Ihaveplacedinthelastranktheinstitutionofanexperimentalfarm梟otbecauseitsutilitywouldbeinferiortoalltheothers,butbecauseitsfunctionsmaybeeasilysuppliedbyindividualindustry。Inacountrysowellreplenishedwithknowledge,wealth,andzeal,asEngland,thereisnodistrictwhichcouldnotfurnishanabundanceofexperimentsinthisdepartment。Littlemorewouldbenecessarythantoprovidearegisterintowhichtheymightbecollected,andinwhichtheymightreceivethedegreeofpublicitynecessaryfordisplayingtheirutility。SucharegisterEnglandoncepossessedintheworkoftheenlightenedandpatrioticArthurYoung。Sucharegister,numerousandexcellentasthehintsdispersedthroughoutitwere,wasfar,howeverfromsupplyingtheplace,andrenderinguselessasystemofregularandconnectedresearches,inwhichinstructionshouldconstitutethesoleobject。
Inenumeratingthebranchesofknowledgewithwhich,onaccountoftheirsuperiorutility,itismostdesirablethatthegreatmassofthepeopleshouldbeacquainted,itmaywellbesupposedthatI
oughtnottoforgettheknowledgeofthelaws。Butthatthisknowledgemaybediffused,adeterminatesystemofcognosciblelaws,capableofbeingknown,isnecessary。Unhappily,suchasystemdoesnotyetexist:wheneveritshallcometobeestablished,theknowledgeofthelawwillhardlybeconsideredworthyofthenameofscience。Thelegislatorwhoallowsmoreintelligibletermstoexistwithinthecompassoflanguage,thanthoseinwhichheexpresseshislaws,deservestheexecrationofhisfellow—men。
Ihaveendeavouredtopresenttotheworldtheoutlinesofasystem,which,shoulditeverbefilledup,Iflattermyselfwouldrenderthewholesystemoflawscognoscibleandintelligibletoall。
Astothoseartsandscienceswhichmaybelearnedfrombooks,梥uchastheartoflegislation,historyinallitsbranches,moralphilosophyandlogic;comprehendingmetaphysics,grammar,andrhetoric,梩hesemaybelefttobegatheredfrombooks。Thoseindividualswhoaredesirousofalleviatingthepainsofstudybythecharmsofdeclamationuponthesesubjects,maybepermittedtopayfortheiramusements。Thereis,however,onebranchofencouragement,whichthehandofgovernmentmightextendeventothesestudies。Itmightestablishineachdistrict,inwhichthelecturesofwhichwehavealreadyspoken,shouldbedelivered,anincreasinglibrary,appropriatedtothesestudies。Thiswouldbeatoncetobestowuponstudentstheinstrumentsofstudy,anduponauthorstheirmostappropriatereward。
Ishouldnotconsiderknowledgeinthesedepartments,atoncesousefulandsocurious,illacquired,whereitevenacquiredattheexpenseofLatinandGreek梐nacquaintancewithwhichisheldinsuchhighestimationinourdays,andforinstructioninwhichthefoundationsaresoabundant。CommonopinionappearstohaveconsideredthesciencesmoredifficultofattainmentthanthesedeadlanguagesThisopinionisonlyaprejudice,arisingfromthecomparativelysmallnumberofindividualswhoapplythemselvestothestudyofthescience,andfromitsnothavingbeenthecustomtostudythemtillthelabouroftheseotherstudieshasbeencompleted。But,customandprejudiceapart,itisinthestudyofthesciencesthatyoungpeoplewouldfindmostpleasureandfewestdifficulties。
Inthiscareer,ideasfindeasysuccessthroughthesensestothememoryandtheotherintellectualfaculties。Curiosity,thatpassionwhichevenininfancydisplaysmuchenergywouldherebecontinuouslygratified。Inthestudyoflanguage,onthecontrary,therearenosensibleobjectstorelievethememory;alltheenergyofthemindisconsumedintheacquisitionofwordsofwhichneithertheutilitynortheapplicationisvisible。Hence,thelongestandmostdetailedcourseofinstructionwhichneedbegivenuponallthesciencesbeforementioned,wouldnottogetheroccupysomuchtimeasisusuallydevotedtothestudyofLatinwhichisforgottenalmostassoonaslearnedTheknowledgeoflanguagesisvaluableonlyasameansofacquiringtheinformationwhichmaybeobtainedfromconversationorbooks。Forthepurposesofconversation。thedeadlanguagesareuseless;
andtranslationsofallthebookscontainedinthemmaybefoundinallthelanguagesofmodernEurope。What,then,remainstobeobtainedfromthem,notbythecommonpeople,butevenbythemostinstructed?Imustconfess,Icandiscovernothingbutafundofallusionswherewithtoornamenttheirspeeches,theirconversations,andtheirbooks梩oosmallacompensationforthefalseandnarrownotionswhichcustomcontinuestocompelustodrawfromtheseimperfectanddeceptivesources。Topreferthestudyoftheselanguagestothestudyofthoseusefultruthswhichthemorematureindustryofthemodernshasplacedintheirstead,istomakeadwelling—placeofascaffolding,insteadofemployingitintheerectionofabuilding:
itisasthough,inhismatureage,umanshouldcontinuetoprattlelikeachild。Letthosewhoarepleasedwiththesestudiescontinuetoamusethemselves;butletusceasetotormentchildrenwiththem,atleastthosechildrenwhowillhavetoprovidefortheirownsubsistence,tillsuchtimeaswehavesuppliedthemwiththemeansofslakingtheirthirstforknowledgeatthosespringswherepleasureiscombinedwithimmediateandincontestableutility。
