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Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten

Aesthetica

Interlinear Beta v2 · §§551–575

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§ 551

De definitionibus et descriptionibus aestheticis est specialis in nostra disciplina tractandi locus.

Concerning aesthetic definitions and descriptions there is in our discipline a special place for treating them.

Hic earum tantum attendenda est in pulcre probando vis et efficacia, § 550. Quemadmodum olim graeci oceano se suaque tradentes ad cursum ursae maioris, velut ad ducem viae suspiciebant, phoenices autem ad Cynosuram directius gubernabant: ita quo verior, quo exactior erit de pulcre cogitandis mente concepta definitio, hoc omnis venustae meditationis decursus erit verisimilior, verior, certior, quo vero crassior, quo pluribus iam conceptibus adhaerentibus erroneis scatens primus eleganter cogitandi sit conceptus, hoc facilior erit in ipsam aestheticam falsitatem declinatio.

Here only their force and efficacy in proving beautifully must be attended to, § 550. Just as once the Greeks, entrusting themselves and their goods to the ocean, looked up to the course of the greater Bear as to a guide of the way, while the Phoenicians steered more directly by Cynosura: so the truer, the more exact the definition conceived in the mind about things to be thought beautifully will be, by so much the whole course of graceful meditation will be more verisimilar, truer, more certain, but the coarser the first concept of thinking elegantly is, the more it teems with many erroneous adhering concepts, by so much the easier will be the turning aside into aesthetic falsity itself.

Finge de casu, fortuna, fama, honore, divitiis, amicitia, negotiis publicis, e. c. pulcre cogitaturum, qui, quid ea sint, natura sua, non melius noverit, ac omnes solent, qui sibi nihil esse magis perspectum putant, dum sciunt cum ignarissimis.

Imagine someone about to think beautifully about chance, fortune, fame, honor, wealth, friendship, public affairs, and so on, who does not know what these things are by their own nature any better than all those usually do who think nothing is more thoroughly seen by themselves, while they know along with the most ignorant.

Hinc illae tot falsae sententiae, tot imaginum deturpationes, ne verisimiles quidem, tot verborum ambages, quibus omnino nihil dicitur.

Hence those so many false maxims, so many disfigurements of images, not even verisimilar, so many circumlocutions of words by which absolutely nothing is said.

§ 552

Unam adhuc commendemus in elegantioribus probationum argumentis epanorthosin, sive correctionem.

Let us still recommend one thing among the more elegant arguments of proofs: epanorthosis, or correction.

Primo, repetamus animis, quid verum et exactum, in quo limatur ipsa veritas, utique differant.

First, let us recall in our minds how truth and exactness, in which truth itself is polished, certainly differ.

M. § 515. Hinc inferamus: Sicut veritas qualiscunque non est exacta, sic cogitari etiam potest Aesthetica Veritas et verisimilitudo Crassa quaedam et nimis popularis, immo paene plebeia; potest eadem ad lapidem lydium, nisi purioris rationis et intellectus, ut ita dicam, scientifici, tamen delicatioris saporis et maturi iudicii, etiamsi sensitivi, qua partem potiorem, exigi.

Metaphysics § 515. From this let us infer: just as truth of whatever sort is not exact, so an Aesthetic Truth and verisimilitude can also be thought that is Coarse and too popular, indeed almost plebeian; The same can be tested at a Lydian stone, if not of purer reason and of intellect, so to speak, scientific, nevertheless of more delicate taste and mature judgment, even if sensitive, for the better part.

Possunt ex eadem poliendo tolli conceptus adhaerentes, nisi falsi omnes, ii tamen, quos nonnihil falsitatis etiam aestheticae tuis materiis illaturos verearis.

From the same, by polishing, adhering concepts can be removed; if not all false ones, at least those which you fear would bring some aesthetic falsity into your materials.

Haec est Veritas et verisimilitudo Aesthetica Exacta.

This is Truth and verisimilitude Aesthetically Exact.

§ 553

Studium illud apprime commendandum, S. VI. §§ 22, 423. vel primo statim cogitationum impetu quasi fusas ideas rerum et sententiarum generaliumque aliorum notiones exactas crassis omnino suppressis substituit, vel harum, praesumens in suis praecipuis spectatoribus anticipationes easdem primo kat' eidos expresse cogitat, quales esse solent, dein autem corrigendo exasciat, et purgata falsitatum etiam aestheticarum, etiamsi minorum, sordibus.

That study, especially to be commended, Section VI, §§ 22, 423, either at once in the first impulse of thoughts substitutes exact ideas of things and exact notions of maxims and other generals, as if poured forth, with the coarse ones wholly suppressed, or, presuming the same anticipations of these in one's chief spectators, first thinks them expressly kat' eidos, such as they usually are, but then, by correcting, planes them smooth, and purges them of the filth of falsities, even aesthetic ones, even if minor.

Haec est epanorthosis. e.g. Finge cum Horatio Serm.

This is epanorthosis.

II. 6. Inter convivas venuste laetiores.

For example, imagine with Horace, Sermones II.6, among guests more gracefully cheerful.

Sourced quotation · Horace [578]

Sermo oritur, non de villis domibusve alienis, Nec male, necne Lepos saltet. Sed, quod magis ad nos Pertinet, et nescire malum est, agitamus utrumne Divitiis homines, an sint virtute, beati, Quidve ad amicitias, usus rectumne, trahat nos, Et quae sit natura boni, summumque quid eius.

