"In these several ways which have been mentioned, in fitting men for applying their ideas to different purposes, in leading imagination into different tracks, and in bestowing on it different kinds of regularity, judgment is active in diversifying the forms of genius."
— Gerard, Alexander (1728-1795)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London and Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed for W. Strahan, T.Cadell, and W. Creech
Date
1774
Metaphor
"In these several ways which have been mentioned, in fitting men for applying their ideas to different purposes, in leading imagination into different tracks, and in bestowing on it different kinds of regularity, judgment is active in diversifying the forms of genius."
Metaphor in Context
In these several ways which have been mentioned, in fitting men for applying their ideas to different purposes, in leading imagination into different tracks, and in bestowing on it different kinds of regularity, judgment is active in diversifying the forms of genius. But it may likewise be observed, That, independent of this influence of judgment upon genius, there will always be a considerable analogy in the form of these two powers. In all cases, some exertions of imagination are intermixed with those of judgment. In mathematical reasonings, truths self-evident, or already demonstrated, are seasonably suggested by fancy; in experimental reasonings, particular facts and conclusions from them, are in like manner suggested; in experimental reasonings of different kinds, different sorts of facts and conclusions are brought into view; in the fine arts, fancy is continually employed in exhibiting to taste, those qualities concerning which it pronounces. In consequence of this, every man has an advantage for excelling in that species of judgment, which is most congruous to the turn of his imagination: and on the other hand, his imagination will take that turn which is most suitable to the peculiarity of his judgment. Thus, by the influence which these two powers mutually exert on one another, each of them is so moulded and altered, that their habitual form and character becomes in a great measure the same.
(II.x, pp. 315-6)
(II.x, pp. 315-6)
Categories
Provenance
Reading in C-H Lion
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1774).
An Essay on Genius. By Alexander Gerard, D.D. Professor of Divinity in King's College, Aberdeen. (London: Printed for W. Strahan; T. Cadell, and W. Creech at Edinburgh 1774). <Link to ECCO>
An Essay on Genius. By Alexander Gerard, D.D. Professor of Divinity in King's College, Aberdeen. (London: Printed for W. Strahan; T. Cadell, and W. Creech at Edinburgh 1774). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
06/27/2013