Itisespeciallybyacompletecourseofinstruction,thattheclergy,whomightberenderedsouseful,oughttobepreparedfortheirfunctions。Withinthenarrowlimitsofeveryparish,therewouldthenbefoundonemanatleastwellinstructeduponallsubjectswithwhichacquaintanceismostdesirable。Inexchangeforthisknowledge,whichconstitutesthegloryofman,Iwouldexchangeasmuchasmightbedesiredofthatcontroversywhichishisscourgeandhisdisgrace。
TheintervalsbetweendivineserviceontheSabbathmightthenbefilledupbythecommunicationofknowledgetothosewhosenecessaryavocationsleavethemnootherleisuretimeforimprovement。
Anattendanceuponacourseofphysico—theology,itappearstome,wouldbeamuchmoresuitablemodeofemployingthistime,thanwastingitinthatidlenessanddissipationinwhichbothhealthandmoneyaresofrequentlylost。
Therearethreecauseswhichtendtostrengthenanattachmenttothedeadlanguages:桾hefirstis,theutilitywhichtheyformerlypossessed。Attherevivalofletters,therewasnothingtolearnbutLatinandGreek,andnothingcouldbelearntbutbyLatinandGreek。
Theperiodwhenthisutilityceasedhavingneverbeenfixed,customhasledustoregarditasstillsubsisting。
Asecondreasonis,thetimeandtroubleexpendedbysomanypersonsinlearningthem。
Thepriceofanythingisregulatednotonlybyitsutility,butalsobythelabourexpendedinprocuringit。
Fewwouldbewillingtoacknowledgethattheyhadspentalargeportionoftheirlifeinlearningthatwhich,whenlearnt,asnotworthknowing。
TherearemanyindividualswhohavelearntLatinandGreek,buthavelearnednothingelse。Canitbeexpectedthattheyshouldacknowledgetheselanguagesareuseless?Aswellmightaknight—erranthavebeenexpectedtoacknowledgethathismistresswasugly!
Thethirdcauseis,theirreputednecessity。Thisnecessity,thoughpurelyconventional,isnotthelessreal。Publicopinionhasattachedadegreeofimportancetoanacquaintancewiththem,andbewhoshouldbeknowntobeentirelyignorantofthem,wouldbebrandedwithdisgrace。Solongasthislawsubsistsitmustbeobeyed。Asingleindividualisseldomabletowithstandorchangethatlawestablishedbypublicopinion。
Asthepublicmindbecomesenlightened,theselawswillchangeofthemselves。Asovereignmay,however,hastenthesechangesifhebelievethemuseful,andifheconsidertheattemptworththetrouble。
Hemayrewardindividualsforteachingtheartsandscienceandthusestablishanewpublicopinion,whichshallatfirstcompetewith,andatlengthultimatelysubdue,thepreviousprejudice。
Hemayalsoattainthesameendbyanotherlesscostly,butmorestartlingmethod。Hemayprescribeanattendanceupondifferentscientificlectures,asanecessaryconditiontotheholdingofcertainoffices,andparticularlyofallhonoraryemployments。Tothosewhohavecompletedtheircourseofattendance,anhonorarydiplomamaybegiven,whichuponalloccasionsofpublicceremonyshallentitlethosewhopossessittoacertainprecedence。
Inthetimesoffeudalbarbarism,whenwarwastheonlyoccupationofthosewhodidnotbelongtothecommonalityortheclergy,theupperranksinsocietywerenecessarilymilitary。Theknightwasthewarriorwhocouldaffordtofightonhorseback;thesquirewasonewho,notbeingsorichastheknight,couldaffordtobehisprincipalattendant,andthisconstitutedtheirnobility。
Infuturetimes,whenotheroccupationsshallbepursuedandothermannersestablished,itispossiblethatknowledgemayconferrankinEurope,astheappearanceofithasforalongtimepastinChina。Wealth,independentlyofanyconvention,possessesrealpower,andwillalwaysminglewitheverythingwhichtendstoconferrespect。Thephilosopher,tohistitleofhonour,willunitetheideaofanindividualsufficientlywealthytohavesupportedtheexpenseofalearnededucation。
Knowledge,whethertrueorpresumptive,mightthusbecomeamarkofdistinction,asthelengthofthenailsisinChina。
Butitmaybesaid,thatsomethingmorethanattendanceuponacourseofscientificlecturesisnecessary,ifanythingistobelearned;andthatthelawwhichshouldbestowhonouruponattendancewouldnotinsurestudy。Ifitwerenecessarytohaveanobilitycomposedofrealphilosophers,othermethodsmustbepursued;butwhentheobjectinviewismerelytochangethespeciesofknowledgeinwhichtheyaretobeinstructed,fromwhatisuselesstowhatisuseful,whatmoreneedberequired?Wheninterestingobjectsofstudyaresubstitutedforthosewhichareuninteresting,theywouldnotstudyless。
Iknowthatpublicexaminationsarepowerfulmeansforexcitingemulation,butIhavenodesiretoplaceadditionalobstaclesinthewayofaplanwhosenoveltyalonewouldrenderitbuttooalarming:
aproject,whichtomanywillappearromantic,neednotbeaccompaniedbyanaccessorywhoseaspectisalarming,andwhoseutilityisproblematic。
Themoststupidandinattentivecouldscarcelyattenduponalongcourseofinstructionwithoutgainingsomeadvantage:
