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Full Idea
An historian can elucidate convention while having no feeling for the art that exploits it; whereas an understanding of tradition is reserved for those with the critical insight which comes from the love of art, both past and present.
Gist of Idea
We can be objective about conventions, but love of art is needed to understand its traditions
Source
Roger Scruton (Public Text and Common Reader [1982], p.24)
Book Ref
Scruton,Roger: 'The Aesthetic Understanding' [Methuen 1983], p.24
A Reaction
This aesthetic observation is obviously close to Scruton's well-known conservatism in politics. I am doubtful whether the notion of 'tradition' can stand up to close examination, though we all know roughly what he means.
| 2824 | The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual [Aristotle] |
| 6611 | One man's meat is another man's poison [Lucretius] |
| 5643 | Aesthetic values are not objectively valid, but we must treat them as if they are [Kant, by Scruton] |
| 20410 | The judgement of beauty is not cognitive, but relates, via imagination, to pleasurable feelings [Kant] |
| 21927 | Schopenhauer emphasises Ideas in art, unlike most romantics [Schopenhauer, by Lewis,PB] |
| 12161 | We can be objective about conventions, but love of art is needed to understand its traditions [Scruton] |
| 8111 | Aesthetic objectivists must explain pleasure being essential, but not in the object [Gardner] |
| 6604 | Saying 'It's all a matter to taste' ignores the properties of the object discussed [Fogelin] |