How did Matthew Arnold describe the function of criticism?

Matthew Arnold defined the function of criticism as a "disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world, and thus to establish a current of fresh and true ideas."1

Rather than limiting criticism to literature, Arnold envisioned it as an awakened, informed intelligence applied to all spheres of human activity—including science, theology, history, and politics—with the ultimate goal of seeing "the object as in itself it really is." By fostering this spirit, he sought to combat provinciality and complacency, encouraging critics to engage with European standards and apply modern ideas to life.1

In his broader work, such as Culture and Anarchy, he further emphasized that this critical effort serves as a "study of perfection," aiming to turn a stream of fresh thought upon established habits to help "reason and the will of God prevail."1