"Then conversation arises, not concerning other people's villas and houses, nor whether Lepos dances well or not; but we debate on what is more to our purpose, and what it is pernicious not to know–whether men are made happier by riches or by virtue; or what leads us into intimacies, interest or moral rectitude; and what is the nature of good, and what its perfection."

En! epanorthosin crypticam colloquiorum, in familiaribus etiam, verius venustorum, et exemplum in aesthetice verum exactius inquirentium, quoniam:

Behold a cryptic epanorthosis of conversations, even in familiar ones, more truly graceful, and an example of those inquiring more exactly into what is aesthetically true, since:

Sourced quotation · Horace [579]

Cervius haec inter vicinus garrit aniles Ex re fabellas,

"Meanwhile, my neighbor Cervius prates away old stories relative to the
subject."

§ 554

Fructum eiusmodi confabulationum exactioris in aestheticis veri studiosarum, profecto, bellum leges, novam satis usitatae correctionem opinionis, IV. od. 9.

You will read, indeed, a fine fruit of conversations of this sort, eager for the more exact true in aesthetics: a new correction of a sufficiently usual opinion, Odes IV.9.

Sourced quotation · Horace [580]

Non possidentem multa vocaveris Recte beatum. Rectius occupat Nomen beati, qui deorum Muneribus sapienter uti, Duramque callet pauperiem pati, Peiusque leto flagitium timet. Non ille pro caris amicis, Aut patria timidus perire.

"The lord of boundless revenues,
Salute not him as happy: no,
Call him the happy, who can use
The bounty that the gods bestow,
Can bear the load of poverty,
And tremble not at death, but sin:
No recreant he when called to die
In cause of country or of kin."

Huc artificium in notione quadam e.g. opum crassiuscula conceptus adhaerentes falsos, quos plerique habent infinite parvos, per hyperbolen ironicam attollendi vel deiiciendi potius in manifestam falsitatem, etiam aestheticam, S. XXVIII. e. g. Hor. Serm. II. 3. v. 94.

To this belongs the artifice, in a certain rather coarse notion, for example of riches, of false adhering concepts, which most people hold as infinitely small, of raising them by ironic hyperbole, or rather of casting them down into manifest falsity, even aesthetic falsity, Section XXVIII. For example, Horace, Sermones II.3, verse 94:

Sourced quotation · Horace [581]

Omnis res, Virtus, fama, decus, divina humanaque pulcris Divitiis parent, quas qui construxerit, ille Clarus erit, fortis, iustus. Sapiensne? Etiam, et rex; Et quicquid volet.

"For every thing, virtue, fame, glory, divine and human affairs, are subservient to the attraction of riches; which whoever shall have accumulated, shall be illustrious, brave, just–What, wise too? Ay, and a king, and whatever else he pleases."

§ 555

Quo maior est aesthetice verorum, verisimilium, fictionum, fabularumque silva, per quam errare potest pulcre cogitaturus, ne vagetur in eadem licenter, omnes potius sua peccata falsitate deturpantia visuros putet, in eleganti talis ingenii pectorisque persona iam separatim attendi debet singulare Veritatis Studium, quo nomine complecti liceat, non ingenium solum aptum, sed et multo labore exercitatum et adsuetum perspiciendis veritatibus aestheticologicis, neque qualemcunque propensionem, sed firmum animi propositum inferendi suis meditationibus veritatem, quam admittant salva totius pulcritudine, maximam.

The greater is the forest of aesthetically true things, verisimilar things, fictions, and tales through which one about to think beautifully can wander, lest he roam in the same licentiously, let him rather think that all will see his sins disfiguring things by falsity, in the elegant person of such a talent and heart there must now be separately attended to a singular Study of Truth, under which name it is permitted to include not only a talent fit for this, but also one exercised by much labor and accustomed to seeing aestheticological truths, and not just any inclination, but a firm purpose of mind of bringing into one's meditations the greatest truth that they admit while the beauty of the whole is preserved.

Hunc animi characterem, quoniam omnibus universim belle cogitandis necessarium iudico, § 22, dicamus Studium Veritatis Absolutum et, universale, §§ 29, 45.

This character of mind, since I judge it necessary for all things universally to be thought beautifully, § 22, let us call the Absolute Study of Truth, and universal, §§ 29, 45.

§ 556

Posset idem ex gravitate absoluta demonstrari, S. XXIII. iis, qui norunt omnem virtutem a multis non ineptis philosophis in amore veritatis constitui.

The same could be demonstrated from absolute gravity, Section XXIII, for those who know that all virtue is placed by many not inept philosophers in the love of truth.

Unus ex summis elegantiarum arbitris inter Anglos, omnem pulcritudinem veritatem esse decernit, in ipsa Poesi, ubi omnia fabulae sint veritatem tamen dominari, et efficere perfectionem totius.

One of the highest arbiters of elegance among the English determines that all beauty is truth; in poetry itself, where all things are fables, nevertheless truth rules and produces the perfection of the whole.

Praestabit autem severioribus veritatis fautoribus aestheticologicae gradus altius nonnihil repetere.

But it will be preferable, for the stricter supporters of aestheticological truth, to repeat the degrees somewhat from higher up.

Minima est minima perceptio veritatis metaphysicae minimae.

The least truth is the least perception of the least metaphysical truth.

