Single Idea 6608

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 3. Taste]

Full Idea

Strong sense, united to delicate sentiment, improved by practice, perfected by comparison, and cleared of all prejudice, can alone entitle critics to the valuable character of having 'taste'.

Gist of Idea

Strong sense, delicate sentiment, practice, comparisons, and lack of prejudice, are all needed for good taste

Source

David Hume (Of the standard of taste [1757]), quoted by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason Ch.6

Book Reference

Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.159


A Reaction

I agree entirely with this, but then I am a very politically incorrect elitist when it comes to taste. It just seems screamingly obvious that professional wine-tasters have a better appreciation of wine than me, and so on for the rest of the arts.