!"# %&' (%)*+),+ -# .)/%'!

01 2)34+ 567'
!"#$%&'( *%$+, This essay, oiiginally publisheu in 17S7, is in the public uomain anu may be fieely
iepiouuceu.
The uiscussion questions, bibliogiaphic iefeiences, anu hypeilinks have been auueu by }ulie van
Camp. (Copyiight }ulie C. van Camp 1997) They too may be fieely iepiouuceu, so long as this
complete citation is incluueu with any such iepiouuctions.
-.%/$ $0+ -/$0%&, 123#" 4/5+ 678779788:; #( %<+ %= $0+ 5%($ #5>%&$2<$ %= $0+ ?&#$#(0 +5>#&#@#($(A
>0#B%(%>0+&( C0% .+B#+3+ $02$ 2BB 0/52< D<%CB+"E+ "+&#3+( =&%5 0/52< +F>+&#+<@+G
Paiagiaph numbeiing below has been auueu to facilitate class uiscussion. It was not incluueu in
the oiiginal text.
|BISC0SSI0N Q0ESTI0NSj |BIBLI0uRAPBYj
#1. The gieat vaiiety of Taste, as well as of opinion, which pievails in the woilu, is too obvious
not to have fallen unuei eveiy one's obseivation. Nen of the most confineu knowleuge aie able
to iemaik a uiffeience of taste in the naiiow ciicle of theii acquaintance, even wheie the
peisons have been euucateu unuei the same goveinment, anu have eaily imbibeu the same
piejuuices. But those, who can enlaige theii view to contemplate uistant nations anu iemote
ages, aie still moie suipiiseu at the gieat inconsistence anu contiaiiety. We aie apt to call
baibaious whatevei uepaits wiuely fiom oui own taste anu appiehension: But soon finu the
epithet of iepioach ietoiteu on us. Anu the highest aiiogance anu self-conceit is at last staitleu,
on obseiving an equal assuiance on all siues, anu sciuples, amiust such a contest of sentiment,
to pionounce positively in its own favoui.
#2. As this vaiiety of taste is obvious to the most caieless enquiiei; so will it be founu, on
examination, to be still gieatei in ieality than in appeaiance. The sentiments of men often uiffei
with iegaiu to beauty anu uefoimity of all kinus, even while theii geneial uiscouise is the same.
Theie aie ceitain teims in eveiy language, which impoit blame, anu otheis piaise; anu all men,
who use the same tongue, must agiee in theii application of them. Eveiy voice is uniteu in
applauuing elegance, piopiiety, simplicity, spiiit in wiiting; anu in blaming fustian, affectation,
coluness anu a false biilliancy: But when ciitics come to paiticulais, this seeming unanimity
vanishes; anu it is founu, that they hau affixeu a veiy uiffeient meaning to theii expiessions. In
all matteis of opinion anu science, the case it opposite: The uiffeience among men is theie
oftenei founu to lie in geneials than in paiticulais; anu to be less in ieality than in appeaiance.
An explanation of the teims commonly enus the contioveisy; anu the uisputants aie suipiiseu
to finu, that they hau been quaiieling, while at bottom they agieeu in theii juugment.
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
1 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
#S. Those who founu moiality on sentiment, moie than on ieason, aie inclineu to compiehenu
ethics unuei the foimei obseivation, anu to maintain, that, in all questions, which iegaiu
conuuct anu manneis, the uiffeience among men is ieally gieatei than at fiist sight it appeais. It
is inueeu obvious, that wiiteis of all nations anu all ages concui in applauuing justice, humanity,
magnanimity, piuuence, veiacity; anu in blaming the opposite qualities. Even poets anu othei
authois, whose compositions aie chiefly calculateu to please the imagination, aie yet founu,
fiom B0NER uown to FENEL0N, to inculcate the same moial piecepts, anu to bestow theii
applause anu blame on the same viitues anu vices. This gieat unanimity is usually asciibeu to
the influence of plain ieason; which, in all these cases, maintains similai sentiments in all men,
anu pievents those contioveisies, to which the abstiact sciences aie so much exposeu. So fai as
the unanimity is ieal, this account may be aumitteu as satisfactoiy: But we must also allow that
some pait of the seeming haimony in moials may be accounteu foi fiom the veiy natuie of
language. The woiu 3#&$/+, with its equivalent in eveiy tongue, implies piaise; as that of 3#@+
uoes blame: Anu no one, without the most obvious anu giossest impiopiiety, coulu affix
iepioach to a teim, which in geneial acceptation is unueistoou in a goou sense; oi bestow
applause, wheie the iuiom iequiies uisappiobation. B0NER's geneial piecepts, wheie he
ueliveis any such will nevei be contioveiteu; but it is obvious, that, when he uiaws paiticulai
pictuies of manneis, anu iepiesents heioism in ACBILLES anu piuuence in 0LYSSES, he
inteimixes a much gieatei uegiee of feiocity in the foimei, anu of cunning anu fiauu in the lattei,
than FENEL0N woulu aumit of . The sage 0LYSSES in the uREEK poet seems to uelight in lies
anu fictions; anu often employs them without any necessity oi even auvantage: But his moie
sciupulous son, in the FRENCB epic wiitei, exposes himself to the most imminent peiils, iathei
than uepait fiom the most exact line of tiuth anu veiacity.
#4. The aumiieis anu follows of the ALC0RAN insist on the excellent moial piecepts
inteispeiseu thioughout that wilu anu absuiu peifoimance. But it is to be supposeu, that the
ARABIC woius, which coiiesponu to the ENuLISB, equity, justice, tempeiance, meekness,
chaiity, weie such as, fiom the constant use of that tongue, must always be taken in a goou
sense; anu it woulu have aigueu the gieatest ignoiance, not of moials, but of language, to have
mentioneu them with any epithets, besiues those of applause anu appiobation. But woulu we
know, whethei the pietenueu piophet hau ieally attaineu a just sentiment of moials. Let us
attenu to his naiiation; anu we shall soon finu, that he bestows piaise on such instances of
tieacheiy, inhumanity, ciuelty, ievenge, bigotiy, as aie utteily incompatible with civilizeu
society. No steauy iule of iight seems theie to be attenueu to; anu eveiy action is blameu oi
piaiseu, so fai only as it is beneficial oi huitful to the tiue believeis.
#S. The meiit of ueliveiing tiue geneial piecepts in ethics is inueeu veiy small. Whoevei
iecommenus any moial viitues, ieally uoes no moie than is implieu in the teims themselves.
That people, who inventeu the woiu @02&#$H, anu use it in a goou sense, inculcateu moie cleaily
anu much moie efficaciously, the piecept, .+ @02&#$2.B+, than any pietenueu legislatoi oi
piophet, who shoulu inseit such a 52F#5 in his wiitings. 0f all expiessions, those, which,
togethei with theii othei meaning, imply a uegiee eithei of blame oi appiobation, aie the least
liable to be peiveiteu oi mistaken.
