Page:The Cambridge History of American Literature, v3.djvu/276

258 Later Philosophy calism, viz., that the aesthetic consciousness is primary. In this respect, as well as in his emphasis on the importance of the play impulse, Baldwin is unique among American philosophers. -; The philosophic temper of an age can be judged by the kind 'of merit it neglects as well as by what it worships. For this reason as well as for the unique value of his work, no account of American philosophy should omit a consideration of George |Santayana. ' If a European critic like Taine were to ask for an [American book on philosophy containing a distinct and com- j prehensive view of human life, its aims and diverse manifesta- tions, we could not mention anything more appropriate than ' Santayana's Life of Reason (5 vols., 1905-06). Most American f; philosophic works are either monographs on special topics or else . more or less elaborate controversial pamphlets on behalf of one ' view or other. " Santayana more than any other American since {Emerson has cultivated the ancient virtue of calm detachment which distinguishes the philosopher from the partisan journalist ! or the zealous missionary. His zeal, if any, is that of the artist freely picturing the whole of human experience as surveyed retrospectively by one interested in the life of reason. "The jl unsolved problems of life and nature and the Babel of society ' I need not disturb the genial observer." Dewey's anathemas against the purely contemplative philosopher, the "otiose observer," do not disturb one who holds that man's natural i] dignity and joy — as manifested in art, pure science, and philo- sophy — consists "in representing many things without being 1^; them ; and in letting imagination,' through sympathy, celebrate ,!and echo their life." Man's proper happiness is constituted I (by the interest and beauty of the mind's "inward landscape i' rather than by any fortunes that await his body in the outer i world. " ^ Philosophy is not merely a means for improving the ! conditions of common life, but is itself "a more intense sort of experience than common life is, just as pure and subtle music heard in retirement is something keener and more intense than 'the howling of storms or the rumble of cities." ' Another excuse for departing from the prudent policy of avoiding in history any treatment of those still alive and active, is that at this date (1919) it does not seem that Santayana's future career will belong to America. , i ' The conditions of academic life, in which nearly all of our philosophers are , placed, are certainly not favourable for sustained, deliberate, and thorough com- i position. 3 Winds of Doctrine, p. 215. * Three Philosophic Poets, p. 124.