thoughts on man-第76章
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our eyes； and cannot avoid being shocked by it。 〃God does nothing in vain。〃 For which of his lofty purposes has this planet been broken to pieces； and its fragments left to deform the system of which we are inhabitants； at least to humble the pride of man； and laugh to scorn his presumption？ Still they perform their revolutions； and obey the projectile and gravitating forces； which have induced us to people ten thousand times ten thousand worlds。 It is time； that we should learn modesty； to revere in silence the great cause to which the universe is indebted for its magnificence； its beauty and harmony； and to acknowledge that we do not possess the key that should unlock the mysteries of creation。
One of the most important lessons that can be impressed on the human mind； is that of self…knowledge and a just apprehension of what it is that we are competent to achieve。 We can do much。 We are capable of much knowledge and much virtue。 We have patience； perseverance and subtlety。 We can put forth considerable energies； and nerve ourselves to resist great obstacles and much suffering。 Our ingenuity is various and considerable。 We can form machines； and erect mighty structures。 The invention of man for the ease of human life； and for procuring it a multitude of pleasures and accommodations； is truly astonishing。 We can dissect the human frame； and anatomise the mind。 We can study the scene of our social existence； and make extraordinary improvements in the administration of justice； and in securing to ourselves that germ of all our noblest virtues； civil and political liberty。 We can study the earth； its strata； its soil； its animals； and its productions； 〃from the cedar that is in Lebanon； to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall。〃
But man is not omnipotent。 If he aspires to be worthy of honour； it is necessary that he should compute his powers； and what it is they are competent to achieve。 The globe of earth； with 〃all that is therein；〃 is our estate and our empire。 Let us be content with that which we have。 It were a pitiful thing to see so noble a creature struggling in a field； where it is impossible for him to distinguish himself； or to effect any thing real。 There is no situation in which any one can appear more little and ludicrous； than when he engages in vain essays； and seeks to accomplish that； which a moment's sober thought would teach him was utterly hopeless。
Even astronomy is to a certain degree our own。 We can measure the course of the sun； and the orbits of the planets。 We can calculate eclipses。 We can number the stars； assign to them their places； and form them into what we call constellations。 But； when we pretend to measure millions of miles in the heavens； and to make ourselves acquainted with the inhabitants of ten thousand times ten thousand worlds and the accommodations which the creator has provided for their comfort and felicity； we probably engage in something more fruitless and idle； than the pigmy who should undertake to bend the bow of Ulysses； or strut and perform the office of a warrior clad in the armour of Achilles。
How beautiful is the 〃firmament； this majestical roof fretted with golden fire！〃 Let us beware how we mar the magnificent scene with our interpolations and commentaries！ Simplicity is of the essence of the truly great。 Let us look at the operations of that mighty power from which we ourselves derive our existence； with humility and reverential awe！ It may well become us。 Let us not 〃presume into the heaven of heavens；〃 unbidden； unauthorised guests！ Let us adopt the counsel of the apostle； and allow no man to 〃spoil us through vain philosophy。〃 The business of human life is serious； the useful investigations in which we may engage are multiplied。 It is excellent to see a rational being conscious of his genuine province； and not idly wasting powers adapted for the noblest uses in unmeasured essays and ill…concocted attempts。
ESSAY XXII。 OF THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE。
In the preceding Essay I have referred to the theory of Berkeley； whose opinion is that there is no such thing as matter in the sense in which it is understood by the writers on natural philosophy； and that the whole of our experience in that respect is the result of a system of accidents without an intelligible subject； by means of which antecedents and consequents flow on for ever in a train； the past succession of which man is able to record； and the future in many cases he is qualified to predict and to act upon。
An argument more palpable and popular than that of Berkeley in favour of the same hypothesis； might be deduced from the points recapitulated in that Essay as delivered by Locke and Newton。 If what are vulgarly denominated the secondary qualities of matter are in reality nothing but sensations existing in the human mind； then at any rate matter is a very different thing from what it is ordinarily apprehended to be。 To which I add； in the second place； that； if matter； as is stated by Newton； consists in so much greater a degree of pores than solid parts； that the absolute particles contained in the solar system might； for aught we know； he contained in a nutshell＇77＇； and that no two ever touched each other； or approached so near that they might not be brought nearer； provided a sufficient force could be applied for that purpose；and if； as Priestley teaches； all that we observe is the result of successive spheres of attraction and repulsion； the centre of which is a mathematical point only； we then certainly come very near to a conclusion； which should banish matter out of the theatre of real existences＇78＇。
＇77＇ See above； Essay XXI。
＇78＇ See above； Essay XXI。
But the extreme subtleties of human intellect are perhaps of little further use； than to afford an amusement to persons of curious speculation； and whose condition in human society procures them leisure for such enquiries。 The same thing happens here； as in the subject of my Twelfth Essay； on the Liberty of Human Actions。 The speculator in his closet is one man： the same person； when he comes out of his retirement； and mixes in intercourse with his fellow…creatures； is another man。 The necessarian； when he reasons on the everlasting concatenation of antecedents and consequents； proves to his own apprehension irrefragably； that he is a passive instrument； acted upon； and acting upon other things； in turn； and that he can never disengage himself from the operation of the omnipotent laws of physical nature； and the impulses of other men with whom he is united in the ties of society。 But no sooner does this acute and ingenious reasoner come into active life and the intercourse of his fellowmen； than all these fine…drawn speculations vanish from his recollection。 He regards himself and other men as beings endowed with a liberty of action； as possessed of a proper initiative power； and free to do a thing or not to do it； without being subject to the absolute and irresistible constraint of motives。 It is from this internal and indefeasible sense of liberty； that we draw all our moral energies and enthusiasm； that we persevere heroically in defiance of obstacles and discouragements； that we praise or blame the actions of others； and admire the elevated virtues of the best of our contemporaries； and of those whose achievements adorn the page of history。
It is in a manner of precisely the same sort as that which prevails in the philosophical doctrines of liberty and necessity； that we find ourselves impelled to feel on the question of the existence of the material universe。 Berkeley； and as many persons as are persuaded by his or similar reasonings； feel satisfied in speculation that there is no such thing as matter in the sense in which it is understood by the writers on natural philosophy； and that all our notions of the external and actual existence of the table； the chair； and the other material substances with which we conceive ourselves to be surrounded； of woods； and mountains； and rivers； and seas； are mere prejudice and misconception。 All this is very well in the closet； and as long as we are involved in meditation； and remain abstracted from action； business； and the exertion of our lim