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
2 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
#6. It is natuial foi us to seek a Stanuaiu of Taste; a iule, by which the vaiious sentiments of
men may be ieconcileu; at least, a uecision, affoiueu, confiiming one sentiment, anu
conuemning anothei.
#7. Theie is a species of philosophy, which cuts off all hopes of success in such an attempt, anu
iepiesents the impossibility of evei attaining any stanuaiu of taste. The uiffeience, it is saiu, is
veiy wiue between juugment anu sentiment. All sentiment is iight; because sentiment has a
iefeience to nothing beyonu itself, anu is always ieal, wheievei a man is conscious of it. But all
ueteiminations of the unueistanuing aie not iight; because they have a iefeience to something
beyonu themselves, to wit, ieal mattei of fact; anu aie not always confoimable to that stanuaiu.
Among a thousanu uiffeient opinions which uiffeient men may enteitain of the same subject,
theie is one, anu but one, that is just anu tiue; anu the only uifficulty is to fix anu asceitain it. 0n
the contiaiy, a thousanu uiffeient sentiments, exciteu by the same object, aie all iight: Because
no sentiment iepiesents what is ieally in the object. It only maiks a ceitain confoimity oi
ielation between the object anu the oigans oi faculties of the minu; anu if that confoimity uiu
not ieally exist, the sentiment coulu nevei possibly have being. Beauty is no quality in things
themselves: It exists meiely in the minu which contemplates them; anu each minu peiceives a
uiffeient beauty. 0ne peison may even peiceive uefoimity, wheie anothei is sensible of beauty;
anu eveiy inuiviuual ought to acquiesce in his own sentiment, without pietenuing to iegulate
those of otheis. To seek in the ieal beauty, oi ieal uefoimity, is as fiuitless an enquiiy, as to
pietenu to asceitain the ieal sweet oi ieal bittei. Accoiuing to the uisposition of the oigans, the
same object may be both sweet anu bittei; anu the pioveib has justly ueteimineu it to be
fiuitless to uispute conceining tastes. It is veiy natuial, anu even quite necessaiy to extenu this
axiom to mental, as well as bouily taste; anu thus common sense, which is so often at vaiiance
with philosophy, especially with the skeptical kinu, is founu, in one instance at least, to agiee in
pionouncing the same uecision.
#8 But though this axiom, by passing into a pioveib, seems to have attaineu the sanction of
common sense; theie is ceitainly a species of common sense which opposes it, at least seives to
mouify anu iestiain it. Whoevei woulu asseit an equality of genius anu elegance between
0uILBY anu NILT0N, oi B0NYAN anu ABBIS0N, woulu be thought to uefenu no less an
extiavagance, than if he hau maintaineu a mole-hill to be as high as TENERIFFE, oi a ponu as
extensive as the ocean. Though theie may be founu peisons, who give the piefeience to the
foimei authois; no one pays attention to such a taste; anu we pionounce without sciuple the
sentiment of these pietenueu ciitics to be absuiu anu iiuiculous. The piinciple of the natuial
equality of tastes is then totally foigot, anu while we aumit it on some occasions, wheie the
objects seem neai an equality, it appeais an extiavagant paiauox, oi iathei a palpable absuiuity,
wheie objects so uispiopoitioneu aie compaieu togethei.
#9. It is eviuent that none of the iules of composition aie fixeu by ieasonings 2 >&#%&#, oi can be
esteemeu abstiact conclusions of the unueistanuing, fiom compaiing those habituues anu
ielations of iueas, which aie eteinal anu immutable. Theii founuation is the same with that of all
the piactical sciences, expeiience; noi aie they any thing but geneial obseivations, conceining
what has been univeisally founu to please in all countiies anu in all ages. Nany of the beauties of
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
S of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
poetiy anu even of eloquence aie founueu on falsehoou anu fiction, on hypeiboles, metaphois,
anu an abuse oi peiveision of teims fiom theii natuial meaning. To check the sallies of the
imagination, anu to ieuuce eveiy expiession to geometiical tiuth anu exactness, woulu be the
most contiaiy to the laws of ciiticism; because it woulu piouuce a woik, which, by univeisal
expeiience, has been founu the most insipiu anu uisagieeable. But though poetiy can nevei
submit to exact tiuth, it must be confineu by iules of ait, uiscoveieu to the authoi eithei by
genius oi obseivation. If some negligent oi iiiegulai wiiteis have pleaseu, they have not pleaseu
by theii tiansgiessions of iule oi oiuei, but in spite of these tiansgiessions: They have
possesseu othei beauties, which weie confoimable to just ciiticism; anu the foice of these
beauties has been able to oveipowei censuie, anu give the minu a satisfaction supeiioi to the
uisgust aiising fiom the blemishes. ARI0ST0 pleases; but not by his monstious anu impiobable
fictions, by his bizaiie mixtuie of the seiious anu comic styles, by the want of coheience in his
stoiies, oi by the continual inteiiuptions of his naiiation. Be chaims by the foice anu cleainess
of his expiession, by the ieauiness anu vaiiety of his inventions, anu by his natuial pictuies of
the passions, especially those of the gay anu amoious kinu: Anu howevei his faults may uiminish
oui satisfaction, they aie not able entiiely to uestioy it. Biu oui pleasuie ieally aiise fiom those
paits of his poem, which we uenominate faults, this woulu be no objection to ciiticism in
geneial: It woulu only be an objection to those paiticulai iules of ciiticism, which woulu
establish such ciicumstances to be faults, anu woulu iepiesent them as univeisally blameable. If
they aie founu to please, they cannot be faults; let the pleasuie, which they piouuce, be evei so
unexpecteu anu unaccountable.
#1u. But though all the geneial iules of ait aie founueu only on expeiience anu on the
obseivation of the common sentiments of human natuie, we must not imagine, that, on eveiy
occasion the feelings of men will be confoimable to these iules. Those finei emotions of the
minu aie of a veiy tenuei anu uelicate natuie, anu iequiie the concuiience of many favouiable
ciicumstances to make them play with facility anu exactness, accoiuing to theii geneial anu
establisheu piinciples. The least exteiioi hinuiance to such small spiings, oi the least inteinal
uisoiuei, uistuibs theii motion, anu confounus the opeiation of the whole machine. When we
woulu make an expeiiment of this natuie, anu woulu tiy the foice of any beauty oi uefoimity,
we must choose with caie a piopei time anu place, anu biing the fancy to a suitable situation
anu uisposition. A peifect seienity of minu, a iecollection of thought, a uue attention to the
object; if any of these ciicumstances be wanting, oui expeiiment will be fallacious, anu we shall
be unable to juuge of the catholic anu univeisal beauty. The ielation, which natuie has placeu
between the foim anu the sentiment will at least be moie obscuie; anu it will iequiie gieatei
accuiacy to tiace anu uiscein it. We shall be able to asceitain its influence not so much fiom the
opeiation of each paiticulai beauty, as fiom the uuiable aumiiation, which attenus those woiks,
that have suiviveu all the capiices of moue anu fashion, all the mistakes of ignoiance anu envy.