Hinc 1) quo uberior, 2) quo maior et dignior, 3) quo exactior, 4) quo clarior et distinctior, 5) quo certior et solidior, 6) quo ardentior est perceptio obiecti, 7) quo hoc plura, 8) quo maiora ac graviora, 9) quo fortioribus regulis, 10) quo convenientiora complectitur, hoc maior est veritas aestheticologica, § 437. M. § 184.

Hence, 1) the richer, 2) the greater and more worthy, 3) the more exact, 4) the clearer and more distinct, 5) the more certain and more solid, 6) the more ardent the perception of the object is, 7) the more things this embraces, 8) the greater and weightier things, 9) by the stronger rules, 10) the more fitting things, by so much the greater is aestheticological truth, § 437. Metaphysics § 184.

§ 557

Non putaverim nunc opus esse demonstratione 1) nullam veritatem maximam esse aestheticologicam, sed strictius logicam, § 424, 2) talem veritatem nullam in hominem cadere, nullam rem in veritate logica maxima ab ullo hominum intellectu cognosci, quoniam qui unam ita cognoscit, omnes novit.

I would not now think there is need of a demonstration 1) that no greatest truth is aestheticological, but rather strictly logical, § 424, 2) that no such truth falls within a human being, that no thing is known in maximum logical truth by any human intellect, because whoever knows one thing in that way knows all things.

Hinc omnis veritatis apud hominem aestheticologicae, malum metaphysicum, defectus veritatis summae logicae in omniscientia tantum obviae infinite magnus.

Hence, of every aestheticological truth among human beings, the metaphysical evil, the defect of the highest logical truth, which is found only in omniscience, is infinitely great.

Adeoque mentis bene sanae studium veri amantissimum quoniam ferri tamen non potest in ea, quae nosse potest non posse fieri, nec omnino nihil velle, quam primum se non posse nancisci omnia cognoverit: contentum esse debet, parte veritatis logicae latius sumtae summae infinite parva, ea scilicet, quam adipisci potest, § 556.

And therefore the most truth-loving pursuit of a well-sound mind, since nevertheless it cannot be carried into those things which it can know cannot happen, nor wish absolutely nothing as soon as it has recognized that it cannot obtain all things: it must be content with an infinitely small part of supreme logical truth taken more broadly, namely that part which it can attain, § 556.

§ 558

Perfectionem veritati logicae latius sumtae, § 556. n. 1–6. formalem, n. 7–10. materialem conciliant.

For logical truth taken more broadly, § 556, numbers 1–6 secure formal perfection, numbers 7–10 material perfection.

Hinc humanum veritatis studium nunc formalem potissimum intendit, quod fieri non potest sine dispendio materialis, nunc materialem potissimum amplectitur, neque potest idem, nisi cum detrimento formalis, § 557. Tribuitur alicui, non copiosa solum, sed et completa, non satis magna solum, sed et obiectum suum exaequans, eique adaequata, non vera solum, sed et exacta, cui nihil insit omnino falsi, non clara solum, sed et complete clara, sufficiens ad distinguendum obiectum ab omnibus, sed et distincta, cuius omnes notae clarae sunt, non raro per plures gradus, non certa solum, sed et complete certa, rigorose demonstrabilis, et omnem formidinem oppositi excludens, non movens solum, sed et cogens ad assensum, extorquens approbationem, et aliquam voluptatem appetitionemque necessariam cognitio,

Hence the human pursuit of truth now chiefly aims at the formal, which cannot happen without loss of the material; now it chiefly embraces the material, and it cannot do the same except with detriment to the formal, § 557. There is attributed to someone a cognition not only copious, but also complete; not only sufficiently great, but also equalling its object and adequate to it; not only true, but also exact, in which there is nothing at all false; not only clear, but also completely clear, sufficient for distinguishing the object from all things, but also distinct, whose all marks are clear, not rarely through several degrees; not only certain, but also completely certain, rigorously demonstrable, and excluding every fear of the opposite; a cognition not only moving, but also compelling to assent, wresting approval, and some necessary pleasure and appetite,

§ 559

Haec omnia bene se habent.

All these things are well.

Sed quale est illud obiectum, quod homo tam perfecta ratione contemplatur?

But what kind is that object which a human being contemplates by so perfect a reason?

Universale quoddam ex individuis plurima maxima, fortissimis regulis convenientissima, pro suo quaevis modulo, complectentibus, ceu notas differentiarum ad numericam usque plurimarum innumeras, ita ortum, ut in his, in quibus veritas metaphysica determinatissima solis sit, quaeque perceptioni hinc perfectionem materialem generice maximam conciliarent, si perciperentur, ut individua, 1) abundantia ultra perceptionem, quae completa sit, abstrahantur, 2) maiora ac graviora, quam gradus est, qui in cognitione ponebatur, obiectum exaequante, abstrahantur 3) ea, de quibus data exacta cognitio non satis perspicit, an vera sint, nec ne, ne quid supersit cognitioni falsitatis, abstrahantur; 4) ea, quibus non opus est ad distinguendum, cum iis, quae clara fieri dato subiecto refugiunt, abstrahantur, 5) ea, quae dato subiecto nondum sunt complete certa, non demonstrabilia rigorose, in quibus superest formido oppositi, abstrahantur, 6) ea, quae movere in contrarium, assensum revocare, taedium etiam forsan creare possent, abstrahantur.

