Monday, November 16, 2015

Well-rounded man …

 Jacques Barzun's "William James as Artist" | New Republic. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Note the conjunction of philosopher and poet. But whatever its extent or quality, the human point of view, according to James, is controlled by subjective interests, instinctive or emotional in origin, and out of which all rationality grows. The degree to which these interests are coordinated squared with fact and truly expressed measures the success of the individual’s reason, or if he is a philosopher of his system. Experience is thus carved out by each man in accordance with his temperament, and his vision has the shape of his imaginative powers. All these statements need but slight translation to turn them into the creed of the artist, whose work grows out of his instinctive and emotional resources, and seeks to express in adequate form something that will have the status of truth.

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