David Hume’s “Of the Standard of Taste” is an important little essay that has shaped discussions on beauty, art criticism, ethics, and all manner of subjective experience since its publication. Written by the Scottish skeptic and empiricist, David Hume (1711-1776), in the 18th century, this work offers a nuanced exploration of how we judge art and beauty, and whether there can be any objective, or at least universal, standards in matters of taste.
The central theme of the article revolves around Hume’s attempt to reconcile the apparent contradiction between the subjective nature of taste and our intuition that some judgments about art and beauty are more valid than others. Hume’s elegant solution to this problem continues to influence how we think about art criticism and aesthetic judgments today.
Whether you’re a philosophy enthusiast, an art lover, or simply curious about how we form opinions on beauty and art, this video will provide you with a comprehensive read-through, with commentary, of “Of the Standard of Taste” in accessible language.
Analyses by Frank Saunders Jr 
Leave a comment