A certain universal, from individuals embracing very many and very great things, things most fitted by the strongest rules, each according to its own measure, as innumerable marks of very many differences all the way to numerical difference, so arisen, so that in these things, in which the most determinate metaphysical truth is alone, and which would hence secure for perception the generically greatest material perfection if they were perceived as individuals, 1) abundances beyond the perception that would be complete are abstracted away, 2) greater and weightier things than is the degree which was being placed in cognition equalling the object are abstracted away, 3) those things about which a given exact cognition does not sufficiently see whether they are true or not, lest anything of falsity remain for cognition, are abstracted away; 4) those things which are not needed for distinguishing, together with those which refuse to become clear for the given subject, are abstracted away, 5) those things which for the given subject are not yet completely certain, not rigorously demonstrable, in which fear of the opposite remains, are abstracted away, 6) those things which could move in the contrary direction, recall assent, perhaps even create weariness, are abstracted away.

§ 560

Sic enatis disciplinarum scientiarumque humanarum obiectis, universalibus, § 559. utique perfecta, saepe pulcra, connascitur in animis solide doctorum veritas, etiam strictius logica.

With the objects of human disciplines and sciences, universals, thus having come forth, § 559, truth, certainly perfect and often beautiful, even more strictly logical, is born together in the minds of the solidly learned.

Iam autem quaeritur, an tali universali sit aequalis veritas metaphysica, ac est huius individuo, quod sub eodem continetur?

But now it is asked whether metaphysical truth is equal in such a universal as it is in the individual of this universal which is contained under the same.

Equidem arbitror philosophis apertissimum esse iam posse, cum iactura multae magnaeque perfectionis in cognitione et veritate logica materialis emendum fuisse, quicquid ipsi perfectionis formalis inest praecipuae.

Indeed I think it can now be most evident to philosophers that, with the loss of much and great material perfection in cognition and logical truth, it had to be bought, whatever of chief formal perfection is in it.

Quid enim est abstractio, si iactura non est?

For what is abstraction, if it is not loss?

Pari ratione ex marmore irregularis figurae non efficias globum marmoreum, nisi cum tanto saltim materiae detrimento, quantum postulabit maius rotunditatis pretium.

By the same reasoning, from marble of irregular shape you would not make a marble sphere except with at least as much loss of matter as the greater price of roundness will demand.

§ 561

Iam supponatur veritatis aestheticologicae studium aliquando ferri praesertim in perfectionem eiusdem materialem, § 558, et hinc amplecti obiecta veritatis metaphysicae, quae potest, determinatissimae.

Now let it be supposed that the study of aestheticological truth is sometimes carried especially into the material perfection of the same, § 558, and hence embraces objects of metaphysical truth, as determinate as it can.

Hic intentio non est dato consilio amputare per abstractionem cuiuscunque rotunditatis impedimenta, neque tamen est opis humanae determinationis omnimodae latissimum ambitum sibi complete signare; data opera non praescinduntur magnitudinem intellectionis nostrae superantia, neque tamen omnia determinatarum rerum et paene vel omnino actualium pondera assequi et iustis momentis exaequare mens humana potest.

Here the intention is not, by a given plan, to cut away through abstraction the impediments of any roundness whatever; and yet it is not within human power to mark out completely for itself the widest range of omnimodal determination; By deliberate effort, things surpassing the magnitude of our understanding are not cut off; and yet the human mind cannot attain all the weights of determinate things, and of things almost or wholly actual, and balance them by just measures.

Non constituimus praescindere, quicquid ulla ratione falsi speciem posset induere, neque tamen in indefinitis eiusmodi obiecti tantum non singularis momentis verum ubique liquet.

We do not resolve to cut off whatever could in any way put on the appearance of the false; and yet in the indefinite moments of such an object, almost singular, the true is not everywhere clear.

Non est consilium omittere et prorsus in voluntarias tenebras relegare, quae requisitam aliquam claritatem non habent, et tamen ad eandem singula momenta obiecti tollere vires, locus, tempus non permittunt.

It is not the plan to omit and wholly relegate into voluntary darkness those things which do not have some required clarity, and yet strength, place, and time do not permit one to raise the individual moments of the object to that same clarity.

Non animus est aliquantulum incerta prorsus omittere, neque tamen omnia cogitans rigorose demonstrare potest, quae obiecto determinatissimae veritatis conveniunt.

The mind is not to omit entirely things somewhat uncertain; and yet a thinker cannot rigorously demonstrate all things that belong to an object of the most determinate truth.

Multa, quae placeant, aut odio sint, praescindere non constituimus, neque tamen vires sufficiunt ad omnia sic exhibenda, ut efficaciter appetere, vel aversari certis deliberatisque decretis ea meditatus possit.

We do not resolve to cut off many things which may please or be hateful, and yet powers do not suffice for exhibiting all things in such a way that the one meditating them could effectively desire or avoid them by certain and deliberate decrees.

§ 562

Habes perfectionem veritatis aestheticologicae compositam, § 556, vides exceptiones inevitabiles, utramque si velis assequi vel mediocriter, § 560. 561. Intellectus et ratio purior severiorum veritatis amicorum, per accuratas scientias ita formalem sequitur, § 560. descriptam, ut complementa ac supplementa veritatis materialiter perfectae, suis universalibus et abstractioribus ad formalem scientificorum perfectionem deductis, adjicere pro viribus relinquat analogo rationis et cognitionibus quocunque gradu sensitivis.

You have the composed perfection of aestheticological truth, § 556; you see the inevitable exceptions, if you wish to attain each even moderately, § 560. 561. The purer understanding and reason of the stricter friends of truth, through accurate sciences, so follows the formal perfection described, § 560, that the complements and supplements of materially perfect truth, once its universals and more abstract things have been led down to the formal perfection of scientific things, it leaves to the analog of reason and to cognitions sensitive in whatever degree to add them, according to their powers.