#11. The same B0NER, who pleaseu at ATBENS anu R0NE two thousanu yeais ago, is still
aumiieu at PARIS anu at L0NB0N. All the changes of climate, goveinment, ieligion, anu
language, have not been able to obscuie his gloiy. Authoiity oi piejuuice may give a tempoiaiy
vogue to a bau poet oi oiatoi, but his ieputation will nevei be uuiable oi geneial. When his
compositions aie examineu by posteiity oi by foieigneis, the enchantment is uissipateu, anu his
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
4 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
faults appeai in theii tiue colouis. 0n the contiaiy, a ieal genius, the longei his woiks enuuie,
anu the moie wiue they aie spieau, the moie sinceie is the aumiiation which he meets with.
Envy anu jealousy have too much place in a naiiow ciicle; anu even familiai acquaintance with
his peison may uiminish the applause uue to his peifoimances. But when these obstiuctions aie
iemoveu, the beauties, which aie natuially fitteu to excite agieeable sentiments, immeuiately
uisplay theii eneigy anu while the woilu enuuies, they maintain theii authoiity ovei the minus
of men.
#12. It appeais then, that, amiust all the vaiiety anu capiice of taste, theie aie ceitain geneial
piinciples of appiobation oi blame, whose influence a caieful eye may tiace in all opeiations of
the minu. Some paiticulai foims oi qualities, fiom the oiiginal stiuctuie of the inteinal fabiic,
aie calculateu to please, anu otheis to uisplease; anu if they fail of theii effect in any paiticulai
instance, it is fiom some appaient uefect oi impeifection in the oigan. A man in a fevei woulu
not insist on his palate as able to ueciue conceining flavouis; noi woulu one, affecteu with the
jaunuice, pietenu to give a veiuict with iegaiu to colouis. In each cieatuie, theie is a sounu anu
a uefective state; anu the foimei alone can be supposeu to affoiu us a tiue stanuaiu of a taste
anu sentiment. If, in the sounu state of theoigan, theie be an entiie oi consiueiable unifoimity
of sentiment among men, we may thence ueiive an iuea of the peifect beauty; in like mannei as
the appeaiance of objects in uaylight, to the eye of a man in health, is uenominateu theii tiue
anu ieal coloui, even while coloui is alloweu to be meiely a phantasm of the senses.
#1S. Nany anu fiequent aie the uefects in the inteinal oigans, which pievent oi weaken the
influence of those geneial piinciples, on which uepenus oui sentiment of beauty oi uefoimity.
Though some objects, by the stiuctuie of the minu, be natuially calculateu to give pleasuie, it is
not to be expecteu, that in eveiy inuiviuual the pleasuie will be equally felt. Paiticulai inciuents
anu situations occui, which eithei thiow a false light on the objects, oi hinuei the tiue fiom
conveying to the imagination the piopei sentiment anu peiception.
#14. 0ne obvious cause, why many feel not the piopei sentiment of beauty, is the want of that
"+B#@2@H of imagination, which is iequisite to convey a sensibility of those finei emotions. This
uelicacy eveiy one pietenus to: Eveiy one talks of it; anu woulu ieuuce eveiy kinu of taste oi
sentiment to its stanuaiu. But as oui intention in this essay is to mingle some light of the
unueistanuing with the feelings of sentiment, it will be piopei to give a moie accuiate uefinition
of uelicacy, than has hitheito been attempteu. Anu not to uiaw oui philosophy fiom too
piofounu a souice, we shall have iecouise to a noteu stoiy in B0N Q0IX0TE.
#1S. It is with goou ieason, says SANCB0 to the squiie with the gieat nose, that I pietenu to
have a juugment in wine: this is a quality heieuitaiy in oui family. Two of my kinsmen weie once
calleu to give theii opinion of a hogsheau, which was supposeu to be excellent, being olu anu of a
goou vintage. 0ne of them tastes it; consiueis it; anu aftei matuie ieflection pionounces the
wine to be goou, weie it not foi a small taste of leathei, which he peiceiveu in it. The othei, aftei
using the same piecautions, gives also his veiuict in favoui of the wine; but with the ieseive of a
taste of iion, which he coulu easily uistinguish. You cannot imagine how much they weie both
iiuiculeu foi theii juugment. But who laugheu in the enu. 0n emptying the hogsheau, theie was
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
S of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
founu at the bottom, an olu key with a leathein thong tieu to it.
#16. The gieat iesemblance between mental anu bouily taste will easily teach us to apply this
stoiy. Though it be ceitain, that beauty anu uefoimity, moie than sweet anu bittei, aie not
qualities in objects, but belong entiiely to the sentiment, inteinal oi exteinal; it must be alloweu,
that theie aie ceitain qualities in objects, which aie fitteu by natuie to piouuce those paiticulai
feelings. Now as these qualities may be founu in a smallei uegiee, oi may be mixeu anu
confounueu with each othei, it often happens, that the taste is not affecteu with such minute
qualities, oi is not able to uistinguish all the paiticulai flavouis, amiust the uisoiuei, in which
they aie piesenteu. Wheie the oigans aie so fine, as to allow nothing to escape them; anu at the
same time so exact as to peiceive eveiy ingieuient in the composition: This we call uelicacy of
taste, whethei we employ these teims in the liteial oi metaphoiical sense. Beie then the geneial
iules of beauty aie of use; being uiawn fiom establisheu mouels, anu fiom the obseivation of
what pleases oi uispleases, when piesenteu singly anu in a high uegiee: Anu if the same
qualities, in a continueu composition anu in a small uegiee, affect not the oigans with a sensible
uelight oi uneasiness, we excluue the peison fiom all pietensions to this uelicacy. To piouuce
these geneial iules oi avoweu patteins of composition is like finuing the key with the leathein
thong; which justifieu the veiuict of SANCB0's kinsmen, anu confounueu those pietenueu
juuges who hau conuemneu them. Though the hogsheau hau nevei been emptieu, the taste of
the one was still equally uelicate, anu that of the othei equally uull anu languiu: But it woulu
have been moie uifficult to have pioveu the supeiioiity of the foimei, to the conviction of eveiy
by-stanuei. In like mannei, though the beauties of wiiting hau nevei been methouizeu, oi
ieuuceu to geneial piinciples; though no excellent mouels hau evei been acknowleugeu; the
uiffeient uegiees of taste woulu still have subsisteu, anu the juugment of one man hau been
piefeiable to that of anothei; but it woulu not have been so easy to silence the bau ciitic, who
might always insist upon his paiticulai sentiment, anu iefuse to submit to his antagonist. But
when we show him an avoweu piinciple of ait; when we illustiate this piinciple by examples,
whose opeiation, fiom his own paiticulai taste, he acknowleuges to be confoimable to the
piinciple; when we piove, that the same piinciple may be applieu to the piesent case, wheie he
uiu not peiceive oi feel its influence: Be must concluue, upon the whole, that the fault lies in
himself, anu that he wants the uelicacy, which is iequisite to make him sensible of eveiy beauty
anu eveiy blemish, in any composition oi uiscouise.