theywouldatleastbefamiliarizedwiththetermsofart,whichconstitutenotonlythefirst,butthegreatestdifficulty;theywouldformsomeideaoftheprincipaldivisionsofthecountrytheytraversed;andshouldtheyeverbedesirousofdirectingamoreparticularexaminationtoanyparticulardivision,theywillatleastknowinwhatdirectiontoseekforit。Asalltheworldwouldthenbeoccupiedwiththestudyofthesciences,theywouldpretendthustoemploythemselves,andwouldbeashamedtobeentirelyignorantofthosethingswhichwerethesubjectsofgeneralconversation。
Russiaisaninstanceoftheeasewithwhichanewdirectionmaybegiventotheopinionsofawholepeople。Nobilityofbirthisbutlittlerespected:梠fficialrankistheonlygroundofdistinction。Thischangehasbeeneffectedbyafewsimpleregulations。Unlesshebeanofficer,noindividual,howrichornoblybornsoeverbemaybe,canvote。orevensit,intheassemblyofthenobility。
Theconsequencehasbeen,thatallclasseshavepressedintotheserviceofthestate。Iftheydonotintendtomakeittheirprofession,theyquititwhentheyhaveattainedtherankwhichconfersthisprivilege。{ConcludingnotebyDumont}
RRAppendixSection1TheRationaleofRewardAppendix(A)ToBookI,ChapterVIIIOnSubscriptionstoMattersofOpinion0fthetwoEnglishUniversities,Oxfordisthemostancientandmostdignified。OfitsnumerousstatuteswhicharepennedinLatin,asmanyasmayfillamoderateduodecimovolumearepublished,asthetitle—pagedeclares,fortheuseofyouth:andofthesecareistaken(forthehonourofthegovernmentletitbespoken)
thatthoseforwhoseobservancethearedesigned,shallnot,withouttheirowndefault,beignorantsince,ateveryman’sadmission,acopyisputintohishands。Allthestatutes,aswellthosethatareseenasthosethatarenotseen,everystudentathisadmissionissworninLatintoobserve,``SohelpmeGod’’,saysthematriculatedperson,``touchingasIdothemostholyGospelofChrist。’’
Thebarbers,cooks,bed—makers,errand—boys,andotherunletteredretainerstotheUniversity,aresworninEnglishtotheobservanceoftheseLatinstatutes。Theoaththussolemnlytaken,therehasnot,wemaybemorallycertain,foracourseofmanygenerations,perhapsfromthefirsteraofitsinstitution,beenasinglepersonthathaseverkept。Nowthoughcustomary,itisperhapsnotstrictlyproper,asittendtoconfusionandtofalseestimates,toapplythetermperjury,withoutdistinction,tothebreachofanassertiveandtothatofapromissivedeclaration———tothebreachofaoathandtothatofavow;andtobrandwiththesamemarkofinfamyasolemnaverment,whichatthetimeofmakingitwascertainlyfalse,———andasingledeparturefromadeclaredresolution,whichatthetimeofdeclaringitmightpossiblyhavebeensincere。[2]
But,iftheythemselvesaretobebelievedwhohavemadetheoath,andwhobreakit,———theuniversityofOxford,forthiscenturyandhalfhasbeen,andatthetimeIamwritingis,acommonwealthofperjurers。ThestreetsofOxford,saidthefirstLordChathamonce,``arepavedwithdisaffection’’。
Thatweaknessisoutgrown:buthemighthaveaddedthen(ifthathadbeenthestatesman’scare)andanyonemayaddstill,``andwithperjury’’。
Thefaceofthis,asofotherprostitutions,varieswiththetime:perjurersintheiryouth,theybecomesubornersofperjuryintheiroldage。
Itshouldseemthattherewasonceatime,whenthepersonssubjectedtothisyoke,orsomeoneontheirbehalf,begantomurmur:for,toquietsuchmurmurs,oratanyratetoanticipatethem,apractitioner,ofafacultynowextinct,thenverymuchinvogue,———aphysicianofthesoul,acasuist,wascalledin。Hisprescription,attheendofeveryoneoftheseabridgededitionsofthestatutes———hisprescriptionunderthetitleofEpinomisseuexplanatiojuramenti&;c。standsannexed。Thiscasuistiskindenoughtoinformyou,thatthoughyouhavetakenanoathindeed,toobserveallthesestatutes———andthatwithoutexception,yet,inninety—nineinstancesoutofahundred,itamountstonothing。What,inthoseinstances,youarehoundtodois———nottokeepyouroath,buttotakeyourchoicewhetheryouwilldothatorsuffer———nottodowhatyouarebid;but,ifyouhappentobefoundout(forthisproviso,Itakeforgranted,istobesupplied)
tobearyourpenalty。For———whatnowdoyouthinkyoursovereignseriouslywishesyoutodo,whenheforbidsyoutocommitmurder?Thatyoushouldabstainfrommurderatallevents?Nosurely;butthat,ifyouhappentobefoundoutandconvicted,youshouldsitquietwhilethehalterisfittedtoyourneck。
Whoisthiscasuist,whobyhissuperiorpowerwashesawaytheguiltfromperjury,andcontroulsthejudgmentsofthealmighty?Isitthelegislatorhimself?Bynomeans:thatindeedmightmakeadifference。Thesanctionofanoathwouldthennotwithcertaintybeviolated;itwouldonlywithcertaintybeprofaned。ItwasaBishopSaunderson,who,inthebosomofaProtestantchurch,beforehewasmadeabishop,hadsetupakindofconfessionalbox,whithertenderconsciencesrepairedfromallpartstohealtheirscruples。
Thisinstitution,whetheritwerethefruitofblindnessorofasinisterpolicy,hasansweredinanadmirabledegree,someatleastofthepurposesforwhichitwasprobablydesigned。Ithasdriventheconsciencesofthegreaterpartofthosebywhomtheefficientpartsofgovernmentareonedaytobefilled,intoanet,ofwhichtheclergyholdthecords。Thefearandshameofeveryyoungmanofsense,ofspirit,andreflection,onwhomtheseoathsareimposed,mustatonetimeorothertakethealarm。What!sayshetohimself,amIaperjurer?
