DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48954#0224
2os b e a u t t ch. hi.
this is not a good inference, will appear from con-
sidering, that beauty , in its very conception, refers
to a percipient; for an object is said to be beau-
tiful, for no other reason but that it appears so to
a speftator: the same piece of matter that to a
man appears beautisul, may possibly appear ugly
to a being of a different species. Beauty there-
fore, which for its exislence depends on the perci-
pient as much as on the obj eft perceived, cannot
be an inherent property in either. And hence it
is wittily observed by the poet, that beauty is not
in theperson beloved, butin the lover’s eye. This
reasoning is solid; and the only cause of doubt or
hesitation is, that we are taught a different lesson
by sense : a Angular determination of nature
makes us perceive both beauty and color as be-
longing to the objeft, and, like sigure or exten-
sion , as inherent properties. This mechanism is
uncommon; and when nature, to fulfil her in-
tention, prefers any Angular method of operation,
we may be certain of some sinal cause that cannot
be reached by ordinary means. For the beauty
of some objefts we are indebted entirely to na-
ture ; but with refpeft to the endless variety of
objefts that owe their beauty to art and culture ,
the perception of beauty great-iv promotes indu-
stry ; being to us a firong additional incitement
to enrich our fields and improve our manufaftures.
These however are but ssight effefts , compared
with the connexions that are sormed among indi-
vidual's
this is not a good inference, will appear from con-
sidering, that beauty , in its very conception, refers
to a percipient; for an object is said to be beau-
tiful, for no other reason but that it appears so to
a speftator: the same piece of matter that to a
man appears beautisul, may possibly appear ugly
to a being of a different species. Beauty there-
fore, which for its exislence depends on the perci-
pient as much as on the obj eft perceived, cannot
be an inherent property in either. And hence it
is wittily observed by the poet, that beauty is not
in theperson beloved, butin the lover’s eye. This
reasoning is solid; and the only cause of doubt or
hesitation is, that we are taught a different lesson
by sense : a Angular determination of nature
makes us perceive both beauty and color as be-
longing to the objeft, and, like sigure or exten-
sion , as inherent properties. This mechanism is
uncommon; and when nature, to fulfil her in-
tention, prefers any Angular method of operation,
we may be certain of some sinal cause that cannot
be reached by ordinary means. For the beauty
of some objefts we are indebted entirely to na-
ture ; but with refpeft to the endless variety of
objefts that owe their beauty to art and culture ,
the perception of beauty great-iv promotes indu-
stry ; being to us a firong additional incitement
to enrich our fields and improve our manufaftures.
These however are but ssight effefts , compared
with the connexions that are sormed among indi-
vidual's