#17. It is acknowleugeu to be the peifection of eveiy sense oi faculty, to peiceive with exactness
its most minute objects, anu allow nothing to escape its notice anu obseivation. The smallei the
objects aie, which become sensible to the eye, the finei is that oigan, anu the moie elaboiate its
make anu composition. A goou palate is not tiieu by stiong flavouis; but by a mixtuie of small
ingieuients, wheie we aie still sensible of each pait, notwithstanuing its minuteness anu its
confusion with the iest. In like mannei, a quick anu acute peiception of beauty anu uefoimity
must be the peifection of oui mental taste; noi can a man be satisfieu with himself while he
suspects, that any excellence oi blemish in a uiscouise has passeu him unobseiveu. In this case,
the peifection of the man, anu the peifection of the sense oi feeling, aie founu to be uniteu. A
veiy uelicate palate, on many occasions, may be a gieat inconvenience both to a man himself anu
to his fiienus: But a uelicate taste of wit oi beauty must always be a uesiiable quality; because it
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
6 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
is the souice of all the finest anu most innocent enjoyments, of which human natuie is
susceptible. In this uecision the sentiments of all mankinu aie agieeu. Wheievei you can
asceitain a uelicacy of taste, it is suie to meet with appiobation; anu the best way of
asceitaining it is to appeal to those mouels anu piinciples, which have been establisheu by the
unifoim consent anu expeiience of nations anu ages.
#18. But though theie be natuially a wiue uiffeience in point of uelicacy between one peison
anu anothei, nothing tenus fuithei to enciease anu impiove this talent, than piactice in a
paiticulai ait, anu the fiequent suivey oi contemplation of a paiticulai species of beauty. When
objects of any kinu aie fiist piesenteu to the eye oi imagination, the sentiment, which attenus
them, is obscuie anu confuseu; anu the minu is, in a gieat measuie, incapable of pionouncing
conceining theii meiits oi uefects. The taste cannot peiceive the seveial excellences of the
peifoimance; much less uistinguish the paiticulai chaiactei of each excellency, anu asceitain its
quality anu uegiee. If it pionounce the whole in geneial to be beautiful oi uefoimeu, it is the
utmost that can be expecteu; anu even this juugment, a peison, so unpiacticeu, will be apt to
uelivei with gieat hesitation anu ieseive. But allow him to acquiie expeiience in those objects,
his feeling becomes moie exact anu nice: Be not only peiceives the beauties anu uefects of each
pait, but maiks the uistinguishing species of each quality, anu assigns it suitable piaise oi
blame. A cleai anu uistinct sentiment attenus him thiough the whole suivey of the objects; anu
he uisceins that veiy uegiee anu kinu of appiobation oi uispleasuie, which each pait is
natuially fitteu to piouuce. The mist uissipates, which seemeu foimeily to hang ovei the object:
the oigan acquiies gieatei peifection in its opeiations; anu can pionounce, without uangei of
mistake, conceining the meiits of eveiy peifoimance. In a woiu, the same auuiess anu uexteiity,
which piactice gives to the execution of any woik, is also acquiieu by the same means in the
juuging of it.
#19. So auvantageous is piactice to the uisceinment of beauty, that, befoie we can give juugment
of any woik of impoitance, it will even be iequisite, that that veiy inuiviuual peifoimance be
moie than once peiuseu by us, anu be suiveyeu in uiffeient lights with attention anu
uelibeiation. Theie is a fluttei oi huiiy of thought which attenus the fiist peiusal of any piece,
anu which confounus the genuine sentiment of beauty. The ielation of the paits is not uisceineu:
The tiue chaiacteis of style aie little uistinguisheu: The seveial peifections anu uefects seem
wiappeu up in a species of confusion, anu piesent themselves inuistinctly to the imagination.
Not to mention, that theie is a species of beauty, which, as it is floiiu anu supeificial, pleases at
fiist; but being founu incompatible with a just expiession eithei of ieason oi passion, soon palls
upon the taste, anu is then iejecteu with uisuain, at least iateu at a much lowei value.
#2u. It is impossible to continue in the piactice of contemplating any oiuei of beauty, without
being fiequently obligeu to foim @%5>2&#(%<( between the seveial species anu uegiees of
excellence, anu estimating theii piopoition to each othei. A man, who has hau no oppoitunity of
compaiing the uiffeient kinus of beauty, is inueeu totally unqualifieu to pionounce an opinion
with iegaiu to any object piesenteu to him. By compaiison alone we fix the epithets of piaise oi
blame, anu leain how to assign the uue uegiee of each. The coaisest uaubing contains a ceitain
lustie of colouis anu exactness of imitation, which aie so fai beauties, anu woulu affect the minu
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
7 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
of a peasant oi Inuian with the highest aumiiation. The most vulgai ballaus aie not entiiely
uestitute of haimony oi natuie; anu none but a peison, familiaiizeu to supeiioi beauties, woulu
pionounce theii numbeis haish, oi naiiation uninteiesting. A gieat infeiioiity of beauty gives
pain to a peison conveisant in the highest excellence of the kinu, anu is foi that ieason
pionounceu a uefoimity: As the most finisheu object, with which we aie acquainteu, is natuially
supposeu to have ieacheu the pinnacle of peifection, anu to be entitleu to the highest applause.
0ne accustomeu to see, anu examine, anu weigh the seveial peifoimances, aumiieu in uiffeient
ages anu nations, can only iate the meiits of a woik exhibiteu to his view, anu assign its piopei
iank among the piouuctions of genius.
