Introductory: Gombrich's Struggle Against Metaphysics

The paper deals with E. H. Gombrich's lifelong polemics against metaphysics in art history and the humanities. They began in 1937 and continued up until his final (posthumous) book The Preference for the Primitives. Analyzing the "fallacies" and "pitfalls" resulting from metaphysical collectivism, essentialism, expressionism, holism and relativism such as a "belief in hypostatized collective personalities" and "style as a super-artist"or"physiognomic fallacy", Gombrich also unmasked their ideological implications. He first targeted nationalism and racialism, then the perils of totalitarianism and finally all forms of relativism. Gombrich's plea for the universality of the "canon of excellence" can be regarded not only as a defence of humanism but also as a form of apology for the values of Western liberal democratic society.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Introductory: Gombrich's Struggle Against Metaphysics ; volume:19 ; number:3 ; year:2009 ; pages:239-250 ; extent:12 ; Human affairs ; 19, Heft 3 (2009), 239-250 (gesamt 12)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Bakoš, Ján

Further information

• DOI: 10.2478/v10023-009-0037-5
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2404281553428.125298245907
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:54 AM CEST