Truth

Truth, What is It? and Opinion, What is It Not?

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1840. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ON TASTE. ? The business of a poet,' says Imlae, 'is to examine, not the individual, but the species; to remark general properties, and large appearances.'--Rasselas. Taste is that power of discriminating in the fine arts, which, when exercised upon morals, we call judgment; and when acting upon ordinary life, is called good sense. Indeed, we frequently hear those three different applications of the same faculty confounded together, or rather perhaps we should say, used synonymously. Thus we speak of a correct judgment in pictures, or in music, or in any or every department of the fine arts. We hear likewise of a good taste displayed in the uniform propriety and suitableness of certain conduct to certain circumstances, when we know that no deeper motive has been the actuating principle. And again, we hear good sense, and a sound judgment, frequently used to express the same quality of mind; good sense elevated to judgment, and judgment brought down to the more daily and practical principle which we call common sense. Certainly not common, as implying an universal or prevailing quality; but the quality or faculty exercised upon common things. Judgment is therefore merely a higher degree of the same faculty, differing chiefly in the magnitude and importance of the objects on which it is exercised, than in essential properties; and it is practice and observation only, which can determine, where the one ends, and the other begins. Taste is merely the same principle or faculty exercised upon different objects. So different, indeed, that a good taste may be possessed in the fine arts, where there is neither judgment in conduct, nor the usually correct moral of common sense. But this will be found to arise from a too exclusive application of that faculty...