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

man, who has had no opportunity of comparing the different
kinds of beauty, is indeed totally unqualified to pronounce an
opinion with regard to any object presented to him. By
comparison alone we fix the epithets of praise or blame, and
learn how to assign the due degree of each. The coarsest
daubing contains a certain lustre of colours and exactness of
imitation, which are so far beauties, and would affect the
mind of a peasant or Indian with the highest admiration. The
most vulgar ballads are not entirely destitute of harmony or
nature; and not but a person, familiarized to superior
beauties, would pronounce their numbers harsh, or narration
uninteresting. A great inferiority of beauty gives pain to a
person conversant in the highest excellence of the kind, and
is for that reason pronounced a deformity: As the most
finished object, with which we are acquainted, is naturally
supposed to have reached the pinnacle of perfection, and to be
entitled to the highest applause. One accustomed to see, and
examine, and weigh the several performances, admired in
different ages and nations, can only rate the merits of a work
exhibited to his view, and assign its proper rank among the
productions of genius.

But to enable a critic the more fully to execute this
undertaking, he must preserve his mind free from all
prejudice, and allow nothing to enter into his consideration,
but the very object which is submitted to his examination. We
may observe, that every work of art, in order to produce its
due effect on the mind, must be surveyed in a certain point of
view, and not be fully relished by persons, whose situation,
real or imaginary, is not conformable to that which is
required by the performance. An orator addresses himself to a
particular audience, and must have a regard to their
particular genius, interests, opinions, passions, and
prejudices; otherwise he hopes in vain to govern their
resolutions, and inflame their affections. Should they even
have entertained some prepossessions against him, however
unreasonable, he must not overlook this disadvantage; but,
before he enters upon the subject, must endeavour to
conciliate their affection, and acquire their good graces. A
critic of a different age or notion, who should peruse this
discourse, must have all these circumstances in his eye, and
must place himself in the same situation as the audience, in
order to form a true judgment of the oration. In like manner,
when any work is addressed to the public, though I should have
a friendship or enmity with the author, I must depart from
this situation; and considering myself as a man in general,
forget, if possible, my individual being and my peculiar
circumstances. A person influenced by prejudice, complies not
with this condition; but obstinately maintains his natural
position, without placing himself in that point of view, which