Ifheaskhisownjudgment,itcondemnshim。Whatthenshallhedo?Perjury,wereitonlyfortheshameofit,isnolightmatter:ifhiseducationhavebeeneversoloose,hehasfrequentlyhearditcondemned;ifstrictandvirtuous,hehasneverhearditmentionedwithoutabhorrence。But,whenhethinksoftheguiltofit,hellyawnsunderhisfeet。Whatthenshallhedo?Whitherthenshallhebetakehimself?Hefliestohisreverendinstructorsinastateofdesperation。``Thesemenareolderthanmyself’’,sayshe;``theyaremorelearned,theyarethereforewiser:onthemreststhechargeofmyeducation。Myownjudgment,indeed,condemnsme;butmyownjudgmentisweakanduninformed。WhymaynotItrusttoothers?See,theirhandsareoutstretchedtocomfortme!Wherecanhetheblameinlisteningtothem?inbeingguidedbythem?inshort,insurrenderingmyjudgmentintotheirhands?Arenottheymyrulers,myinstructors?theverypersonswhommyparentshaveappointedtotakechargeofmetocheckmypresumption,andtoinformmyignorance?WhatobligationamIunder,nay,whatlibertyhaveItoopposemyfeeblelightstotheirs?Dotheynotstandchargedwiththedirectionofmyconscience?———chargedbywhatsoeverIoughttoholdmostsacred?AretheynottheministersofGod’sword?thedepositariesofourholyreligion?theverypersons,towhoseguidanceIvowed,inthepersonofmygodfathersandgodmothers,tosubmitmyself,underthenameofmyspiritualpastorsandmasters?Andaretheynotableandwillingtodirectme?Inallmattersofconsciencethen,letmelaydowntomyselfthefollowingasinviolablerules:———nottobegovernedbymyownreason;
nottoendeavouratthepresumptuousandunattainablemeritofconsistencynottoconsiderwhetherathingisrightorwronginitself,butwhat{\itthey}thinkofit。Onallpoints,then,letmereceivemyreligionattheirhands:whattothemissacred,letittomebesacred;whattothemiswickedness,letittomebewickedness;whattothemistruth,letittomebetruth;letmeseeastheysee,believeastheybelieve,thinkastheythink,feelastheyfeel,loveastheylove,fearastheyfear,hateastheyhate,esteemastheyesteem,performastheyperform,subscribeastheysubscribe,andswearastheyswear。Withthemishonour,peace,andsafety;withoutthem,isignominy,contentionanddespair。’’Suchcoursemusteveryyoungman,whoisbroughtupundertherodofatechnicalreligion,distinctfrommorality,andbestrewedwithdoubtsanddangers,takeonathousandoccasions,orrunmad。Towhomelseshouldheresortforcounsel?———towhomelseshouldherepair?TothecompanionsofhisownageTheywilllaughathim,andcallhimmethodist:formanyaonewhodreadsevenhobgoblinsalonelaughsatthemincompany。Totheirfriendsandrelationswhoareadvancedinlife,andwholiveintheworld?Theanswertheygetfromthem,iftheyarefortunateenoughtogetaseriousone,is———thatinallhumanestablishmentsthereareimperfections;butthatinnovationisdangerous,andreformationcanonlycomefromabove:thatyoungmenareapttobehurriedawaybythewarmthoftheirtemper,ledastraybypartialviewsofthings,ofwhichtheyareunabletoseethewhole:thattheseeffusionsofself—sufficiencyaremuchbetterrepressedthangivenwayto:thatwhatitisnotinourpowertocorrectitwerebettertosubmittowithoutnotice,thatprudencecommandswhatcustomauthorizes———toswimquietlywiththestream:thattobringmattersofreligionuponthecarpet,isareadywaytoexciteeitheraversionorcontempt:thathumanityforbidstheraisingofscruplesinthebreastoftheweak,———goodhumour,thebringingupoftopicsthatareaustere,———goodmannerstopicsthataredisgusting:thatpolicyforbidsouroffendingtheincuriouswiththedisplayofoursagacity,theignorantwiththeostentationofourknowledge,theloosewiththeexampleofourintegrity,andthepowerfulwiththenoiseofourcomplaints:
that,withregardtothepointinquestion,oaths,likeotherobligations,aretobeheldforsacredorinsignificant,accordingtothefashion:thatperjuryisnodisgrace,exceptwhenithappenstobepunished:andthat,asageneralrule,itconcernseverymantoknowandtoremember,ashetendershispeaceofmindandhishopesoffortune,thatthereareinstitutions,whichthoughmischievousarenottobeabolished,andthoughindefensiblearenottobecondemned。
Asortoftacitconventionisestablished:``Giveoursoulupintomyhands———Iensureitfromperdition。Surelytheterms,onyourpart,areeasyenough:exertionthereneedsnone:allthatisdemandedofyouis———toshutyoureyes,ears,lips,andtositquiet。Thetopicofreligionissurelyforbiddingenough,aswellasaforbiddentopic:
allthatyouhavetodothen,istothinknothingaboutthematter;looknotinto,touchnotthearkoftheLord,andyouaresafe。’’
RRAppendixSection2TheRationaleofRewardAppendix(B)ToBookI,ChapterVIIIMischievousnessofRewardlatent———ExemplificationsWhenarewardisgroundless,itmaybesoeithersimplygroundless,orpositivelymischievous:theact,whichitisemployedtoproduce,maybeeithersimplyuseless,orpernicious。
Itwouldbeanugatorylessontosay,thatrewardshouldnotbeappliedtoproduceanyact,ofwhichthetendencyisacknowledgedtobepernicious;andthiswhethersuchacthavebeenaggregatedtothenumberofoffencesornot。Theonlycaseswhichitcanbeofanyuse,inthispointofview,tomention,arethoseinwhichthemischievousnessoftheact,orthetendencyoftherewardtoproduceit,isapttolieconcealed。
