PaterとMaugham : 審美主義をめぐって

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We might define "aestheticism" in its origin as one of the attempts in the atmosphere of religious scepticism and scientific determinism to regulate life according to a certain definite interpretation. Pater and Maugham had this aestheticism in common as the basis of their view of life, although the actual mode of life appeared to be greatly different to the two. Both tried to consider life as a self-contained, self-sufficient entity which is itself a work of art. In such a way of thinking they thought they could evade the religious doubts which were prevalent through the intellectual world of nineteenth century England. In other words, Pater and Maugham were both examples of "honest doubters", and they found relief in an artistic view of life, while others had recourse to science. As to traditional religion, Pater showed much aspiration for it, but Maugham was antipathetic to it. It was not clear to them whether or not God is the postulate in either science or aestheticism; they were not certain whether or not we can grasp God with the scientific method, which is statistical and impersonal; or whether in aestheticism, though it is subjective and personal, God is necessarily requisite to support it. In the present writer's opinion, God transcends the self-sufficient entity-science or aesthetic ism.
東京女子大学の論文