§ 563

Verum amicus veritatis non minus strenuus, qui sequitur eandem analogo rationis, non habet denuo facultatem sensitivam inferiorem, cui relicta a se et omissa commendet, ob veritatis materialem perfectionem tamen ea, quae multum habent in se veritatis metaphysicae determinatissimae negligere omnino non audet.

But the no less strenuous friend of truth, who follows the same truth by the analog of reason, does not again have a lower sensitive faculty to which he may entrust what has been left behind and omitted by himself, yet, on account of the material perfection of truth, he does not dare wholly to neglect those things which have much of the most determinate metaphysical truth in themselves.

Hinc huic magis necessarium est nonnunquam excipere a regulis summae perfectionis formalis in indaganda veritate aesthetica, ne nimium detrimenti capiat veritatis eiusdem perfectio materialis, § 558.

Hence it is more necessary for this one sometimes to make exception from the rules of the highest formal perfection in investigating aesthetic truth, lest the material perfection of the same truth suffer too much loss, § 558.

§ 564

Universalissimis, abstractissimis, et per artem, § 559. descriptam ad perfectionem veritatis formalem ab hominibus obtinendarum summam evehendis partim omnino relictis horizonti logico, partim ex eodem detractis et involutis denuo nonnihil in non ita paucas, a quibus abstraxerat ratio, differentias determinatiores, praesertim autem perfectionem materialem veritatis aestheticologicae maximam exhibentibus singularibus, individuis, et determinatissimis fruitur horizon aestheticus, sua silva, Chao, et materia, § 129. ex quibus veritatem aestheticam ad formam, nisi perfectam omnino, pulcram tamen, § 558, 14. ita exsculpat, ut inter elaborandum, quam fieri potest minimum veritatis materialiter perfectae pereat et elegantiae caussa poliendo deteratur, § 563.

The most universal, the most abstract, and those to be raised by the art described in § 559 to the highest formal perfection of truth obtainable by human beings, having partly been left entirely to the logical horizon, and partly having been drawn back from the same and again wrapped somewhat into not so few more determinate differences from which reason had abstracted, but especially the aesthetic horizon enjoys singular, individual, and most determinate things that display the greatest material perfection of aestheticological truth, its own forest, Chaos, and matter, § 129, from which it carves aesthetic truth into a form, if not wholly perfect, nevertheless beautiful, § 558, 14, in such a way that while it is being worked out, as little as possible of materially perfect truth perishes and is worn away by polishing for the sake of elegance, § 563.

§ 565

Sumat itaque pulcre cogitaturus sibi materiam vel determinatiorem, unam ex generibus inferioribus aut omnino speciebus rerum, vel si altius videatur in genera superiora adscendere, teneatur tamen eadem vestire multis, quas omittit purior scientia, notis et characteribus, vel tandem singularia sibi legat themata, in quibus regnet perfectio veritatis materialis.

Therefore let the one about to think beautifully take for himself matter that is either more determinate, one from lower genera or wholly from the species of things, or if it seems better to ascend higher into superior genera, let him nevertheless be bound to clothe the same things with many marks and characters which purer science omits, or finally let him choose singular themes for himself, in which the perfection of material truth reigns.

Circumfundatur notarum ingenti multitudine.

Let him be surrounded by a huge multitude of marks.

Reiecerit, quas non admittit pulcra forma.

He will reject those which beautiful form does not admit.

Restent, quarum vix unam desiderari brevis, sed eleganter plena, rotunditas, venusta dignitas, tum absoluta, tum relativa, veritatis ipsius materialis perfectio, elegans vividitas et necessarius meditationi nitor, intima persuasio, vita praesertim et ad delectandum ac movendum efficacia patiatur.

Let those remain of which a brief, but elegantly full, roundness, graceful dignity, both absolute and relative, would scarcely allow even one to be missed, and the perfection of material truth itself, elegant vividness and the brilliance necessary for meditation, intimate persuasion, especially life and efficacy for delighting and moving, would scarcely allow it.

In his autem notis bene multis non sit meditanti veritas metaphysica completam ad lucem usque perspecta, licet nihil falsi turpioris iisdem insit.

But in these very many marks, metaphysical truth may not be seen by the one meditating all the way to complete light, although nothing of uglier falsity is in them.

Iam putaverim ad generalem aliquam formulam redegisse necessitates aestheticas, quarum aliquos speciales casus enumeravi, §§ 491–502, in collisione regularum perfectionis in cognoscendo vero, excipiendi a veritatis forma perfectiori, ob veritatem materialiter perfectiorem involvendam amabiliori formae verisimilitudinis, § 483.

Now I would think that I have reduced to some general formula the aesthetic necessities, of which I enumerated some special cases, §§ 491–502, in the collision of rules of perfection in knowing the true, of making exception from the more perfect form of truth, on account of a materially more perfect truth that must be wrapped in a more lovable form of verisimilitude, § 483.

§ 566

Studium veritatis absolutum, sed aestheticum, § 565. comparate sese exseret pro triplici veritatum specie, et materialiter perfectarum gradu, in quibus versatur, potissimum.

The absolute, but aesthetic, study of truth, § 565, will show itself comparatively, chiefly according to the threefold species of truths and according to the degree of materially perfected truths in which it is engaged.

