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          OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES



                              David Hume



                                 1742



                               





  

     Nothing requires greater nicety; in our enquiries concerning

human affairs; than to distinguish exactly what is owing to

; and what proceeds from ; nor is there any

subject; in which an author is more liable to deceive himself by

false subtilties and refinements。 To say; that any event is

derived from chance; cuts short all farther enquiry concerning

it; and leaves the writer in the same state of ignorance with the

rest of mankind。 But when the event is supposed to proceed from

certain and stable causes; he may then display his ingenuity; in

assigning these causes; and as a man of any subtilty can never be

at a loss in this particular; he has thereby an opportunity of

swelling his volumes; and discovering his profound knowledge; in

observing what escapes the vulgar and ignorant。

     The distinguishing between chance and causes must depend

upon every particular man's sagacity; in considering every

particular incident。 But; if I were to assign any general rule to

help us in applying this distinction; it would be the following;



     Two natural reasons may。 be assigned for this rule。 ;

If you suppose a dye to have any biass; however small; to a

particular side; this biass; though; perhaps; it may not appear

in a few throws; will certainly prevail in a great number; and

will cast the balance entirely to that side。 In like manner; when

any  beget a particular inclination or passion; at a

certain time; and among a certain people; though many individuals

may escape the contagion; and be ruled by passions peculiar to

themselves; yet the multitude will certainly be seized by the

common affection; and be governed by it in all their actions。

     ; Those principles of causes; which are fitted to

operate on a multitude; are always of a grosser and more stubborn

nature; less subject to accidents; and less influenced by whim

and private fancy; than those which operate on a few only。 The

latter are commonly so delicate and refined; that the smallest

incident in the health; education; or fortune of a particular

person; is sufficient to divert their course; and retard their

operation; nor is it possible to reduce them to any general

maxims or observations。 Their influence at one time will never

assure us concerning their influence at another; even though all

the general circumstances should be the same in both cases。

     To judge by this rule; the domestic and the gradual

revolutions of a state must be a more proper subject of reasoning

and observation; than the foreign and the violent; which are

commonly produced by single persons; and are more influenced by

whim; folly; or caprice; than by general passions and interests。

The depression of the lords; and rise of the commons in England;

after the statutes of alienation and the encrease of trade and

industry; are more easily accounted for by general principles;

than the depression of the Spanish; and rise of the French

monarchy; after the death of Charles V。 Had Harry IV; Cardinal

Richlieu and Louis XIV been Spaniards; and Philip II; III; and

IV; and Charles II been Frenchmen; the history of these two

nations had been entirely reversed。

     For the same reason; it is more easy to account for the rise

and progress of commerce in any kingdom; than for that of

learning; and a state; which should apply itself to the

encouragement of the one; would be more assured of success; than

one which should cultivate the other。 Avarice; or the desire of

gain; is an universal passion; which operates at all times; in

all places; and upon all persons: But curiosity; or the love of

knowledge; has a very limited influence; and requires youth;

leisure; education; genius; and example; to make it govern any

person。 You will never want booksellers; while there are buyers

of books: But there may frequently be readers where there are no

authors。 Multitudes of people; necessity and liberty; have

begotten commerce in Holland: But study and application have

scarcely produced any eminent writers。

     We may; therefore; conclude; that there is no subject; in

which we must proceed with more caution; than in tracing the

history of the arts and sciences; lest we assign causes which

never existed; and reduce what is merely contingent to stable and

universal principles。 Those who cultivate the sciences in any

state; are always few in number: The passion; which governs them;

limited: Their taste and judgment delicate and easily perverted:

And their application disturbed with the smallest accident。

Chance; therefore; or secret and unknown causes; must have a

great influence on the rise and progress of all the refined arts。

     But there is a reason; which induces me not to ascribe the

matter altogether to chance。 Though the persons; who cultivate

the sciences with such astonishing success; as to attract the

admiration of posterity; be always few; in all nations and all

ages; it is impossible but a share of the same spirit and genius

must be antecedently diffused throughout the people among whom

they arise; in order to produce; form; and cultivate; from their

earliest infancy; the taste and judgment of those eminent

writers。 The mass cannot be altogether insipid; from which such

refined spirits are extracted。 'There is a God within us;' says

OVID; 'who breathes that divine fire; by which we are

animated。''2' Poets; in all ages; have advanced this claim to

inspiration。 There is not; however; any thing supernatural in the

case。 Their fire is not kindled from heaven。 It only runs along

the earth; is caught from one breast to another; and burns

brightest; where the materials are best prepared; and most

happily disposed。 The question; therefore; concerning the rise

and progress of the arts and sciences; is not altogether a

question concerning the taste; genius; and spirit of a few; but

concerning those of a whole people; and may; therefore; be

accounted for; in some measure; by general causes and principles。

I grant; that a man; who should enquire; why such a particular

poet; as Homer for instance; existed; at such a place; in such a

time; would throw himself headlong into chimaera; and could never

treat of such a subject; without a multitude of false subtilties

and refinements。 He might as well pretend to give a reason; why

such particular generals; as Fabius and Scipio; lived in Rome at

such a time; and why Fabius came into the world before Scipio。

For such incidents as these; no other reason can be given than

that of Horace:

  

     。

  

     But I am persuaded; that in many cases good reasons might be

given; why such a nation is more polite and learned at a

particular time; than any of its neighbours。 At least; this is so

curious a subject; that it were a pity to abandon it entirely;

before we have found whether it be susceptible of reasoning; and

can be reduced to any general principles。

     My first observation on this head is; 。

     In the first ages of the world; when men are as yet

barbarous and ignorant; they seek no farther security against

mutual violence and injustice; than the choice of some rulers;

few or many; in whom they place an implicit confidence; without

providing any security; by laws or political institutions;

against the violence and injustice of these rulers。 If the

authority be centered in a single person; and if t

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