Taine, Hippolyte

Taine, Hippolyte (b Vouziers, Ardennes, 21 Apr. 1828; d Paris, 5 Mar. 1893).
French philosopher, historian, and critic. He was a leading exponent of positivism, and in particular the chief figure in applying its ideas of scientific method to aesthetics and cultural history. In 1864 he was appointed professor of aesthetics and art history at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and his lecture courses there formed the basis of several books, beginning with Philosophie de l'art (1865; it was translated into English the same year). In this he declared that ‘My sole duty is to offer you facts and show how these facts are produced’, and he described art history as a sort of applied botany: ‘Just as there is a physical temperature which by its variations determines the appearance of this or that species of plants, so there is a moral temperature which by its variations determines the appearance of this or that kind of art.’ Although he did not rule out the ideas of self-expression and genius, he thought they were less important than environmental, social, and economic factors. Taine antagonized many people, but his ideas had wide influence.