第 37 节
作者:
巴乔的中场 更新:2021-02-19 19:22 字数:9322
h a man weaves his own thoughts or fancies; instead of merely taking in what others have thought; and even though he go so far as to bring fresh gains to art and science; this does not afford a valid reason for calling such a man of brains; and often great brains; a genius; in contradistinction to one who goes by the name of shallow…pate; because he can never do more than merely learn and follow a lead。 For what is accomplished in this way is something that could have been learned。 Hence it all lies in the natural path of investigation and reflection according to rules; and so is not specifically distinguishable from what may be acquired as the result of industry backed up by imitation。 So all that Newton bas set forth in his immortal work on the Principles of Natural Philosophy may well be learned; however great a mind it took to find it all out; but we cannot learn to write in a true poetic vein; no matter how complete all the precepts of the poetic art may be; or however excellent its models。 The reason is that all the steps that Newton had to take from the first elements of geometry to his greatest and most profound discoveries were such as he could make intuitively evident and plain to follow; not only for himself but for every one else。 On the other hand; no Homer or Wieland can show how his ideas; so rich at once in fancy and in thought; enter and assemble themselves in his brain; for the good reason that he does not himself know; and so cannot teach others。 In matters of science; therefore; the greatest inventor differs only in degree from the most laborious imitator and apprentice; whereas he differs specifically from one endowed by nature for fine art。 No disparagement; however; of those great men; to whom the human race is so deeply indebted; is involved in this comparison of them with those who on the score of their talent for fine art are the elect of nature。 The talent for science is formed for the continued advances of greater perfection in knowledge; with all its dependent practical advantages; as also for imparting the same to others。 Hence scientists can boast a ground of considerable superiority over those who merit the honour of being called geniuses; since genius reaches a point at which art must make a halt; as there is a limit imposed upon it which it cannot transcend。 This limit has in all probability been long since attained。 In addition; such skill cannot be communicated; but requires to be bestowed directly from the hand of nature upon each individual; and so with him it dies; awaiting the day when nature once again endows another in the same way…one who needs no more than an example to set the talent of which he is conscious at work on similar lines。 Seeing; then; that the natural endowment of art (as fine art) must furnish the rule; what kind of rule must this be? It cannot be one set down in a formula and serving as a precept…for then the judgement upon the beautiful would be determinable according to concepts。 Rather must the rule be gathered from the performance; i。e。; from the product; which others may use to put their own talent to the test; so as to let it serve as a model; not for imitation; but for following。 The possibility of this is difficult to explain。 The artist's ideas arouse like ideas on the part of his pupil; presuming nature to have visited him with a like proportion of the mental Powers。 For this reason; the models of fine art are the only means of handing down this art to posterity。 This is something which cannot be done by mere descriptions (especially not in the line of the arts of speech); and in these arts; furthermore; only those models can become classical of which the ancient; dead languages; preserved as learned; are the medium。 Despite the marked difference that distinguishes mechanical art; as an art merely depending upon industry and learning; from fine art; as that of genius; there is still no fine art in which something mechanical; capable of being at once comprehended and followed in obedience to rules; and consequently something academic; does not constitute the essential condition of the art。 For the thought of something as end must be present; or else its product would not be ascribed to an art at all; but would be a mere product of chance。 But the effectuation of an end necessitates determinate rules which we cannot venture to dispense with。 Now; seeing that originality of talent is one (though not the sole) essential factor that goes to make up the character of genius; shallow minds fancy that the best evidence they can give of their being full…blown geniuses is by emancipating themselves from all academic constraint of rules; in the belief that one cuts a finer figure on the back of an ill…tempered than of a trained horse。 Genius can do no more than furnish rich material for products of fine art; its elaboration and its form require a talent academically trained; so that it may be employed in such a way as to stand the test of judgement。 But; for a person to hold forth and pass sentence like a genius in matters that fall to the province of the most patient rational investigation; is ridiculous in the extreme。1 One is at a loss to know whether to laugh more at the impostor who envelops himself in such a cloud…in which we are given fuller scope to our imagination at the expense of all use of our critical faculty…or at the simple…minded public which imagines that its inability clearly to cognize and comprehend this masterpiece of penetration is due to its being invaded by new truths en masse; in comparison with which; detail; due to carefully weighed exposition and an academic examination of root principles; seems to it only the work of a tyro。
SS 48。 The relation of genius to taste。
For estimating beautiful objects; as such; what is required is taste; but for fine art; i。e。; the production of such objects; one needs genius。 If we consider genius as the talent for fine art (which the proper signification of the word imports); and if we would analyse it from this point of view into the faculties which must concur to constitute such a talent; it is imperative at the outset accurately to determine the difference between beauty of nature; which it only requires taste to estimate; and beauty of art; which requires genius for its possibility (a possibility to which regard must also be paid in estimating such an object)。 A beauty of nature is a beautiful thing; beauty of art is a beautiful representation of a thing。 To enable me to estimate a beauty of nature; as such; I do not need to be previously possessed of a concept of what sort of a thing the object is intended to be; i。e。; I am not obliged to know its material finality (the end); but; rather; in forming an estimate of it apart from any knowledge of the end; the mere form pleases on its own account。 If; however; the object is presented as a product of art; and is as such to be declared beautiful; then; seeing that art always presupposes an end in the cause (and its causality); a concept of what the thing is intended to be must first of all be laid at its basis。 And; since the agreement of the manifold in a thing with an inner character belonging to it as its end constitutes the perfection of the thing; it follows that in estimating beauty of art the perfection of the thing must be also taken into account…a matter which in estimating a beauty of nature; as beautiful; is quite irrevelant。 It is true that in forming an estimate; especially of animate objects of nature; e。g。; of a man or a horse; objective finality is also commonly taken into account with a view to judgement upon their beauty; but then the judgement also ceases to be purely aesthetic; i。e。; a mere judgement of taste。 Nature is no longer estimated as it appears like art; but rather in so far as it actually is art; though superhuman art; and the teleological judgement serves as a basis and condition of the aesthetic; and one which the latter must regard。 In such a case; where one says; for example; 〃That is a beautiful woman;〃 what one in fact thinks is only this; that in her form nature excellently portrays the ends present in the female figure。 For one has to extend one's view beyond the mere form to a concept; to enable the object to be thought in such manner by means of an aesthetic judgement logically conditioned。 Where fine art evidences its superiority is in the beautiful descriptions it gives of things that in nature would be ugly or displeasing。 The Furies; diseases; devastations of war; and the like; can (as evils) be very beautifully described; nay even represented in pictures。 One kind of ugliness alone is incapable of being represented conformably to nature without destroying all aesthetic delight; and consequently artistic beauty; namely; that which excites disgust。 For; as in this strange sensation; which depends purely on the imagination; the object is represented as insisting; as it were; upon our enjoying it; while we still set our face against it; the artificial representation of the object is no longer distinguishable from the nature of the object itself in our sensation; and so it cannot possibly be regarded as beautiful。 The art of sculpture; again; since in its products art is almost confused with nature; h