Sunt eiusdem materiae 1) generalia, 2) actualia huius mundi, 3) heterocosmica.

Its matters are 1) general things, 2) actual things of this world, 3) heterocosmic things.

Genus Cogitandi generalia sed eleganter exprimens est Aestheticodogmaticum, actualia huius mundi venuste pingens, ob exiguum futurorum strictissima in veritate sistendorum numerum, dicamus Aestheticohistoricum.

The Kind of Thinking expressing general things, but elegantly, is Aestheticodogmatic, The kind that gracefully paints actual things of this world, because the number of future things to be established in the strictest truth is small, let us call Aestheticohistorical.

Genus tandem eleganter heterocosmica meditandi nominemus per novam aliquam synecdochen tunc etiam, quando non exprimitur carminibus, Genus Cogitandi Poeticum.

Finally, let us name the kind of elegantly meditating heterocosmic things, by some new synecdoche even when it is not expressed in verses, the Poetic Kind of Thinking.

§ 567

Genus cogitandi aestheticodogmaticum quoniam 1) a materiarum per disciplinas ordinibus denominatum theologicum, philosophicum, e. c. commune nomen habet cum genere cogitandi theologico, philosophico, e. c. scientifico et acroamatico, 2) altius adscendendo saepius horizonti logico et aesthetico communia contemplatur, 3) recte primaria sua capita et meditationis momenta praecipua exhibet intellectui pulcro per distinctionem extensivam: plerumque confunditur cum genere cogitandi scientifico, et, formaliter philosophico, saepe cum eodem non inepte combinatur, semper tamen, uti vere diversum est, singularibus cum scientiarum non minus, quam elegantiarum, emolumentis ab eodem distinguitur. § 566.

Since the aestheticodogmatic kind of thinking 1) when denominated from the orders of materials through disciplines as theological, philosophical, and so on, has a common name with the theological, philosophical, and so on scientific and acroamatic kind of thinking, 2) by ascending higher, it rather often contemplates things common to the logical and aesthetic horizon, 3) it rightly exhibits its primary heads and the chief moments of meditation to beautiful intellect through extensive distinction: it is for the most part confused with the scientific and, formally, philosophical kind of thinking, and is often not ineptly combined with the same, nevertheless always, as it is truly different, it is distinguished from the same by singular advantages for the sciences no less than for the elegances. § 566.

§ 568

Ex confusione duplicium dogmatica cogitandi generum, logici et aesthetici, duplex dominatur praeiudicata opinio 1) eorum, qui tunc etiam, quando de rigidiori primorum cognitionis alicuius universalis principiorum intellectuali ac rationali theoria agitur, quam fieri potest exactissime, distinctissime, solidissimeque pertractanda, subsistunt in diluta, nec omnino levi, verisimili, satis perspicua, quantulumcunque certa, veritatis expositione, modo placeat illa satis auribus, oculisve, rationisque videatur ferre, vere ferat analogi potius rationis calculum. 2) Eorum, qui dogma quoddam ad captum minus exercitatorum in scientiis, vel omnino popularem intelligentiam, et viva quidem voce, proponendum cogitant, idque tamen brevissimis definitionibus, exactissimis axiomatibus, distinctissimis notionum resolutionibus, demonstrationibusque complete certis exornare nequicquam laborant. § 567.

From the confusion of the two dogmatic kinds of thinking, the logical and the aesthetic, a twofold prejudiced opinion prevails: 1) of those who, even when the question concerns a stricter intellectual and rational theory of the first principles of some universal cognition, which must be treated as exactly, distinctly, and solidly as can be done, stop in a diluted, and not wholly light, verisimilar, sufficiently perspicuous, somewhat certain exposition of truth, provided that it pleases the ears or eyes enough, and seems to bear, and truly bears, the calculation of the analog of reason rather than of reason itself. 2) Of those who think that some doctrine must be proposed to the grasp of those less exercised in the sciences, or to an altogether popular understanding, and indeed by the living voice, and yet they labor in vain to adorn it with the briefest definitions, the most exact axioms, the most distinct resolutions of notions, and completely certain demonstrations. § 567.

§ 569

Genus cogitandi logicodogmaticum et aestheticodogmaticum, a potiori desumtis denominationibus, non forma solum inter se differunt, sed etiam materiis, quibus convenire vel maxime prima fronte videbantur.

The logical-dogmatic and aesthetic-dogmatic kind of thinking, their denominations having been taken from what is stronger in each, differ between themselves not only in form, but also in the matters in which at first sight they seemed most of all to agree.

Prius uti thematis sui principia potissimum sequitur, ita posterius principiata et consectaria.

As the former chiefly follows the principles of its theme, so the latter follows the things principled and the consequences.

Prius uti potissimum eruit universalia, sub quibus thema suum continetur, ita posterius eiusdem thematis inferiores conceptus attendit potissimum, quos sub se continet.

As the former chiefly digs out universals under which its theme is contained, so the latter chiefly attends to the lower concepts of the same theme, which it contains under itself.

Etiamsi materiae a tota disciplina nomen acceperint, sunt tamen in quavis disciplina prima quaedam ordine, quaedam in methodo synthetica velut ultima.

Even if the matters have received their name from the whole discipline, there are nevertheless in any discipline certain things first in order, and certain things as if last in synthetic method.

Illa potissimum logicum, haec aestheticum ita sectatur per disciplinas cogitandi genus, ut dici circiter in qualibet possit, ubi desinit logicum, aestheticum cogitandi genus incipere. § 566.

