她的,护之,伤她的,弃之。复仇的道路上,她已决心一人承受,偏偏遇到了一个意外。前世,他奉师命前去救她,不料迟了一步她已身死,魂魄消散之际她听得他的声音道出将好好生安葬。今世,在路上救下他,成了她身旁的侍卫,她尽自己的所能报答他。后来的后来。南祁国皆知世子身旁有一个忠心耿耿的侍卫,偏偏连去青楼也去阻挠一番。女子们对世子的爱慕,也被侍卫用计破坏,于是关于世子断袖的传闻愈加强烈。她说:“我是男子。”他回:“我不论你是何身份,是何性别你只是你,我心中的人。”她说:“你不怕世人对你的看法吗?”他回:“只要你在我身边,我什么也不怕。谁若阻挡,决不轻饶。”一时间,南祁国上下皆知此时。却不知侍卫的身份非同一般。他是南祁国传闻中的“老”王爷祁轩冥,冷酷无情是他的性格,温柔只为言墨辰一人独有。当世人皆知侍卫的真正身份,天下哗然,唯一不变的是对言墨辰的专情。直到后来才知,世子本是女儿身。为她,他愿闯刀山入火海,为她能有一世安宁,他穿战袍骑战马奋勇冲杀。万里江山是婚聘,求娶她。“你后悔吗?”暮年之际她问。“不悔,因为有你。”他答。原来最浪漫的事是两人一起变老,重活一世只为寻你。
  • 小小皇妃爱爬墙

    小小皇妃爱爬墙

    身为一国太子,却私通敌国,亲手覆灭自己的王朝——天下之大,再也找不出比宫小柒更禽兽的人了。——*斗兽节,九国共聚,云凉的草包小太子一鸣惊人扭转乾坤,从此普天之下,不得安宁。六岁的宫小柒一举拿下凶兽大猩猩,收做宠物四处招摇;六岁的宫小柒为了拍卖会上的一名极美少年,亮太子腰牌,一掷千金,仗势欺人;六岁的宫小柒血洗后宫,蛊惑父皇,斩杀忠良,恶名昭著人人避如蛇蝎;六岁的宫小柒跟野心勃勃的他做交易:“留我母后,我便助你灭云凉。”那一年,他是嘉凰国不受宠的太子;六岁的宫小柒迷恋地望着薄情冷性的他,弯着眉眼笑眯眯地说:“小轩轩,你真漂亮,我要包养你。”那一年,他是凤决国没落的旁支皇嗣;六岁的宫小柒摘下他的青莲斗笠:“九尾赤狐,乃是天命帝君之召,要是我脸上也有这么一个图腾,本太子得瑟还来不及呢!”那一年,他是海国遭父皇嫌弃的妖孽皇子。***斗转星移,十三岁的宫小柒成了嘉凰王朝无尚金贵的皇贵妃,身边妖兽成群,桃花泛滥。杀手甲:皇上最大的弱点是什么?宫小柒:他的弱点是我。不过……小爷我怎么可能是弱点?【亲亲星晨月领走~】花生米异能小妖孽:母妃母妃!你真的是五岁的时候就生了我吗?【亲亲木糖醇棒棒糖领走】宫小柒:谁说的?让她生个红眼睛小怪物出来看看。花生米:那……我是怎么来的?宫小柒:捡来的。花生米:T-T***太子殇,冷血酷厉——皇后之位,不是我不给,只怕你不要。【亲亲低声浅唱****领走】幽王殿下,妖孽冷鸷——今晚月色这么好,星星这么亮,不如我们一起私奔?琅珈殿下,温良秀雅——喜欢在雪天牵着你走,因为一不小心,就可以走到白头。哥哥北堂静,俊秀清澈——你不会知道,每次替你收拾烂摊子,都是我最开心的时候。乱神馆馆主,超级无敌大面瘫——天下间,你只能败于我一人之手。凤决左贤王,薄情冷性——我允你一个机会,与我同归于尽,与我一起毁灭,你可愿意?海国七皇子,妖祸无双——今生只为你,君临天下。【慢热,结局待定……】&推荐自己的文《杠上一窝狼》&推荐新文《妖孽哥哥,你够了》她是被生父抛弃的私生女,为了救治重病的母亲而不惜去夜店卖肉。结果…被同父异母的哥哥买回了家中。*【推荐好文】《女扮男装:长生》狂想曲《嚣张宝贝黑道妈》——天蝎女《深门望秀》冷烟花《九王妃》——千梦
  • 施公案(上)(中国古典公案小说精品书库)

    施公案(上)(中国古典公案小说精品书库)

    《施公案》又名《百断奇观》、《施案奇闻》,是以清人施世纶(小说为施仕伦)生平为原型,敷演而成的一部公案侠义小说。施世纶,字文贤,清康熙年代人。
  • 予你三生情缘

    予你三生情缘

    中二死宅意外重生异界:天生废渣,只能耕地?呸!什么叫做隐藏天赋懂不懂?分明是“柔弱”小女子,却一身蛮力,修为更是开火箭一样蹭蹭蹭↑↑↑!废铁开光,斩尽一切忤逆!驱使恶鬼,叫人闻风丧胆满地跑!“等等,等等!他是谁?为什么要纠缠我!自带光环的男神?呸呸呸,明明就是超级无敌大坏坏!救了我一命,就一口一个小娘子,不要脸!洞房?吃我一记——拔腿就跑!”坑品保证!完结姐妹篇:《帝尊你怎么又着火啦》,欢迎宰书!!!
  • 扶桑

    扶桑

    父亲走了好久之后,母亲才和我说起她,婉西,那个叶片般的女孩儿。母亲说,你见过她的,在你父亲的葬礼上。我父亲的葬礼上?我说,并没往心里去。但我很快发现了母亲的异样。母亲坐在与我同一张沙发上,因为说话,她下意识侧着身;因为紧张或者别的什么,她坐得很虚,半边屁股挂在沙发上,另一半则悬着,胸口的事胀起来,一直撑到了嗓子眼,让她的脖子伸上去,仿佛整个人挂在了半空中。
  • 最强装逼直播系统

    最强装逼直播系统

    “一天不装逼,我浑身难受!”王野无意中载入装逼直播系统,一路装逼一路飞,一路翱翔到天黑。“主播v587!”“主播这个逼装的我给八十二分,还有十八分以666的形式给你!”“主播这个逼装的我给一百零一分,多出一分不怕你骄傲!”“主播我要给你生孩子……”……看着满屏幕的观众弹幕,各种礼物刷的飞起,王野含笑不语。原谅我一生放荡不羁爱装逼!
  • 文殊师利所说般若波罗蜜经

    文殊师利所说般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。