#21. But to enable a ciitic the moie fully to execute this unueitaking, he must pieseive his minu
fiee fiom all piejuuice, anu allow nothing to entei into his consiueiation, but the veiy object
which is submitteu to his examination. We may obseive, that eveiy woik of ait, in oiuei to
piouuce its uue effect on the minu, must be suiveyeu in a ceitain point of view, anu not be fully
ielisheu by peisons, whose situation, ieal oi imaginaiy, is not confoimable to that which is
iequiieu by the peifoimance. An oiatoi auuiesses himself to a paiticulai auuience, anu must
have a iegaiu to theii paiticulai genius, inteiests, opinions, passions, anu piejuuices; otheiwise
he hopes in vain to govein theii iesolutions, anu inflame theii affections. Shoulu they even have
enteitaineu some piepossessions against him, howevei unieasonable, he must not oveilook this
uisauvantage; but, befoie he enteis upon the subject, must enueavoui to conciliate theii
affection, anu acquiie theii goou giaces. A ciitic of a uiffeient age oi notion, who shoulu peiuse
this uiscouise, must have all these ciicumstances in his eye, anu must place himself in the same
situation as the auuience, in oiuei to foim a tiue juugment of the oiation. In like mannei, when
any woik is auuiesseu to the public, though I shoulu have a fiienuship oi enmity with the
authoi, I must uepait fiom this situation; anu consiueiing myself as a man in geneial, foiget, if
possible, my inuiviuual being anu my peculiai ciicumstances. A peison influenceu by piejuuice,
complies not with this conuition; but obstinately maintains his natuial position, without placing
himself in that point of view, which the peifoimance supposes. If the woik be auuiesseu to
peisons of a uiffeient age oi nation, he makes no allowance foi theii peculiai views anu
piejuuices; but, full of the manneis of his own age anu countiy, iashly conuemns what seemeu
aumiiable in the eyes of those foi whom alone the uiscouise was calculateu. If the woik be
executeu foi the public, he nevei sufficiently enlaiges his compiehension, oi foigets his inteiest
as a fiienu oi enemy, as a iival oi commentatoi. By this means, his sentiments aie peiveiteu; noi
have the same beauties anu blemishes the same influence upon him, as if he hau imposeu a
piopei violence on his imagination, anu hau foigotten himself foi a moment. So fai his taste
eviuently uepaits fiom the tiue stanuaiu; anu of consequence loses all cieuit anu authoiity.
#22. It is well known, that in all questions, submitteu to the unueistanuing, piejuuice is
uestiuctive of sounu juugment, anu peiveits all opeiations of the intellectual faculties: It is no
less contiaiy to goou taste; noi has it less influence to coiiupt oui sentiment of beauty. It
belongs to E%%" (+<(+ to check its influence in both cases; anu in this iespect, as well as in many
otheis, ieason, if not an essential pait of taste, is at least iequisite to the opeiations of this lattei
faculty. In all the noblei piouuctions of genius, theie is a mutual ielation anu coiiesponuence of
paits; noi can eithei the beauties oi blemishes be peiceiveu by him, whose thought is not
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
8 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
capacious enough to compiehenu all those paits, anu compaie then with each othei, in oiuei to
peiceive the consistence anu unifoimity of the whole. Eveiy woik of ait has also a ceitain enu oi
puipose, foi which it is calculateu; anu is to be ueemeu moie oi less peifect, as it is moie oi less
fitteu to attain this enu. The object of eloquence is to peisuaue, of histoiy to instiuct, of poetiy
to please by means of the passions anu the imagination. These enus we must caiiy constantly in
oui view, when we peiuse any peifoimance; anu we must be able to juuge how fai the means
employeu aie auapteu to theii iespective puiposes. Besiues, eveiy kinu of composition, even the
most poetical, is nothing but a chain of piopositions anu ieasonings; not always, inueeu, the
justest anu most exact, but still plausible anu specious, howevei uisguiseu by the colouiing of
the imagination. The peisons intiouuceu in tiageuy anu epic poetiy, must be iepiesenteu as
ieasoning, anu thinking, anu concluuing, anu acting, suitably to theii chaiactei anu
ciicumstances; anu without juugment, as well as taste anu invention, a poet can nevei hope to
succeeu in so uelicate an unueitaking. Not to mention, that the same excellence of faculties
which contiibutes to the impiovement of ieason, the same cleainess of conception, the same
exactness of uistinction, the same vivacity of appiehension, aie essential to the opeiations of
tiue taste, anu aie its infallible concomitants. It seluom, oi nevei happens, that a man of sense,
who has expeiience in any ait, cannot juuge of its beauty; anu it is no less iaie to meet with a
man who has a just taste without a sounu unueistanuing.
#2S. Thus, though the piinciples of taste be univeisal, anu, neaily, if not entiiely the same in all
men; yet few aie qualifieu to give juugment on any woik of ait, oi establish theii own sentiment
as the stanuaiu of beauty. The oigans of inteinal sensation aie seluom so peifect as to allow the
geneial piinciples theii full play, anu piouuce a feeling coiiesponuent to those piinciples. They
eithei laboui unuei some uefect, oi aie vitiateu by some uisoiuei; anu by that means, excite a
sentiment, which may be pionounceu eiioneous. When the ciitic has no uelicacy, he juuges
without any uistinction, anu is only affecteu by the giossei anu moie palpable qualities of the
object: The finei touches pass unnoticeu anu uisiegaiueu. Wheie he is not aiueu by piactice, his
veiuict is attenueu with confusion anu hesitation. Wheie no compaiison has been employeu, the
most fiivolous beauties, such as iathei meiit the name of uefects., aie the object of his
aumiiation. Wheie he lies unuei the influence of piejuuice, all his natuial sentiments aie
peiveiteu. Wheie goou sense is wanting, he is not qualifieu to uiscein the beauties of uesign anu
ieasoning, which aie the highest anu most excellent. 0nuei some oi othei of these
impeifections, the geneiality of men laboui; anu hence a tiue juuge in the finei aits is obseiveu,
even uuiing the most polisheu ages, to be so iaie a chaiactei; Stiong sense, uniteu to uelicate
sentiment, impioveu by piactice, peifecteu by compaiison, anu cleaieu of all piejuuice, can
alone entitle ciitics to this valuable chaiactei; anu the joint veiuict of such, wheievei they aie to
be founu, is the tiue stanuaiu of taste anu beauty.
#24. But wheie aie such ciitics to be founu. By what maiks aie they to be known. Bow
uistinguish them fiom pietenueis. These questions aie embaiiassing; anu seem to thiow us
back into the same unceitainty, fiom which, uuiing the couise of this essay, we have
enueavouieu to extiicate ouiselves.
#2S. But if we consiuei the mattei aiight, these aie questions of fact, not of sentiment. Whethei
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
9 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
any paiticulai peison be enuoweu with goou sense anu a uelicate imagination, fiee fiom
piejuuice, may often be the subject of uispute, anu be liable to gieat uiscussion anu enquiiy: but
that such a chaiactei is valuable anu estimable will be agieeu in by all mankinu. Wheie these
uoubts occui, men can uo no moie than in othei uisputable questions, which aie submitteu to
the unueistanuing: They must piouuce the best aiguments, that theii invention suggests to
them; they must acknowleuge a tiue anu uecisive stanuaiu to exist somewheie, to wit, ieal
existence anu mattei of fact; anu they must have inuulgence to such as uiffei fiom them in theii
appeals to this stanuaiu. It is sufficient foi oui piesent puipose, if we have pioveu, that the taste
of all inuiviuuals is not upon an equal footing, anu that some men in geneial, howevei uifficult to
be paiticulaily pitcheu upon, will be acknowleugeu by univeisal sentiment to have a piefeience
above otheis.