Tobeginwiththecaseswhichcomeundertheformerofthesedescriptions———thoseinwhichthemischievousnessoftheactisapttolieconcealed。Onegreatclassofpublicservices,forwhichrewardshavebeenormightbeoffered,arethosewhichconsistintheextensionofknowledge,or,accordingtothemorecommon,thoughobscureandimposingphrase,thediscoveryandpropagationoftruth。Nowthereisonewayinwhichrewardsofferedforthepropagationoftruth(thatisofwhatislookedupon,orprofessedtobelookedupon,astruth)cannotbuthaveapernicioustendency;andthatofwhatevernaturebetheproposedtruth。Apointbeingproposed,concerningwhichmeningeneralarethoughttoheignorantordivided,ifamansincerelydesiredthatthetruthrelativetothatpointshouldbeascertained,andinconsequenceofthatdesireiscontenttofurnishtheexpenseofareward,thenaturalcourseis———toinvitementotheinquiry。``Howstandsthematter?Whichofthetwocontradictorypropositionsisthetrueone?’’Toaquestionofsomesuchformasthis,herequiresananswer。Theservice,then,towhichheannexeshisreward,isthegivingananswertoaquestion———suchananswerasuponexaminationshallappeartobeatrueone,ortocomenearesttothetruth。Thetendencyofarewardthusoffered,toproducethediscoveryofthetruth,isobvious:
thetendencyofitwillatleastbetoproducethediscoveryofwhattohim,whoputsinforthereward,shallappeartobetruth。Whatelseshouldittendtoproduce?Myaimbeingtoestablishwhattoyoushallappeartobethetruth,whatothermeanshaveIofdoingthis,butbyadvancingwhatappearstometobeso?Accordingly,thustoapplythereward,istopromoteasincereandimpartialinquiry,andtopursuethebest,andindeedtheonlycoursethatbymeansofartificialrewardcanbepursuedforpromotingrealknowledge。
Anothercourse,whichhasbeensometimestaken,is_toassumethetruthoftheoneoftwocontradictorypropositionsthatmaybeframedconcerninganyobjectofinquiry,———andtomakethedemonstrationofthetruthofthatpropositiontheconditionofthereward。Inthiscourse,thetendencyoftherewardispernicious。Thehabitofveracityisoneofthegreatsupportsofhumansociety———avirtuewhichinpointofutilityoughttobe,andinpointoffactis,enforcedinthehighestdegreebythemoralsanction。Tounderminethathabit,istoundermineoneoftheprincipalsupportsofhumansociety。Thetendencyofarewardthusofferedistounderminethisvirtuoushabit,andtointroducetheoppositeviciousone。Thetendencyofitmayhetoproducewhatiscalledlogicaltruth,ornot,asmayhappen;butitis,atanyrate,toproduceethicalfalsehood:
itmaytendtopromoteknowledgeorerror,asitmayhappen;butittends,atanyrate,topromotemendacity。Thepropositioneitheristrueoritisfalse:and,bethatasitmay,menareeitheragreedaboutitsbeingtrue,ortheyarenot。Inasfarastheyareagreed,therewardisuseless;inasfarastheyarenot,ittendstomakethemactasiftheywere,andispernicious。
Itmaybesaid———No;allthatittendstodo,atleastallthatitisdesignedtodo,istocallforthsuch,andsuchonly,whoseopinionisreallyinfavouroftheproposition,andtoputthemupongivingtheirreasonsforit:itisnottocorrupttheirveracity,buttoovercometheirindolence。Butwhatevermaybethedesign,theformerisinfactitstendency。Ontheoneside,theyhaverewardtourgethem;ontheother,theyhaveimpunitytopermitthem。For,whenamandeclaresthathisopinionsonagivensubjectaresoandso,whocansaythattheyareotherwise?———whocansaywithcertainty,whatareaman’sprivateopinions?
Andiftheeffectbebad,whatsignifiestheintention?Orhowindeedcantheintentionbepureifitbeseenthattheeffectislikelytobeabadone?
Thuswoulditstand,wereitdoubtfulwhetherthereareanypersonsorno,whoseunbiassedopinionsareontheoppositesidetothatonwhichthedemonstrationissoughttobeprocured。Butthecasealwaysis,thatitiscleartherearesuchpersons;thatitistheverypersuasionoftherebeingsuch,thatisthecauseofofferingthereward;andthatthemorenumeroustheyare,themorelikelyitistobeoffered,andthegreateritislikelytobe。Such,then,isthedangerofpromotingmendacity:toavoidwhichdanger,itmaybelaiddowninshortterms,asageneralrule,thatrewardshouldbegiven———notfordemonstration,butforinquiry。
Morethanthis,arewardthusappliedtendsalways,inacertaindegree,tofrustrateitsownpurpose;andissofar,notonlyinefficacious,butefficaciousontheotherside。Itdoesasgoodastellmankind,that,intheopinionofhimatleastbywhomtherewardisoffered,theprobabilityisthatmen’sopinionsaremostlikelyontheoppositeside;andinsofargivesthemreasontothinkthatthetruthisalsoontheoppositeside。``Peopleingeneral’’,amanwillnaturallysaytohimself,``arenotofthiswayofthinking:iftheywere,whatneedofallthispainstomakethemso?’’This,then,affordsanotherreasonwhyrewardshouldhegiven———notfordemonstration,butforinquiry。
Such,accordingly,hasbeenthecoursepursuedinrelationtoalmosteverybranchofscience,orsupposedscience。Thescience,orsupposedscienceofdivinity,furnishesexceptions,whichareperhapstheonlyones。Whatshouldwesaytoamanwhoshouldseektopromotephysicalknowledgebysuchdevices?Whatshouldwesaytoaman,whoinsteadofsettingmenhonestlyandfairlytoinquirewhether,inregardtolivingpowers,forexample,themomentumwereinthesimpleorintheduplicateproportionofthevelocity———whetherheatwereasubstance,oronlyaqualityofothersubstances———whetherbluntorpointedconductorsofelectricitywerethesafest,———shouldpaythemforendeavouringtoprove,thatinlivingforcesthemomentumisinthesimpleproportiononly,thatheatisonlyaquality,andthatbluntconductorsarethesafest?
