Criticism and TasteEnglish Minor I

Literature in the Eighteenth CenturyLettered, cultivated publicForum for polite conversation on a wide range of social, political, philosophical, literary, religious issuesType of interaction: personal and communal conversationValues (moral and social virtues): companionship, friendship, politeness, civility, sociability Informal public sites: salons, coffee-houses, academiesNew genres of publication: the periodical essay; the Spectator projectCentral issues: The qualifications of a critic = (moral) portrait over rigid rules; or: the critical personaThe 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.

Popes critical persona: a moral personaThe bad criticprideignorance; partiality; superficialityaffectation; self-importanceinconsistency, hypocrisy, inconstancyenvy and spite; self-love

The good critictruth and candormodestygood breedingsincerity, generosityrestraint

Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism (continued)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?

Joseph Addison, Of 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.

Joseph Addison, Of Taste (continued)

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 Mens Parts and Reflections as well as our own.

David Hume, Of the Standard of Taste (1757)The problem of the diversity of tastes (as of opinions, or of moral norms); a sceptical problem.But seeking a standard of taste is a natural human propensity.

Poetry: rules of art/criticism (rather than a priori principles) - available to the discriminating mind; the finer emotions of the mind | cf. the maxims of prudence in the moral domain (Swift)How do I know I have sound taste? - the test of confrontation with established works How do I know a work has value?- the test of time

David Hume, Of the Standard of Taste (continued)There is a sound taste and a defective taste (of the palate as of the mind)- defects: lack of delicacy of imagination, lack of good judgment | cf. the bad critic- qualities (out of improvement by practice): clear and distinct sentiment (= emotion + judgment) | cf. the good critic

But where are such critics to be found? | cf. the wheres the man question (Pope)

A man of taste is more easily recognised than defined.