erewhon-第46章
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their kind with no thought or heed of what we might think about it。
These little creatures are part of our own reproductive system；
then why not we part of that of the machines？
〃But the machines which reproduce machinery do not reproduce
machines after their own kind。 A thimble may be made by machinery；
but it was not made by； neither will it ever make； a thimble。
Here； again； if we turn to nature we shall find abundance of
analogies which will teach us that a reproductive system may be in
full force without the thing produced being of the same kind as
that which produced it。 Very few creatures reproduce after their
own kind； they reproduce something which has the potentiality of
becoming that which their parents were。 Thus the butterfly lays an
egg； which egg can become a caterpillar； which caterpillar can
become a chrysalis； which chrysalis can become a butterfly； and
though I freely grant that the machines cannot be said to have more
than the germ of a true reproductive system at present； have we not
just seen that they have only recently obtained the germs of a
mouth and stomach？ And may not some stride be made in the
direction of true reproduction which shall be as great as that
which has been recently taken in the direction of true feeding？
〃It is possible that the system when developed may be in many cases
a vicarious thing。 Certain classes of machines may be alone
fertile； while the rest discharge other functions in the mechanical
system； just as the great majority of ants and bees have nothing to
do with the continuation of their species； but get food and store
it； without thought of breeding。 One cannot expect the parallel to
be complete or nearly so； certainly not now； and probably never；
but is there not enough analogy existing at the present moment； to
make us feel seriously uneasy about the future； and to render it
our duty to check the evil while we can still do so？ Machines can
within certain limits beget machines of any class； no matter how
different to themselves。 Every class of machines will probably
have its special mechanical breeders； and all the higher ones will
owe their existence to a large number of parents and not to two
only。
〃We are misled by considering any complicated machine as a single
thing； in truth it is a city or society； each member of which was
bred truly after its kind。 We see a machine as a whole； we call it
by a name and individualise it； we look at our own limbs； and know
that the combination forms an individual which springs from a
single centre of reproductive action； we therefore assume that
there can be no reproductive action which does not arise from a
single centre； but this assumption is unscientific； and the bare
fact that no vapour…engine was ever made entirely by another； or
two others； of its own kind； is not sufficient to warrant us in
saying that vapour…engines have no reproductive system。 The truth
is that each part of every vapour…engine is bred by its own special
breeders； whose function it is to breed that part； and that only；
while the combination of the parts into a whole forms another
department of the mechanical reproductive system； which is at
present exceedingly complex and difficult to see in its entirety。
〃Complex now； but how much simpler and more intelligibly organised
may it not become in another hundred thousand years？ or in twenty
thousand？ For man at present believes that his interest lies in
that direction； he spends an incalculable amount of labour and time
and thought in making machines breed always better and better； he
has already succeeded in effecting much that at one time appeared
impossible； and there seem no limits to the results of accumulated
improvements if they are allowed to descend with modification from
generation to generation。 It must always be remembered that man's
body is what it is through having been moulded into its present
shape by the chances and changes of many millions of years； but
that his organisation never advanced with anything like the
rapidity with which that of the machines is advancing。 This is the
most alarming feature in the case； and I must be pardoned for
insisting on it so frequently。〃
CHAPTER XXV： THE MACHINESconcluded
Here followed a very long and untranslatable digression about the
different races and families of the then existing machines。 The
writer attempted to support his theory by pointing out the
similarities existing between many machines of a widely different
character； which served to show descent from a common ancestor。 He
divided machines into their genera； subgenera； species； varieties；
subvarieties； and so forth。 He proved the existence of connecting
links between machines that seemed to have very little in common；
and showed that many more such links had existed； but had now
perished。 He pointed out tendencies to reversion； and the presence
of rudimentary organs which existed in many machines feebly
developed and perfectly useless； yet serving to mark descent from
an ancestor to whom the function was actually useful。
I left the translation of this part of the treatise； which； by the
way； was far longer than all that I have given here； for a later
opportunity。 Unfortunately； I left Erewhon before I could return
to the subject； and though I saved my translation and other papers
at the hazard of my life； I was a obliged to sacrifice the original
work。 It went to my heart to do so； but I thus gained ten minutes
of invaluable time； without which both Arowhena and myself must
have certainly perished。
I remember one incident which bears upon this part of the treatise。
The gentleman who gave it to me had asked to see my tobacco…pipe；
he examined it carefully； and when he came to the little
protuberance at the bottom of the bowl he seemed much delighted；
and exclaimed that it must be rudimentary。 I asked him what he
meant。
〃Sir；〃 he answered； 〃this organ is identical with the rim at the
bottom of a cup； it is but another form of the same function。 Its
purpose must have been to keep the heat of the pipe from marking
the table upon which it rested。 You would find； if you were to
look up the history of tobacco…pipes； that in early specimens this
protuberance was of a different shape to what it is now。 It will
have been broad at the bottom； and flat； so that while the pipe was
being smoked the bowl might rest upon the table without marking it。
Use and disuse must have come into play and reduced the function to
its present rudimentary condition。 I should not be surprised；
sir；〃 he continued； 〃if； in the course of time； it were to become
modified still farther； and to assume the form of an ornamental
leaf or scroll； or even a butterfly； while； in some cases； it will
become extinct。〃
On my return to England； I looked up the point； and found that my
friend was right。
Returning； however； to the treatise； my translation recommences as
follows：…
〃May we not fancy that if； in the remotest geological period； some
early form of vegetable life had been endowed with the power of
reflecting upon the dawning life of animals which was coming into
existence alongside of its own； it would have thought itself
exceedingly acute if it had surmised that animals would one day
become real vegetables？ Yet would this be more mistaken than it
would be on our part to imagine that because the life of machines
is a very different one to our own； there is therefore no higher
possible development of life than ours； or that because mechanical
life is a very different thing from ours； therefore that it is not
life at all？
〃But I have heard it said； 'granted that this is so； and that the
vapour…engine has a strength of its own； surely no one will say
that it has a will of its own？' Alas！ if we look more closely； we
shall find that this does not make against the supposition that the
vapour…engine is one of the germs of a new phase of life。 What is
there in this whole world； or in the worlds beyond it； which has a
will of its own？ The Unknown and Unknowable only！
〃A man is the resultant and exponent of all the forces that have
been brought to bear upon him； w