Indivinityhowever,examplesofthismethodofapplyingrewardarefrequent。
Itmaybesaid,thatanexceptionoughttobemadefromtherule,inthecaseswherein,onwhicheversidethetruthmaybe,theutilityisclearlyonthesidethusfavoured。Thusthereisuse,forinstance,inthepeople’sbelievinginthebeingandattributesofaGod:
andthateveninapoliticalview,sinceuponthatdependsalltheassistancewhichthepoliticalcanderivefromthereligioussanction:
andthattherecanbenouseintheirdisbelievingit。Thatthereisuseagain,inthepeople’sbelievinginthetruthoftheJewishprophecies;
sinceuponthatdependsoneargumentinfavourofthetruthofthathistory,thetruthofwhichisonemaingroundofmen’sexpectationoftherewardsandpunishmentsbelongingtothatsanction。Thisobservationcertainlydeservesgreatattention。Itexhibitsareasonwhichtheremaybeformakinganexceptiontotherule。Itdoesnot,however,invalidatetheargumentsadducedasabove,infavourofit:itdoesnotdisprovetheprobabilityofthemischiefsontheapprehensionofwhichitisgrounded。Whatitdoes,istoexhibitabenefittoactinbalanceagainsttheseinconveniences。
If,then,theinterestsofreligionbeatvariancewiththoseofvirtue,anditbenecessarytoendangertheoneinordertopromotetheefficacyoftheother,———sothenitmustbe。
Itistobeobserved,thatalltheadvantagewhichcanaccruetothecausefromthisman\oeuvreiscomposedofthedifferencebetweenwhatitmayderivefromthesehirelingadvocates,andwhat,weretherenosuchartificialencouragementgiven,itwouldderivefromvolunteers。
Onthisheaditmaybeworthconsidering,whetherthecallingforthoftheonedoesnotcontributetopreventtheenlistmentoftheother。``Whatneedisthereforme,astranger,togivemyselfthetrouble,whentherearesomanyotherswhoseparticularbusinessitis,andwhoaresowellpaidforit?’’Ofthissortisthelanguagewhichamanwillverynaturallyholdwithhimselfonsuchoccasions。
Astrangecircumstanceitwouldbeindeed,———andonewhichwouldaffordnoveryfavourablepresumptioneitherofthetruthoroftheutilityofthecausewhichitismeanttofavour,———ifalltheunbiassedsuffragesofanyconsiderablemajorityinnumberorvalueofthethinkingmenshould,iflefttothemselves,beontheoppositeside。
Great,indeed,mustbethepenuryofunboughtadvocates,thatcanmakeitadvantageous,———Idonotsaymerelytothecauseoftruth,buttoanycause,howeverwideofthetruth,———toapplytomercenariesforassistance。
Ofhowlittleweightthesuffragesofthelatterareincomparisonofthoseoftheformer,letanyonejudge,whohasobservedthesuperioreclâ;twithwhichthewordofalaymanisreceived,whenithappentobeonthesideoforthodoxy。
Buthoweverthemattermaystandwithregardtoquestionsofpoliticalimportanceinwhichutilityisclearlyononeside———whateverreasontherebeforviolatingthelawofimpartialityinthiscase,itceasesaltogetherwhenappliedtothemerelyspeculativepointswhichformthematterofthosearticlesoffaith,towhichonavarietyofoccasionssubscriptionsorothertestimoniesofacceptationarerequired。Thesewillserveasonesetofinstancesoftheotherbranchofthecases,wherethemischievouseffectsofrewardareapttolieconcealed;viz。~where,inthecaseofalineofconductproducedbyareward,apparentorno,thetendencyoftherewardtoproduceitisaptnottobeapparentatfirstglance———inasmuchasitmayescapeobservation,thattheadvantageheldforthactstothispurposeinthecapacityofareward。
Foranemolumenttooperateinthecapacityofareward,soastogivebirthtoactionofanykind,itisnotnecessarythatitshouldbedesignedsotodo。Wheneveranysuchconnectionisestablishedbetweenemolumentontheonepart,andaman’sconductontheother,thatbyactinginanymannerheseesthatheacquiresanemolumentorchanceofemolument,whichwithoutactinginsuchmannerhecouldnothave,———theviewofsuchemolumentwilloperateonhiminthecapacityofareward。
Itmattersnotwhetheritbethesoleactwhichistoentitlehimtothereward,oronlyoneactamongstmany。Itmattersnotwhetheritbetheacttowhichtherewardisprofessedlyannexed,oranyotheractofwhichnomentionismade。Itmaynotbehelduptoviewinthatcharacter:itmayevenbenothelduptoviewatall。Inthisunconspicuouswayanemolumentmayoperate,andinathousandinstancesdoesoperate,inthecapacityofareward,onalongandindefinitecourseofaction———inshort,onthebusinessofawholelife。Whenever,onthepartofthesameperson,twoactsaresoconnected,thattheperformanceoftheoneisnecessarytohishavingitinhispowertoperformtheother,arewardannexedtothelatteroperateseventuallyasifannexedtotheformer;and,whetherdesignedlyornot,itpromotestheproductionoftheoneactasmuchasoftheother。