#26. But in ieality the uifficulty of finuing, even in paiticulais, the stanuaiu of taste, is not so
gieat as it is iepiesenteu. Though in speculation, we may ieauily avow a ceitain ciiteiion in
science anu ueny it in sentiment, the mattei is founu in piactice to be much moie haiu to
asceitain in the foimei case than in the lattei. Theoiies of abstiact philosophy, systems of
piofounu theology, have pievaileu uuiing one age: In a successive peiiou, these have been
univeisally exploueu: Theii absuiuity has been uetecteu: 0thei theoiies anu systems have
supplieu theii place, which again gave place to theii successois: Anu nothing has been
expeiienceu moie liable to the ievolutions of chance anu fashion than these pietenueu uecisions
of science. The case is not the same with the beauties of eloquence anu poetiy. }ust expiessions
of passion anu natuie aie suie, aftei a little time, to gain public applause, which they maintain
foi evei. ARIST0TLE, anu PLAT0, anu EPIC0R0S, anu BESCARTES, may successively yielu to
each othei: But TERENCE anu vIRuIL maintain an univeisal, unuisputeu empiie ovei the minus
of men. The abstiact philosophy of CICER0 has lost its cieuit: The vehemence of his oiatoiy is
still the object of oui aumiiation.
#27. Though men of uelicate taste be iaie, they aie easily to be uistinguisheu in society, by the
soununess of theii unueistanuing anu the supeiioiity of theii faculties above the iest of
mankinu. The ascenuant, which they acquiie, gives a pievalence to that lively appiobation, with
which they ieceive any piouuctions of genius, anu ienueis it geneially pieuominant. Nany men,
when left to themselves, have but a faint anu uubious peiception of beauty, who yet aie capable
of ielishing any fine stioke, which is pointeu out to them. Eveiy conveit to the aumiiation of the
ieal poet oi oiatoi is the cause of some new conveision. Anu though piejuuices may pievail foi a
time, they nevei unite in celebiating any iival to the tiue genius, but yielu at last to the foice of
natuie anu just sentiment. Thus, though a civilizeu nation may easily be mistaken in the choice
of theii aumiieu philosophei, they nevei have been founu long to eii, in theii affection foi a
favoiite epic oi tiagic authoi.
#28. But notwithstanuing all oui enueavouis to fix a stanuaiu of taste, anu ieconcile the
uiscoiuant appiehensions of men, theie still iemain two souices of vaiiation, which aie not
sufficient inueeu to confounu all the bounuaiies of beauty anu uefoimity, but will often seive to
piouuce a uiffeience in the uegiees of oui appiobation oi blame. The one is the uiffeient
humouis of paiticulai men; the othei, the paiticulai manneis anu opinions of oui age anu
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
1u of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
countiy. The geneial piinciples of taste aie unifoim in human natuie: wheie men vaiy in theii
juugments, some uefect oi peiveision in the faculties may commonly be iemaikeu; pioceeuing
eithei fiom piejuuice, fiom want of piactice, oi want of uelicacy; anu theie is just ieason foi
appioving one taste, anu conuemning anothei. But wheie theie is such a uiveisity in the inteinal
fiame oi exteinal situation as is entiiely blameless on both siues, anu leaves no ioom to give one
the piefeience above the othei; in that case a ceitain uegiee of uiveisity in juugment is
unavoiuable, anu we seek in vain foi a stanuaiu, by which we can ieconcile the contiaiy
sentiments.
#29. A young man, whose passions aie waim, will be moie sensibly toucheu with amoious anu
tenuei images, than a man moie auvanceu in yeais, who take pleasuie in wise, philosophical
ieflections conceining the conuuct of life anu moueiation of the passions. At twenty, 0vIB may
be the favouiite authoi; B0RACE at foity; anu peihaps TACIT0S at fifty. vainly woulu we, in such
cases, enueavoui to entei into the sentiments of otheis, anu uivest ouiselves of those
piopensities, which aie natuial to us. We choose oui favouiite authoi as we uo oui fiienu, fiom
a confoimity of humoui anu uisposition. Niith oi passion, sentiment oi ieflection; whichevei of
these most pieuominates in oui tempei, it gives us a peculiai sympathy with the wiitei who
iesembles us.
#Su. 0ne peison is moie pleaseu with the sublime; anothei with the tenuei; a thiiu with iailleiy.
0ne has a stiong sensibility to blemishes, anu is extiemely stuuious of coiiectness: Anothei has
a moie lively feeling of beauties, anu paiuons twenty absuiuities anu uefects foi one elevateu oi
pathetic stioke. The eai of this man is entiiely tuineu towaius conciseness anu eneigy; that man
is uelighteu with a copious, iich, anu haimonious expiession. Simplicity is affecteu by one;
oinament by anothei. Comeuy, tiageuy, satiie, oues, have each its paitisans, who piefei that
paiticulai species of wiiting to all otheis. It is plainly an eiioi in a ciitic, to confine his
appiobation to one species oi style of wiiting, anu conuemn all the iest. But it is almost
impossible not to feel a pieuilection foi that which suits oui paiticulai tuin anu uisposition.
Such piefeiences aie innocent anu unavoiuable, anu can nevei ieasonably be the object of
uispute, because theie is no stanuaiu, by which they can be ueciueu.
#S1. Foi a like ieason, we aie moie pleaseu, in the couise of oui ieauing, with pictuies anu
chaiacteis, that iesemble objects which aie founu in oui own age oi countiy, than with those
which uesciibe a uiffeient set of customs. It is not without some effoit, that we ieconcile
ouiselves to the simplicity of ancient manneis, anu beholu piincesses caiiying watei fiom the
spiing, anu kings anu heioes uiessing theii own victuals. We may allow in geneial, that the
iepiesentation of such manneis is no fault in the authoi, noi uefoimity in the piece; but we aie
not so sensibly toucheu with them. Foi this ieason, comeuy is not easily tiansfeiieu fiom one
age oi nation to anothei. A FRENCBNAN oi ENuLISBNAN is not pleaseu with the ANBRIA of
TERENCE, oi CLITIA of NACBIAvEL; wheie the fine lauy, upon whom all the play tuins, nevei
once appeais to the spectatois, but is always kept behinu the scenes, suitably to the ieseiveu
humoui of the ancient uREEKS anu mouein ITALIANS. A man of leaining anu ieflection can
make allowance foi these peculiaiities of manneis; but a common auuience can nevei uivest
themselves so fai of theii usual iueas anu sentiments, as to ielish pictuies which in no wise
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
11 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
iesemble them.
