The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

CHAPTER VI

THE BIOLOGICAL

FALLACY

Ofallthecurrentsthathavelappedtliefeetofarchi-

tecture,sincearchitecturefell

toits

presentruin,the

philosophyofevolution

mustbe held to

havebeen

the most powerful in its impulse, the most pene-

trating in its reach. The tide of that philosophy,

white with distant promises, is darkened, no less,

bythe wreckageof nearerthingsdestroyed. Have

thesewaters,then,effacedthecharacterswhich,upon

the walls of architecture, Romance overlaid

with

others of its own, Science disfigured, and Ethics

soughtfalsely

to

restore?

SolongasthesequenceofRenaissancestyles

con-

tinuedunbroken,

the

standardsbywhicharchitecture

was judged grew and developed with

architecture

itself. Aformative force tookpossession ofcritical

taste,

whileitcontrolledcreative

power. Thelarge

outline of tradition stood fast; but, as

within it

shapesucceeded

shape,

reason

—

withdueconservative

criesand properprotests

—

^yet followed,

understood

and sanctioned. Style dictated its own

criterion

;

taste

acceptedit. Thepastdied

becausethepresent