Inthiscase,thehavingperformedtheprioractissaidtobeaqualificationforthebeingpermittedtoperformtheposterior。Theemolumentannexedtotheactprofessedlyrewarded,istherefore,inthiscaseasmucharewardforassumingthequalificat;on,asarewardforperformingtheact,fortheperformanceofwhichamanisrequiredtoqualifyhimselfbytheperformanceoftheother。
InEngland(forIwillgonofarther)thesubscribingadeclarationofthissortismadeaqualificationformanyoftheprincipalemolumentstowhichamancanaspire:foreveryprefermentinthechurch———forthelibertyofengagingintheinstructionofyouth———foradmissiontothebenefitsofthatmodeofeducationwhichislookeduponasmostliberalandadvantageous,andtherebytotheenjoyment,orthechanceoftheenjoymentofanyoneofthatamplestockofemolumentswhichhavebeenprovidedintheviewofinducingyoungpersonstoputthemselvesinthewayofthatfavouritemodeofeducation。Thearticles,orpropositions,towhichthissubscriptionisrequired,aretermedArticlesofReligion。Bysubscribingtothesearticles,amandeclaresthathebelievesthetruthofcertainfactswhichtheyaver。Amongthesefactstherearemany,which,whethertrueornot(apointwhichisnothingtothepresentpurpose)areplainly,inapoliticalview,ofnosortofimportancewhatsoever。Isayofnoimportance;
sincetheycontributenothingtothefurnishingeitherofanymotivetoprompttoaction,orofanyruleorprecepttodirectit。Betheytrue,orbetheyfalse———nothingistobedoneinconsequence———nothingtobeabstainedfrom。
Themischievoustendency,whichthegivingarewardhasinthiscase,ismuchmorepalpablethanwhatithasintheotherbecausetheprobabilityofitsgivingbirthtofalsehoodisthegreater。
1。Inthecaseofdemonstrativelectures,allthatitisabsolutelynecessaryamanshoulddois———simplytostatetheargumentsinfavourofthepropositioninquestion:hedoesnotnecessarilyasserthisownbeliefofthetruthofit。``Sucharethereasons’’,hemaysay,``whichinduceotherpeople,andwhichifattendedto,mayperhapsinduceyoutobelieveit:whethertheyareconclusiveornot,itliesuponyoutojudge:astomyselfwhetherImyselfbelieveitorno,isanothermatter。
Idonottellyou———Iamnotboundtotellyou。’’Inthecaseofsubscriptionhedirectly,plainly,andsolemnlysays———Ibelieveit。
2。Inthenextplace,theprobabilityoffalsehoodismuchgreaterinthiscasethanintheother。Inthecaseofdemonstrativelectures,menarereasonedwith,lestotherwisetheyshouldnotbelieve:inthecaseofsubscriptions,menarerewardedforsubscribingbecauseitisknownmanydonotbelieve。Hadmenneverdisbelievedordoubted,theyneverwouldhavebeencalledupontosubscribe:itwouldhavebeenuselessandneedless;norwouldanyonehavethoughtofit。
Thosewhoareinclinedtoplaceinthemostfavourablepointofviewthepoliticalefficacyofsubscriptionstosucharticles,havecalledthemarticlesofpeace,asiftherewerenothingmoreinsaying,Ibelievethisproposition,thaninsaying,Iengagenottosayanythingthattendstoexpressadisbeliefofit。
Theywouldhavebeenmuchbetternamedhadtheybeentermedarticlesofwar。
Inregardtospeculativeopinions,therearebuttwocasesinwhichmencanbesaidtobeatpeace:whentheythinkaboutit,andareofthesameopinion,andwhentheythinknothingaboutthematter:unlesswereckonasathirdthatoftheirthinkingaboutit,anddifferingaboutit,andnotcaringaboutthedifference。Thattheexpedientinquestionhasnotendencytopromotepeaceofthefirstkind,hasbeenalreadybeenshown:itisequallyclear,thatithasnonetoproducepeaceofeitherofthetwootherkinds。Thetendencyofitisjustthecontrary。
Iflefttohimselfthereisnotonepersoninahundredwhowouldevertroublehimselfaboutthematter。Ofthiswemaybeprettycertain。Whatmotiveshouldhehave?———whatshouldleadhimtoit?———whatpleasureorwhatprofitistheretobegotbyit?Ifleft,then,tothemselves,thebulkofmankind,———or,tospeakmoreproperly,thebulkofthosewhomitisproposedthustodiscipline,———wouldthinknothingaboutthematter。
Theywouldthereforebeinastateoftheprofoundestandmostlastingpeace。Ifthisshouldnotbegranted,atleastitwillbegranted,thatitwouldbepossibleforthemtobeso。Subscriptionsrenderitimpossible。
Formakingpeacebetweenmen,subscriptionsarejustthesamesortofrecipethatitwouldbeformakingpeacebetweentwomastiffs,tosetabonebeforethem,andthentiethemtothesamestake。
Whenbothpartiesareatliberty,bothpartiesareattheirease,andthereispeacebetweenthem。Butwhenthestrongerpartysaystotheweaker,———``StandforthandlieinthesightofGod,orgiveupthechoicestadvantagesofsociety,thatwemayengrossthemtoourselves’’,whatsortofpeaceisitthatcansubsistbetweenthem?