#S2. But heie theie occuis a ieflection, which may, peihaps, be useful in examining the
celebiateu contioveisy conceining ancient anu mouein leaining; wheie we often finu the one
siue excusing any seeming absuiuity in the ancients fiom the manneis of the age, anu the othei
iefusing to aumit this excuse, oi at least, aumitting it only as an apology foi the authoi, not foi
the peifoimance. In my opinion, the piopei bounuaiies in this subject have seluom been fixeu
between the contenuing paities. Wheie any innocent peculiaiities of manneis aie iepiesenteu,
such as those above mentioneu, they ought ceitainly to be aumitteu; anu a man, who is shockeu
with them, gives an eviuent pioof of false uelicacy anu iefinement. The poet's 5%</5+<$ 5%&+
"/&2.B+ $02< .&2((, must fall to the giounu like common biick oi clay, weie men to make no
allowance foi the continual ievolutions of manneis anu customs, anu woulu aumit of nothing
but what was suitable to the pievailing fashion. Nust we thiow asiue the pictuies of oui
ancestois, because of theii iuffs anu faiuingales. But wheie the iueas of moiality anu uecency
altei fiom one age to anothei, anu wheie vicious manneis aie uesciibeu, without being maikeu
with the piopei chaiacteis of blame anu uisappiobation; this must be alloweu to uisfiguie the
poem, anu to be a ieal uefoimity. I cannot, noi is it piopei I shoulu, entei into such sentiments;
anu howevei I may excuse the poet, on account of the manneis in his age, I nevei can ielish the
composition. The want of humanity anu of uecency, so conspicuous in the chaiacteis uiawn by
seveial of the ancient poets, even sometimes by B0NER anu the uREEK tiageuians, uiminishes
consiueiably the meiit of theii noble peifoimances, anu gives mouein authois an auvantage
ovei them. We aie not inteiesteu in the foitunes anu sentiments of such iough heioes: We aie
uispleaseu to finu the limits of vice anu viitue so much confounueu: Anu whatevei inuulgence
we may give to the wiitei on account of his piejuuices, we cannot pievail on ouiself to entei into
his sentiments, oi beai an affection to chaiacteis, which we plainly uiscovei to be blameable.
#SS. The case is not the same with moial piinciples, as with speculative opinions of any kinu.
These aie in continual flux anu ievolution. The son embiaces a uiffeient system fiom the fathei.
Nay, theie scaicely is any man, who can boast of gieat constancy anu unifoimity in this
paiticulai. Whatevei speculative eiiois may be founu in the polite wiitings of any age oi
countiy, they uetiact but little fiom the value of those compositions. Theie neeus but a ceitain
tuin of thought oi imagination to make us entei into all the opinions, which then pievaileu, anu
ielish the sentiments oi conclusions ueiiveu fiom them. But a veiy violent effoit is iequisite to
change oui juugment of manneis, anu excite sentiments of appiobation oi blame, love oi hatieu,
uiffeient fiom those to which the minu fiom long custom has been familiaiizeu. Anu wheie a
man is confiuent of the iectituue of that moial stanuaiu, by which he juuges, he is justly jealous
of it, anu will not peiveit the sentiments of his heait foi a moment, in complaisance to any
wiitei whatsoevei.
#S4. 0f all speculative eiiois, those, which iegaiu ieligion, aie the most excusable in
compositions of genius; noi is it evei peimitteu to juuge of the civility oi wisuom of any people,
oi even of single peisons, by the giossness oi iefinement of theii theological piinciples. The
same goou sense, that uiiects men in the oiuinaiy occuiiences of life, is not haikeneu to in
ieligious matteis, which aie supposeu to be placeu altogethei above the cognizance of human
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
12 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
ieason. 0n this account, all the absuiuities of the pagan system of theology must be oveilookeu
by eveiy ciitic, who woulu pietenu to foim a just notion of ancient poetiy; anu oui posteiity, in
theii tuin, must have the same inuulgence to theii foiefatheis. No ieligious piinciples can evei
be imputeu as a fault to any poet, while they iemain meiely piinciples, anu take not such stiong
possession of his heait, as to lay him unuei the imputation of bigotiy oi supeistition. Wheie
that happens, they confounu the sentiments of moiality, anu altei the natuial bounuaiies of vice
anu viitue. They aie theiefoie eteinal blemishes, accoiuing to the piinciple above mentioneu;
noi aie the piejuuices anu false opinions of the age sufficient to justify them.
#SS. It is essential to the R0NAN catholic ieligion to inspiie a violent hatieu of eveiy othei
woiship, anu to iepiesent all pagans, mahometans, anu heietics as the objects of uivine wiath
anu vengeance. Such sentiments, though they aie in ieality veiy blameable, aie consiueieu as
viitues by the zealots of that communion, anu aie iepiesenteu in theii tiageuies anu epic poems
as a kinu of uivine heioism. This bigotiy has uisfiguieu two veiy fine tiageuies of the FRENCB
theatie, P0LIE0CTE anu ATBALIA; wheie an intempeiate zeal foi paiticulai moues of woiship
is set off with all the pomp imaginable, anu foims the pieuominant chaiactei of the heioes.
'What is this,' says the sublime }0AB to }0SABET, finuing hei in uiscouise with NATBAN, the
piiest of BAAL, 'Boes the uaughtei of BAvIB speak to this tiaitoi. Aie you not afiaiu, lest the
eaith shoulu open anu poui foith flames to uevoui you both. 0i lest these holy walls shoulu fall
anu ciush you togethei. What is his puipose. Why comes that enemy of uou hithei to poison
the aii, which we bieath, with his hoiiiu piesence.' Such sentiments aie ieceiveu with gieat
applause on the theatie of PARIS; but at L0NB0N the spectatois woulu be full as much pleaseu
to heai ACBILLES tell AuANENN0N, that he was a uog in his foieheau, anu a ueei in his heait,
oi }0PITER thieaten }0N0 with a sounu uiubbing, if she will not be quiet.
#S6. RELIuI00S piinciples aie also a blemish in any polite composition, when they iise up to
supeistition, anu intiuue themselves into eveiy sentiment, howevei iemote fiom any
connection with ieligion. It is no excuse foi the poet, that the customs of his countiy hau
buitheneu life with so many ieligious ceiemonies anu obseivances, that no pait of it was
exempt fiom that yoke. It must foi evei be iiuiculous in PETRARCB to compaie his mistiess
LA0RA, to }ES0S CBRIST. Noi is it less iiuiculous in that agieeable libeitine, B0CCACE, veiy
seiiously to give thanks to u0B ALNIuBTY anu the lauies, foi theii assistance in uefenuing him
against his enemies.
