"Of the Standard of Taste" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

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Copyright 1997, Julie Van Camp ([email protected]). See end note for
details on copyright and editing conventions. This is a working draft;
please report errors.[1]

Editor's note: " Of the Standard of Taste" appeared in 1757 in Hume's
Four Dissertations. The text file here is based on the 1875 Green and
Grose edition of Hume's Writings. Spelling and punctuation have not
been modernized.

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Of the Standard of Taste



The great variety of Taste, as well as of opinion, which
prevails in the world, is too obvious not to have fallen under
every one's observation. Men of the most confined knowledge
are able to remark a difference of taste in the narrow circle
of their acquaintance, even where the persons have been
educated under the same government, and have early imbibed the
same prejudices. But those, who can enlarge their view to
contemplate distance nations and remote ages, are still more
surprised at the great inconsistence and contrariety. We are
apt to call barbarous whatever departs widely from our own
taste and apprehension: But soon find the epithet of reproach
retorted on us. And the highest arrogance and self-conceit is
at last startled, on observing an equal assurance on all
sides, and scruples, amidst such a contest of sentiment, to
pronounce positively in its own favour.

As this variety of taste is obvious to the most careless
enquirer; so will it be found, on examination, to be still
greater in reality than in appearance. The sentiments of men
often differ with regard to beauty and deformity of all kinds,
even while their general discourse is the same. There are
certain terms in every language, which import blame, and
others praise; and all men, who use the same tongue, must
agree in their application of them. Every voice is united in
applauding elegance, propriety, simplicity, spirit in writing;
and in blaming fustian, affectation, coldness and a false
brilliancy: But when critics come to particulars, this seeming
unanimity vanishes; and it is found, that they had affixed a
very different meaning to their expressions. In all matters of
opinion and science, the case it opposite: The difference
among men is there oftener found to lie in generals than in