Santayana, or The Importance of Being Wise.

I was reading the Preface to The Sense of Beauty, the first major philosophical work of George Santayana published in 1896, and was rather surprised by how well his brief Preface shows the man who lived to write philosophy for fifty six years more. He is thirty-three-years old here, and will live to reach eighty nine. It reads:

This little work [!] contains the chief ideas gathered together for a course … The only originality I can claim is that which may result from the attempt to put together the scattered commonplaces of criticism into a system [!], under the inspiration of a naturalistic psychology [!]. I have studied sincerity rather than novelty [!] … The influences under which the book has been written are rather too general and pervasive to admit of specification; yet the student of philosophy will not fail to perceive how much I owe to writers, both living and dead, to whom no honour could be added by my acknowledgements [!]. I have usually omitted any reference to them in foot-notes or in the text [!], in order that the air of controversy might be avoided [!], and the reader might be enabled to compare what is said more directly with the reality of his own experience [!].

          

                                                                                                                   G. S.

September, 1896.

Let us digest this piece of art bit by bit:

1. This little work: These are the first two words of his whole (philosophical) opus and define him. Nothing great, just writing his thoughts. No Nietzsche here, no Kant, no Marx. A human being, a humble human being, addresses us as equals.

2. put together commonplaces of criticism into a system: the speaker-writer tells us that what he is going to say is common to all of us, and his only difference from us all is that he is collecting commonplaces into a theory. Which is?

3.  a naturalistic psychology: Here we have the key of the Preface. In saying that his system is only collecting commonplaces we all share and that this system is a naturalistic (atheistic) one, he is posing as an Epicurus: calm, relaxed, writing these words as if seated in a peaceful garden with some bread, cheese, and a cool glass of fresh milk. The pose of an Epicurean Virgil. After this great surprise (atheism as a system of collected commonplaces), we are told.

4.  I have studied sincerity rather than novelty: Well, here you have Santayanaʼs trademark. We may not like naturalism and lose all ideas about the immortal soul (our immortal souls!), but it is his truth; he is going to be sincere. This, in philosophy, is not common. Academia demands novelty, not sincere words. A different academic philosopher is speaking here. A fresh wind blows in the garden. We like being seated here and listen to this philosopher. 

5.  to whom no honour could be added by my acknowledgements: Yes, he has read a lot and he knows that many of his points are anotherʼs, but he is not going to name all those books and thinkers he has read. He is not going to impress us with his knowledge, but with his humble and sincere wisdom. Just a man thinking aloud. No need to show that he is Goethe or Beethoven. Happiness and joyful contemplation here, not Bildung and thunders.

6. omitted any reference to them in foot-notes or in the text: Definitely not an academic philosopher. Just writing his thing here, on these pages, in this cool and quiet garden, and if you want to listen and then think for yourself, that is his whole point. The Harvard Dean did not like Santayana, and we understand why. This does not give prestige to their University. Push, be a genius, fight, conquer, bring pupils, bring money! No. Relax, calm down. This is true philosophy: thinking and talking like civilized and tolerant minds. 

7. the air of controversy might be avoided: This thinker is not going to last much in a University like Harvard. What does he think he is? Talking about philosophy with someone who has got into his Epicurean garden? Yes. He should be at the Agora, shouting for attention and his big audience! No.

8. the reality of his own experience: The reader is told to read the discourse and then think from his own experience. The reader may not like this major philosophical work of naturalism, atheism and beauty (!), but that is not the point. The philosopher is not trying to sell his truth as the truth, but to explain his point of view. Naturalism, the philosophical conception of the feeling of beauty, detachment, tolerance, humbleness, humanity, nothing to be excited about; there is no need to quarrel and fight. No controversies, please. Let us be civilized. That is Santayana, all of it condensed in this brief Preface of his first “little work”. Wise. It is a great thing to be able to share philosophical thoughts (commonplaces but sincere, honest) in a cool garden. Outside, the streets are full of shouts and quarrels, people trying to gain attention and followers. Close the door and draw the curtains, please.