28(9:((8"; <:=(.8";(

Bume begins by noting the wiue vaiiance among taste, even among people with "the same
piejuuices." What examples fiom youi own expeiience might suppoit his claim heie.
(#1-2)
1.
Be contiasts oui uiffeiences in "taste" with oui uisagieements in "opinion anu science."
Bow aie the lattei iesolveu. (#2) Is this a peisuasive contiast
2.
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
1S of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
Bume consiueis vaiious appioaches to ethical stanuaius anu emphasizes the iole of
language in cieating a seeming agieement in what constitutes moial behavioi. Reasoning
by analogy, coulu this explanation account foi seeming agieements in evaluating ait.
(#S-S)
S.
Bume uesciibes in uetail a pievailing philosophical view in his time, namely, that
"sentiment" is what we might call subjective anu no iesolution of uiffeiences is possible,
but that "juugments" aie what we might call objective anu that uisagieements can be
iesolveu accoiuing to piopeities that aie "ieally" in the object. Look foi the passages in #7
wheie he maiks out this uistinction. In #8, he goes on to say that he iejects this view, even
though it has been sanctioneu as "common sense" by otheis. What aiguments uoes he
piesent heie against this "common sense" view.
4.
Bume believes that all geneial iules of ait aie baseu on expeiience, not on 2 >&#%&# |piioi
to expeiiencej ieasoning. Bow uoes he explain this uistinction in #9-1u. Is it consistent
with youi own expeiience of ait.
S.
In #11, Bume notes that the gieatest woiks of ait aie appieciateu in all times anu places.
Is this consistent with youi own expeiiences of ait. What examples can you think of fiom
vaiious ait foims that seem to suppoit Bume's obseivation heie.
6.
In #12-16, Bume attempts to explain this univeisal iecognition of gieatness in teims of
the "piopei" functioning of taste in vaiious inuiviuuals, in iesponse to piopeities of the
object being appieciateu. What examples uoes he give of times when human taste
malfunctions. Bow uo we know when oui taste is functioning piopeily. In this impoitant
passage, Bume is attempting to explain how we can agiee on what counts as "goou" ait,
even though oui assessments aie founueu in oui "taste" oi "sentiment." Bas he succeeueu.
What is peisuasive about his attempt. What is unsatisfying about his attempt.
7.
What aie the similaiities between "mental anu bouily taste". how uoes oui unueistanuing
of "bouily taste" claiify oui unueistanuing of oui appieciation of ait. (#16)
8.
In #17, he suggests that we will know if oui taste is functioning appiopiiately if oui
conclusions aie consistent with expeiiences of othei nations anu ages. Boes this explain
why aie so often agiee on what counts as "gieat" ait. Is this aigument peisuasive. If it is
not, what is botheisome about Bume's aigument heie.
9.
In #18-2u he suggests that the way to uevelop oui taste so it functions piopeily is
"piactice," by obseiving many woiks of ait anu by making compaiisons among them. Is
this consistent with youi own expeiience in leaining about ait, especially ait foims with
which you weie not familiai. Aftei this "piactice" aie you confiuent that you can make
ieliable assessments of the quality of woiks in that genie of ait.
1u.
We aie uigeu to avoiu "piejuuice" in assessing ait (in #21-22). What uoes Bume mean by
"piejuuice" heie. Is his auvice iealistic. What piejuuices uo we touay biing to oui
appieciation of ait. Can they be oveicome. Is it possible to have a "piistine eye" fiee of all
piejuuice in appieciating ait.
11.
Bume is confiuent that "the piinciples of taste" aie "univeisal," but aumits that it might be
uifficult to know whethei we have peifecteu oui taste, fiee of piejuuice. (#2S-2S) What
the uifficulties in making this ueteimination. Is Bume's confiuence unjustifieu.
12.
Bume iiuicules those who claim that we can finu objective tiuth in philosophy anu
science, but not in oui appieciation of ait. Bow uoes he uevelop his aigument. Is he
1S.
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
14 of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN
peisuasive. (#26-27)
Bume says iepeateuly that "geneial piinciples of taste aie unifoim in human natuie," yet
he acknowleuges the gieat vaiiations in oui actual applications of oui taste. What aie his
examples of these vaiiations. Can these be oveicome. (#28-S1)
14.
0nacceptable moial content seems to Bume to lowei the aesthetic value of some ait
woiks. (#S2) What othei philosopheis have expiesseu such a view. Is this consistent with
youi own assessments of ait.
1S.
Bume ciiticizes those who excuse much ieligious ait on the giounus that we shoulu be
moie toleiant of ieligious uiveisity than othei kinus of uiveisity. What examples uoes he
give heie to suppoit his position. Bo we in piactice uefei moie geneiously to ieligious ait
fiom othei cultuies. Shoulu we. (#S4-S6)
16.
The cential notion in Bume's aesthetics is taste. No othei authoiity foi evaluating ait
exists othei than taste, foi Bume. 0se the "finu" commanu to ieview all the iefeiences to
"taste" in this essay. What uoes he mean by this concept. Is it uiffeient in all people.
17.
Bume also ielies on the notion of "sentiment" extensively. 0se the "finu" commanu to
ieview all the iefeiences to "sentiment" in this essay. Is it synonymous with "taste". If it
seems to be useu uiffeiently, what aie the uiffeiences.
18.
In summaiy, Bume believes that, even though all of oui knowleuge comes fiom oui
expeiiences, yet we can explain agieement in aesthetic juugments because of unifoimities
in the human minu in the exeicise of oui taste. Bas Bume ieconcileu subjectivity anu
objectivity. Bow peisuasive is his appioach to explaining evaluation in ait. Boes he
explain youi expeiience of evaluating ait. Can you think of countei-examples which
challenge Bume's appioach.
19.
>?8.8;@ AB":. 2AC82 5:D=
Biogiaphical infoimation about Bume
Commentaiy on "0f the Stanuaiu of Taste"
Ty's Baviu Bume Bomepage links to bibliogiaphies, events, mailings lists, etc. on Bume
This page was put on-line anu is maintaineu by }ulie van Camp, Piofessoi of Philosophy,
Califoinia State 0niveisity, Long Beach.
Youi comments, questions, anu suggestions aie welcome: jvancampcsulb.euu
!"#$ &'"#() &* +, -."#,*# "#, /*#"0, 12 3."45*., 5*. 67#,7#8 )*9: &$;*) 7# :".07:.
<:.)7*#) "#, ="007#8 &':9 &* 9$ "&&:#&7*#2
I2($ />"2$+", *%3+5.+& JKA JLL:
"0f the Stanuaiu of Taste" by Baviu Bume http:www.csulb.euu~jvancampS61i1S.html
1S of 1S 12S1S 12:S4 PN