Criticism, Taste, Conversation

J. Swift, “Hints towards an Essay on Conversation” (c. 1710)

 “…talking too much; talking of oneself; being clever at all costs; dictating and presiding; pedantry (‘too
frequent and unseasonable obtruding our own knowledge in common discourse, and placing too great a value
upon it’); bad raillery; interrupting others impatiently; not bearing to be interrupted; rude familiarity; re-telling
the same story too often…”
 “Therefore it seemeth to me that the truest way to understand conversation is to know the faults and errors to
which it is subject, and from thence every man to form maxims to himself whereby it may be regulated,
because it requireth few talents to which most men are not born, or at least may not acquire without any great
genius or study.”

John Locke, “Of Study” (1677)

“Reading, methinks, is but collecting the rough materials, amongst which a great deal must be laid aside as useless.
Meditation is, as it were, choosing and fitting the materials, framing the timber, squaring and laying the stones, and
raising the building. And discourse with a friend (for wrangling in a dispute is of little use) is, as it were, surveying the
structure, walking in the rooms, and observing the symmetry and agreement of the parts, taking notice of the solidity or
defects of the work, and the best way to find out and correct what is amiss.”

“Literature” and “Criticism” in the Eighteenth Century

► “Lettered”, cultivated public

► Forum for polite conversation on a wide range of social, political, philosophical, literary, religious issues
► polite, gentlemanly discourse, civility
► conversation, “commerce”, companionship, friendship
► informal public sites (salons, coffee-houses, academies)
► new genres of publication (the periodical essay; the Spectator project)

Central issues:
► The qualifications of a critic = (moral) portrait over rigid rules; or: the critical persona
► The education of taste

Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Criticism” (1711)

Learn then what MORALS Criticks ought to show,

For 'tis but half a Judge's Task, to Know.

► 'Tis not enough, Taste, Judgment, Learning, join;

In all you speak, let Truth and Candor shine:
That not alone what to your Sense is due,
All may allow; but seek your Friendship too.

► Be silent always when you doubt your Sense;

And speak, tho' sure, with seeming Diffidence:

► 'Tis not enough your Counsel still be true,

Blunt Truths more Mischief than nice Falsehood do;
Men must be taught as if you taught them not;
And Things unknown propos'd as Things forgot:
 Without Good Breeding, Truth is disapprov'd;
That only makes Superior Sense belov'd.

Pope’s critical persona: a moral persona

► The bad critic

 pride
 ignorance; partiality; superficiality
 affectation; self-importance
 inconsistency, hypocrisy, inconstancy
 envy and spite; self-love

► The good critic

 truth and candor
 modesty
 good breeding
 sincerity, generosity
 restraint

“But where's the Man, who Counsel can bestow,

Still pleas'd to teach, and not proud to know?
Unbiass'd, or by Favour or by Spite;
Not dully prepossest, nor blindly right;
Tho' Learn'd well-bred; and tho' well-bred, sincere;
Modestly bold, and Humanly severe?
Who to a Friend his Faults can freely show,
And gladly praise the Merit of a Foe?
Blest with a Taste exact, yet unconfin'd;
A Knowledge both of Books and Humankind;
Gen'rous Converse; a Sound exempt from Pride;
And Love to Praise, with Reason on his Side?”

TASTE

Joseph Addison, “On Taste” (1712)

 “But notwithstanding this Faculty must in some measure be born with us, there are several Methods for
Cultivating and Improving it, and without which it will be very uncertain, and of little use to the Person that
possesses it.  The most natural Method for this Purpose is to be conversant among the Writings of the most
Polite Authors.  A Man who has any Relish for fine Writing, either discovers new Beauties, or receives
stronger Impressions from the Masterly Strokes of a great Author every time he peruses him; Besides that he
naturally wears himself into the same manner of Speaking and Thinking.”
 “Conversation with Men of a Polite Genius is another Method for improving our Natural Taste.  It is
impossible for a Man of the greatest Parts to consider anything in its whole Extent, and in all its Variety of
Lights.  Every Man, besides those General Observations which are to be made upon an Author, forms several
Reflections that are peculiar to his own Manner of Thinking; so that Conversation will naturally furnish us
with Hints which we did not attend to, and make us enjoy other Men’s Parts and Reflections as well as our
own.”