the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第38章
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fact。 Nor presumably did he mean it to have。 But it serves； not inaptly；
as a text to point out an important scientific truth； namely； that there are
not two such qualities of the mind； but only one。 For otherwise we might
have supposed the fact too evident to need mention。 Imagination is the
single source of the new； the one mainspring of psychical advance； reason；
like a balance…wheel； only keeping the action regular。 For reason is but the
touchstone of experience； our own； inherited； or acquired from others。 It
compares what we imagine with what we know； and gives us answer in
terms of the here and the now； which we call the actual。 But the actual is
really nothing but the local。 It does not mark the limits of the possible。
That imagination has been the moving spirit of the psychical world is
evident； whatever branch of human thought we are pleased to examine。
We are in the habit； in common parlance； of making a distinction between
the search after truth and the search after beauty； calling the one science
and the other art。 Now while we are not slow to impute imagination to
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art； we are by no means so ready to appreciate its connection with science。
Yet contrary； perhaps； to exogeric ideas on the subject； it is science rather
than art that demands imagination of her votaries。 Not that art may not
involve the quality to a high degree； but that a high degree of art is quite
compatible with a very small amount of imagination。 On the one side we
may instance painting。 Now painting begins its career in the humble
capacity of copyist； a pretty poor copyist at that。 At first so slight was its
skill that the rudest symbols sufficed。 〃This is a man〃 was conventionally
implied by a few scratches bearing a very distant relationship to the real
thing。 Gradually； owing to human vanity and a growing taste； pictures
improved。 Combinations were tried； a bit from one place with a piece
from another； a sort of mosaic requiring but a slight amount of
imagination。 Not that imagination of a higher order has not been called
into play； although even now pictures are often happy adaptations rather
than creations proper。 Some masters have been imaginative； others；
unfortunately for themselves and still more for the public； have not。 For
that the art may attain a high degree of excellence for itself and much
distinction for its professors； without calling in the aid of imagination； is
evident enough on this side of the globe； without travelling to the other。
Take； on the other hand； a branch of science which； to the average
layman； seems peculiarly unimaginative； the science of mathematics。 Yet
at the risk of appearing to cast doubts upon the validity of its conclusions；
it might be called the most imaginative product of human thought； for it is
simply one vast imagination based upon a few so…called axioms； which are
nothing more nor less than the results of experience。 It is none the less
imaginative because its discoveries always accord subsequently with fact；
since man was not aware of them beforehand。 Nor are its inevitable
conclusions inevitable to any save those possessed of the mathematician's
prophetic sight。 Once discovered； it requires much less imagination to
understand them。 With the light coming from in front； it is an easy
matter to see what lies behind one。
So with other fabrics of human thought； imagination has been spinning
and weaving them all。 From the most concrete of inventions to the most
abstract of conceptions the same force reveals itself upon examination； for
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there is no gulf between what we call practical and what we consider
theoretical。 Everything abstract is ultimately of practical use； and even
the most immediately utilitarian has an abstract principle at its core。 We
are too prone to regard the present age of the world as preeminently
practical； much as a middle…aged man laments the witching fancies of his
boyhood。 But； and there is more in the parallel than analogy； if the man
be truly imaginative he is none the less so at forty…five than he was at
twenty； if his imagination have taken on a more critical form； for this latter
half of the nineteenth century is perhaps the most imaginative period the
world's history has ever known。 While with one hand we are contriving
means of transit for our ideas； and even our very voices； compared to
which Puck's girdle is anything but talismanic； with the other we are
stretching out to grasp the action of mind on mind； pushing our way into
the very realm of mind itself。
History tells the same story in detail； for the history of mankind；
imperfectly as we know it； discloses the fact that imagination； and not the
power of observation nor the kindred capability of perception； has been
the cause of soul…evolution。
The savage is but little of an imaginative being。 We are tempted； at
times； to imagine him more so than he is； for his fanciful folk…lore。 The
proof of which overestimation is that we find no difficulty in imagining
what he does； and even of imagining what he probably imagined； and
finding our suppositions verified by discovery。 Yet his powers of
observation may be marvellously developed。 The North American Indian
tracks his foe through the forest by signs unrecognizable to a white man；
and he reasons most astutely upon them； and still that very man turns out
to be a mere child when put before problems a trifle out of his beaten path。
And all because his forefathers had not the power to imagine something
beyond what they actually saw。 The very essence of the force of
imagination lies in its ability to change a man's habitat for him。 Without it；
man would forever have remained； not a mollusk； to be sure； but an animal
simply。 A plant cannot change its place； an animal cannot alter its
conditions of existence except within very narrow bounds； man is free in
the sense nothing else in the world is。
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What is true of individuals has been true of races。 The most
imaginative races have proved the greatest factors in the world's advance。
Now after this look at our own side of the world； let us turn to the
other； for it is this very psychological fact that mental progression implies
an ever…increasing individualization； and that imagination is the force at
work in the process which Far Eastern civilization； taken in connection
with our own； reveals。 In doing this； it explains incidentally its own
seeming anomalies； the most unaccountable of which； apparently； is