Justthatsortofpeacewhichsubsistsbetweenthehousebreakerandthehouseholder,whentheonehasboundtheotherhandandfoot,andgaggedhim。Itisnottobedeniedbutthattheremaybesomesortofuneasinessbetweentheminthefirstmentionedstateofthings;towit,where,neitherofthembeingsacrificed,theyarebothatliberty,andbothofthemprotected。
Butwhatsortofuneasinessisthis?Justthatsortofuneasinesswhichmayperhapssubsistbetweentwoneighboursatthethoughtthatneitherofthemcanbreakintotheother’shouse。Againstthissortofuneasiness,peace,itmustbeconfessed,affordsnoremedy:but,fromthepossibilityoftheresubsistingthissortofuneasinessbetweentwoneighbours,ortwonations,whoeverthoughtofspeakingofthemasnotbeingatpeace?
Ifthismethodofinsuringpeaceweregoodinonecase,howshoulditbeotherwiseinanyother?Religion,orratherthenonsensewhichhasbeengraftedonit———(forthepartthatiscapableofbeingmadeusefulisnotthusexposedtocontroversy)———religion,Isay,isnottheonlytopicwhichhasgivenrisetocontroversy。Solongasthereisanymanwhoseknowledgefallsshortofomniscience,andwhosefacultiesareliabletoerror,menillbaretheirdifferences:theywilldifferaboutmattersofjudgment,andaboutmattersoftaste———aboutthesciences,aboutthearts,abouttheordinaryoccurrencesoflife;inshort,abouteverythingwhichhasaname。ItwouldthenbemakingpeaceamongtheloversofmusictomakethemswearbeforeGod,thattheythinktheItalianstyle,orthattheythinktheFrenchstyle,ofmusicisthemorepleasing;amongtheloversofheroicpoetry,thattheythinkitbestinblankverse,orthattheythinkitbestinrhyme;amongtheloversofdramaticpoetry,thattheunitiesoftimeandplacemaybedispensedwith,orthattheymustbeobserved。
Itwouldbemakingpeacebetweenanaffectionatepair,toquestionthemabouteverypossiblepointofdomesticmanagement,tillsomeslightdiversitywerefoundintheiropinions,andthenforceoneofthemtoswear,beforeGod,thathewasconvincedhisownopinionwasthewrongone。Itwouldbemakingpeace———Butsurelybythistime,thepacifictendencyofthispolicymustbesufficientlyunderstood。
Anothermischievouseffectofthispolicyisthetendencyithastovitiatetheunderstanding。Overaman’sgenuineopinion,suchforms,ithasbeenshown,canhavenoinfluence:eitherhisveracitymustgiveway,orhisunderstanding,orboth:hemustdeceiveeitherhimselforothers。Adeceitofsomekindorotherhemustputonsomebody;eitheronhimselforothers。Thereisonethingwhichamancannotdo;thatis,destroytheforceofargumentswhichareactuallypresenttohismind。Thereisanotherthingwhichheisenabledtodoinagreatmeasure,thatis,keepthemfromgettingthere。This,accordingly,iswhat,iftheconsciousnessoffalsehoodsituneasyonhim,hewilllabourtodowithallhismight。Tobelieve,isnotinhispower:for,whenalltheargumentsthathaveeverbeenurged,orcanbedevised,infavouroftheproposition,arecollectedandappliedtohismind,andmakenoimpression,whathelpisthere?Whatmayperhapsbeinhispoweris,nottodisbelieve:
andthat,ifpossible,hewilldo。Butthustoshuttherighteye,ifonemaysosay,oftheunderstanding,andkeepopenonlytheleft,isnottheworkofaminutenorofanhour。Hemustmakemanyineffectualattacks,andreturnasoftentothecharge:hemustwagewaragainstthestubbornnessoftheunderstanding———hemustbringitunderthedominionoftheaffections———hemustdebilitateitspowers———hemustrenderitincapableofplacing,inaclearlight,thedifferencebetweenrightandwrong:inaword,hemustinstillintohismindasettledhabitofpartialityandbadreasoning———ahabitofembracingfalsehoodwithfacility,andregardingtruth,notwithindifferencemerely,butwithsuspicion,intheapprehensionofbeingbroughtbyitintotrouble。
Onemightimagine,thatitcouldnothaveboththesebadeffectsatonce;thatifithavetheone,itcannothavetheother:ifamandisbelieve,hisunderstanding———ifhebelieve,hismorals,———areyetsafe。Butwhoeverthinksthus,isledawaybywords:hedoesnotunderstandarighttheworkingsofthehumanmind。Hesupposesthemindfixedasbetweentworocks;whereasitisperpetuallyshakenandtossedabout,asbyathousandwaves。Hesupposesamanatalltimesperfectlyconsciousofthestateofhisownmind,awareofthemomentaanddirectionsoftheincessantlyfluctuatingforcesthatareoperatingonhim。Butthisisnotthecasewithonemaninamillion,inanytheleastdegree;norperhapswithanymaninperfection。Thusitisalsowithhypocrisyandfanaticism:itmightnaturallybeimagined,thattheoneexcludestheother;butrepeatedexperience,andlongcontinuedobservation,haveatlengthopenedtheeyesofmostmenuponthathead:anditseemsnowtobeprettygenerallyunderstoodthatthesetwoseeminglyincompatiblebadqualitiesarefoundfrequentlyinthesamereceptacle。