The former things the logical kind of thinking especially follows through the disciplines; the latter things the aesthetic kind follows, so that it can be said approximately in any discipline: where the logical kind of thinking ends, the aesthetic begins. § 566.

§ 570

Qui res interius perspexerunt, probe vident inter ea rerum genera, de quibus scientiae huc usque stricte dictae cultae sunt, et individua, interiacere adhuc magnam inferiorum generum, et specierum intercapedinem, in cuius raro territorium demonstratores descendant, in quod experimentatores et observatores accurati raro feliciter adscendant.

Those who have looked more inwardly into things see well that between those genera of things about which sciences, strictly so called, have been cultivated up to now, and individuals, there still lies between them a great interval of lower genera and species, into whose territory demonstrators rarely descend, and into which experimenters and accurate observers rarely ascend successfully.

Hoc est illud maxime stadium in quo cogitandi genus aestheticodogmaticum decurrat.

This is especially that course in which the aestheticodogmatic kind of thinking runs.

Hinc vel ipsum sibi thema legit optime, vel thema etiam altius petitum eo tamen usque detrahit, ad maiorem veritatem materialem, § 440. etiamsi fiat eo ipso formaliter paullo minus exacta, secundum logicorum trutinam scientificam, i. e. elegantem ad verisimilitudinem. § 567.

Hence it either chooses the theme itself for itself very well, or even draws down a theme sought from higher up, nevertheless to this point: toward greater material truth, § 440. even if by that very fact it becomes formally a little less exact according to the scientific balance of the logicians, that is, elegant toward verisimilitude. § 567.

§ 571

Studium veritatis in genere cogitandi aestheticodogmatico comparativum, § 566. 1) veritatem etiam strictius logicam de ipsa materia, si fuerit horizontis aesthetico-logici, vel de eius generibus notionibusque superioribus sollicite quaeret, etiamsi non exprimendam acroamatice, tamen ut directricem explicite cogitandae verisimilitudinis in generalibus et adoptandis notionibus. §§ 429, 424. 2) Notiones, in quibus aliquid contradictionis ad absurditatem usque, vel paene eo usque, iam detexit intellectus et ratio, cavebit hoc curatius, quo probabilius est, tales etiam spectatores e. c. fore meditationi eiusmodi aestheticodogmaticae, qui latentem inconvenientiam et ipsi ratione certissime perspicere possint, et aliis in spectando, legendo e. c. sociis aesthetice satis ostendere, §§ 431–435.

The comparative study of truth in the aestheticodogmatic kind of thinking, § 566, 1) will carefully seek even more strictly logical truth about the matter itself, if it belongs to the aesthetic-logical horizon, or about its genera and higher notions, even if it is not to be expressed acroamatically, nevertheless as the guide of verisimilitude to be explicitly thought in general things and in notions to be adopted. §§ 429, 424. 2) Notions in which understanding and reason have already detected something of contradiction up to absurdity, or almost up to that point, he will avoid all the more carefully, the more probable it is that such spectators, and so on, will also be present for an aestheticodogmatic meditation of this kind, who can both see the latent incongruity themselves most certainly by reason, and show it aesthetically enough to others, companions in viewing, reading, and so on, §§ 431–435.

§ 572

Studium veritatis in aestheticodogmaticis 3) in id praesertim incumbet, ut nexum materiae suae, brevius cum principiis, uberius cum gravissimis consectariis, verosimillimum vividissime pingat, non sine desiderabili, vel taediorum ex aversando hauriendorum feraci persuasione, § 437. 4) Si quid etiam progredi tentet in inferiora, ac ratio immediate praeluceat, supplementa tamen sua ad certitudine completa cognoscendum cum hoc inseparabiliter coniuncta sistere movebit omnem lapidem, § 439.

The study of truth in aestheticodogmatic matters 3) will especially lean toward this, that the connection of its matter, more briefly with the principles, more abundantly with the weightiest consequences, it may most vividly paint as most verisimilar, not without desirable persuasion, or persuasion fertile in the wearinesses to be drawn from aversion, § 437. 4) If it also attempts to advance into lower things, and reason immediately shines before it, nevertheless it will move every stone to present its supplements, inseparably joined with this, for being known with complete certainty, § 439.

§ 573

Studium veritatis in aestheticodogmaticis, 5) ea lubentissime suis exponet, quae cogitaturus etiam certo novit logice vera, § 571. per harmoniam facultatum cognoscitivarum inferiorum et superiorum, nunc exhibenda aesthetice vera; si hoc non conceditur praeferet logice sibi probabilia, sibi logice improbabilibus, § 485. ob eandem harmoniam.

The study of truth in aestheticodogmatic matters, 5) will most gladly set forth to its own those things which the one about to think also certainly knows to be logically true, § 571. through the harmony of the lower and higher cognitive faculties, now to be exhibited as aesthetically true; if this is not granted, he will prefer things logically probable to himself over things logically improbable to himself, § 485, on account of the same harmony.

Haec aut iudicabit suis praecipuis spectatoribus iam etiam fore verisimilia, et in iisdem securus acquiescit; aut suspicabitur, ea parum habitura apud hos verisimilitudinis.

These things he will either judge will now also be verisimilar for his chief spectators, and he securely rests in them; or he will suspect that they will have little verisimilitude among them.

