The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-09
SOME NEW BOOKS.
The Physical BASIS OF Esthetics.

The Physical Basis OF Hsthetics.
In his Principles of Psychology, Herbert
Spencer undertook to exhibit the aesthetic feel
incs us constant subjective countcrpars OF GER
tain definite nervous states. This branch ofthc
doctrine OF evolution has boon applied in detail.
and with remarkable acutcncss. in a work en-
titled Physiological -f,sthetics. by GRANT ALLEN
Applctonsl. Why we receive pleasure from
some forms and coors and not from others is.
according 10 Ruskin. no more to be asked than
why we like sugar and dislike NORWOOD The
questions thus summary dismissed are cx-
actly the ones which this book asks and essays
to answer. The subject Of aesthetics has so long
been given over 10 transccndcntal rhetoric and
vague poctica defamation that any serious at
tempt to elucidato 1t by physical facts ought to
bc generally welcome.
or course an inquiry into tho physical basis
OF our aesthetic feelings becomes most interest
ing when II approaches the higher and moro
complicated emotions. which find expression in
sculpture, painting. poetry. and music. II Is
essential, therefore that the student Of such
theme should be n man of nice and various cul-
turc. and this qualification we find in Mr.. Allen.
Yet it is. perhaps, equally important that the in
quircr should not be an excessive dcvotcc OF fine
art in any form. As tho author points out. the
worshippcr of art is liable TO bring with him
those enthusiastic feelings which are aroused
in him by its highest Developments Moreover.
such person will probably regard with GER
tain contempt every species OF aesthetic emotion
except those most elevated ones which are ca
pablo OF gratifying his own fastidious and cdu-
Gated taste. II Is plain. however. that the only
sound and fruitful method is TO seek first for an
explanation Of those simple pleasures in bright
color. sweet sound. or rude pictorial imitation
whic, i."cht the child and the savage. and
then to proceed from these elementary princi-
pies to the more and moro complex gratiilca-
tons Of natural scenery and the arts. This is
the process which Mr.. Allen has followed. and
which gives sui stanta value to his book but in
giving some account OF its results. we shall
glance briefly at tho fundamental data and
dwell at somewhat greater length on their more
attractive applications.
What we call the aesthetic feelings. being
special class of plcasurahlc or disasrecable
emotions. Mr. Allen begins 10y investigating the
nature Of pleasures and pains generally. Nat
urally, too. no takes tho latter genus first
because tho manifestations Of pain are more
obvious and noticeable. Now. in rapid sur
Vcy OF the principal varieties Of physical pain.
the first point that strikes us ia the intimate
connection Of the greater part OF them with de-
struction Of tho bodily tissues This is mani
fest enough in the amputation of n limb the
eNeision NJ an ulcer. or the removal Of n scalp
in the loss Vt a nail or tooth. or in the pulling
out Of u hair; in wounds, cuts. prcks. scratches
burns. frosthitcs. and corrosions. In the case
OF blows. falls. ruls. and bruises in general
there is still disintcgration. IA is proved by the
concentration Of blood in the area Of disrup-
ton. showing the delicate cpithelium OF the
capillarics to have been broken. and an eNtrav-
nsation TO have taken place. Tho pains of many
diseases allow Ola like explanation. In other
cases. such rs sprains. cramps. and spasms.
the evidence points rather 10 n tendency To dis
| ruption than To its actual presence But here,
also. We may. perhaps. suppose that there il
/ actual separation of minute tissues sin ~. II we
continue pulling the hair. for instance. W. pull
! it out. and II We pinch hard enough. we Leave
a black and blue mark. 1t is not claimed. how
ever that the principle which makes PAIN n
conromtant OF bodily dsintegraton il sus-
tanned in that class Of pains which arise from AZ
fertion- OF the whole organism or OF large tracts
of it. But 1t does apparently apply to the class
! known as acute. which spring from affections
Of special limited areas. and are strong in in
tcnsity
The acute pains hitherto considered belong
to the general sensihility Of the body. The
question arises. can the same law be extended
L. the pains II the special senses Beginning
with taste. W. know thatthose pungent and acid
| substances which produce irritation of the
tongue are capable OF disntegratng the tissues.
Mustard or Cayenne pepper. mois.encd and laid
on the skin. give rise to destructive action. The
larger and more exposed nerve examinations Of
the tongue rendering Il especially sensible. lis
Indignation is doubtless set up more instania-
neousy there than elsewhere. So too. alkalies.
everywhere disintegrative. specially affect thu
tl A. ..fi tl,cfa
we have no direct evidence but reasons adduced
by Mr.. Allen make it at lcast probable that they
are similarly destructive 10 the merge termina-
tons. Passing to the sense Of smell, we find tn,
nerves iistr buicd ut the entrance ofthe rcspira
tory canal affected by pungont odors, like am
monia. precisely as those of the tongue by pun.
gent tastes. Ii the smallncss in amount Of H.,
| iri itant seems incons stent with the notion O
disintcgrmion. We must remember that tn,
special sense organs are collections o
peculiarly unstable nerve matter. 70
placed ms TO be peculiarly dsturhc,
by minute incident energies, and tina
this indeed, constitutes their essence rs special
zed organs. The sense Of touch. it is true
yields us hardly any pains. but the unpleasant
sensation produced 10y u rough object in conti,'
with the skin and chatting against it, is evident
! ly a rcSul. of slight Il structivc tendencies. Al
Ia hearing. il Is clear that very loud sounds
su n rs the boom OF II cannon. will cause an "N
ccsslyc waste of nervous tissue. accompanied
10y corr"s ponuin-, ptn. Sight offers Ike Illus
tr.tipu-. brilliant lights as those of tn sun col
YuGuc are, b"ns the cNact analogi"s ol lou.
sounds, and involving oXoos- I've waste ~ tiss uo
Finally, Mr.. Alien undertakes to shuwihat ever
those dsa-recahle sensations, resulting from
an tons of the whole body or any Of lis com
pom mt systems. and which are translated Ia th
brain ~ discount rts. rathcrth than pains att IT
slow di-int grafton Of the organism waste O
tissue ouirunning repair. Moreover, the SO
called mass,vc disoomioris pushed 10 nm oN
tremc. merge into acute pains. ms the craving q
hunger or burnin. Of thirst, when raised 10
certain pitch.
Mr. Allen defines pleasure to be- tho concomi
tant of the healthy action of any or all of tn
orgfns or members which are supplied wiz
the means Of direct tclegraphy 10 the brain
provided such activities do not exceed the nor
, nal powers Of PREPARATION. 1t is plain that thi
theory OF pleasure and the principle of pain mr.
not cXa rtly autihotical hut mother. rs this boo
demonstrates. are the feelings themselves di
rpctlN and ulAt,lut.lV oppnsaI Wp