In ultimo casu aut habet occasionem ad dandam suis verisimilitudinem argumentis venuste probantibus, nec tunc latum unguem avellitur a vero, quod ipsi videtur, et suos potius ad suam sententiam attrahere laborat, quam ut cum iis contraria sentiat, aut conciliare sibi probabilibus, suis quae sint sine dubio satis improbabilia, verisimilitudinem locus et tempus non permittunt.

In the last case he either has occasion for giving verisimilitude to his own people by arguments proving gracefully, and then he is not torn by a nail's breadth from the true which seems so to him, and labors rather to draw his own people to his opinion than to think contrary things with them, or place and time do not permit him to reconcile verisimilitude to things probable to himself which are without doubt quite improbable to his own people.

§ 574

Si pulcre cogitaturus incidat in dogma sibi probabile, quod nec esse suis verisimile, nec a se iam tale reddi iisdem posse perspicit § 573. amicus veritatis aut nec hoc, nec oppositum, spectatoribus verisimile, ponet, si licet ab utroque abstrahere, aut, si ponendum est aesthetica necessitate alterutrum, multa cum gravitate perpendit, an spectatoribus suis praecipue attendendis verisimile, sit forsan error, communis quidem, oppido tamen innocens, an periculosior, et cuius fautores rei falsitatis moralis vel per indirectum agi possint ex merito. §§ 470, 467. In priori casu utetur opinione suorum, sicuti philosophi mathematicique fictionibus suis heuristicis, in posteriori latissime potius falsum errans cogitasse videri volet, § 471. quam ut conscientiam vel famam suam exponat futuro falsitatis moralis opprobrio, § 464.

If the one about to think beautifully falls upon a doctrine probable to himself, which he sees is neither verisimilar to his own people, nor can now be rendered such to them by himself, § 573, the friend of truth will either posit neither this nor the opposite as verisimilar to the spectators, if it is permitted to abstract from both, or, if by aesthetic necessity one or the other must be posited, he weighs with much gravity whether what is verisimilar to his spectators especially to be attended to is perhaps an error, indeed common, yet very innocent, or a more dangerous one, and one whose supporters can deservedly be treated, even indirectly, as guilty of moral falsity. §§ 470, 467. In the former case he will use the opinion of his own people, just as philosophers and mathematicians use their heuristic fictions, in the latter case he will rather wish to seem to have thought something false while erring in the broadest sense, § 471, than expose his conscience or reputation to the future reproach of moral falsity, § 464.

§ 575

Studium veritatis in aestheticodogmaticis 6) non solius illustrationis gratia, sed etiam ob §§ 572, 569. multum in exemplis suae materiae versabitur, § 526. in iisque singularia praeferet universalibus, ideas notionibus, strictissime vera heterocosmicis et fabulosis, § 472. aut ad haec quando venusta vocaverit necessitas, ea non dissimulabit esse fabulas, § 565. aut fictiones aesthetice heuristicas, § 574.

The study of truth in aestheticodogmatic matters 6) not for the sake of illustration alone, but also because of §§ 572, 569, will be much engaged in examples of its matter, § 526. and in them it will prefer singulars to universals, ideas to notions, things true in the strictest sense to heterocosmic and fabulous things, § 472. or, when graceful necessity has called it to these things, it will not conceal that they are fables, § 565. or aesthetically heuristic fictions, § 574.

Sources and textual notes

[578] Horace, Satires 2.6.71-76. Christopher Smart, The Works of Horace, edited by Theodore Alois Buckley (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1863), Project Gutenberg eBook 14020. Source 1

Baumgarten changes punctuation and capitalization and uses Divitiis where the comparison text has lower-case divitiis; the words otherwise agree. Smart turns usus rectumne into the ethical contrast “interest or moral rectitude” and renders summum ... eius as the perfection of good.

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Smart died in 1771 and the cited edition was published in 1863; the translation is in the public domain. Project Gutenberg supplies the digital text.

[579] Horace, Satires 2.6.77-78. Christopher Smart, The Works of Horace, edited by Theodore Alois Buckley (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1863), Project Gutenberg eBook 14020. Source 1

Baumgarten prints regularized accusative plural aniles where the comparison edition has archaic anilis, besides changing capitalization and terminal punctuation. Smart's “relative to the subject” represents compact ex re and links the fables to the preceding discussion.

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Smart died in 1771 and the cited edition was published in 1863; the translation is in the public domain. Project Gutenberg supplies the digital text.

[580] Horace, Odes 4.9.45-52. John Conington, The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace (London: George Bell and Sons, 1882), Perseus Digital Library text. Source 1

Baumgarten's words and lineation agree with Horace, apart from capitalization and punctuation. Conington expands multa into “boundless revenues,” translates flagitium as “sin,” and reverses the surface order of peiusque leto ... timet into “tremble not at death, but sin.”

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Conington died in 1869 and the cited edition was published in 1882; the translation is in the public domain. The Perseus canonical repository supplies the digital source file.

[581] Horace, Satires 2.3.94-98. Christopher Smart, The Works of Horace, edited by Theodore Alois Buckley (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1863), Project Gutenberg eBook 14020. Source 1

Baumgarten omits Horace's enim, prints pulcris for pulchris, and flattens a miniature dialogue into lightly punctuated running verse. Smart retains the exchange through “What, wise too? Ay,” and renders the personified obedience to splendid riches as being “subservient to the attraction of riches.”

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Smart died in 1771 and the cited edition was published in 1863; the translation is in the public domain. Project Gutenberg supplies the digital text.