贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > a new view of society >

第5章

a new view of society-第5章

小说: a new view of society 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



les which are alone calculated to build up a system of happiness; and to destroy those irritable feelings which have so long afflicted society solely because society has hitherto been ignorant of the true means by which the most useful and valuable character may be formed。     This ignorance being removed; experience will soon teach us how to form character; individually and generally; so as to give the greatest sum of happiness to the individual and to mankind。     These principles require only to be known in order to establish themselves; the outline of our future proceedings then becomes clear and defined; nor will they permit us henceforth to wander from the right path。 They direct that the governing powers of all countries should establish rational plans for the education and general formation of the characters of their subjects。 These plans must be devised to train children from their earliest infancy in good habits of every description which will of course prevent them from acquiring those of falsehood and deception)。 They must afterwards be rationally educated; and their labour be usefully directed。 Such habits and education will impress them with an active and ardent desire to promote the happiness of every individual; and that without the shadow of exceptions for sect; or party; or country; or climate。 They will also ensure; with the fewest possible exceptions; health; strength; and vigour of body; for the happiness of man can be erected only on the foundations of health of body and Peace of mind。     And that health of body and peace of mind may be preserved sound and entire; through youth and manhood; to old age; it becomes equally necessary that the irresistible propensities which form a part of his nature; and which now produce the endless and ever multiplying evils with which humanity is afflicted; should be so directed as to increase and not to counteract his happiness。     The knowledge however thus introduced will make it evident to the understanding; that by far the greater part of the misery with which man is encircled may be easily dissipated and removed; and that with mathematical precision he may be surrounded with those circumstances which must gradually increase his happiness。     Hereafter; when the public at large shall be satisfied that these principles can and will withstand the ordeal through which they must inevitably pass; when they shall prove themselves true to the clear comprehension and certain conviction of the unenlightened as well as the learned; and when; by the irresistible power of truth; detached from falsehood; they shall establish themselves in the mind; no more to be removed but by the entire annihilation of human intellect; then the consequent practice which they direct shall be explained; and rendered easy of adoption。     In the meantime; let no one anticipate evil; even in the slightest degree; from these principles; they are not innoxious only; but pregnant with consequences to be wished and desired beyond all others by every individual in society。     Some of the best intentioned among the various classes in society may still say; 'All this is very delightful and very beautiful in theory。 but visionaries alone expect to see it realized。' To this remark only one reply can or ought to be made; that these principles have been carried most successfully into practice。     (The beneficial effects of this practice have been experienced for; many years among a population of between two and three thousand at New Lanark; in Scotland; at Munich; in Bavaria; and in the Pauper Colonies; at Fredericks…oord。)     The present Essays; therefore; are not brought forward as mere matter of speculation; to amuse the idle visionary who thinks in his closet; and never acts in the world; but to create universal activity; pervade society with a knowledge of its true interests; and direct the public mind to the most important object to which it can be directed to a national proceeding for rationally forming the character of that immense mass of population which is now allowed to be so formed as to fill the world with crimes。     Shall questions of merely local and temporary interest; whose ultimate results are calculated only to withdraw pecuniary profits from one set of individuals and give them to others; engage day after day the attention of politicians and ministers; call forth petitions and delegates from the widely spread agricultural and commercial interests of the empire and shall the well…being of millions of the poor; half…naked; half…famished; untaught; and untrained; hourly increasing to a most alarming extent in these islands; not call forth one petition; one delegate; or one rational effective legislative measure?     No! for such has been our education; that we hesitate not to devote years and expend millions in the detection and punishment of crimes; and in the attainment of objects whose ultimate results are; in comparison with this; insignificancy itself: and yet we have not moved one step in the true path to prevent crimes; and to diminish the innumerable evils with which mankind are now afflicted。     Are these false principles of conduct in those who govern the world to influence mankind permanently? And if not; how; and when is the change to commence?     These important considerations shall form the subject of the next Essay。

SECOND ESSAY

The Principles of the Former Essay continued; and applied in part to Practice

It is not unreasonable to hope that hostility may cease; even where perfect agreement cannot be established。 If we cannot reconcile all opinions; let us endeavour to unite all hearts。  MR VANSITTART'S LETTER TO THE REV。 DR HERBERT MARSH

General principles only were developed in the First Essay。 In this an attempt will be made to show the advantages which may be derived from the adoption of those principles into practice; and to explain the mode by which the practice may; without inconvenience; be generally introduced。     Some of the most important benefits to be derived from the introduction of those principles into practice are; that they will create the most cogent reasons to induce each man 'to have charity for all men'。 No feeling short of this can indeed find place in any mind which has been taught clearly to understand that children in all parts of the earth have been; are; and everlastingly will be; impressed with habits and sentiments similar to those of their parents and instructors; modified; however; by the circumstances in which they have been; are; or may be placed; and by the peculiar organizations of each individual。 Yet not one of these causes of character is at the command; or in any manner under the control of infants; who (whatever absurdity we may have been taught to the contrary); cannot possibly be accountable for the sentiments and manners which may be given to them。 And here lies the fundamental error of society; and from hence have proceeded; and do proceed; most of the miseries of mankind。     Children are; without exception; passive and wonderfully contrived compounds; which; by an accurate previous and subsequent attention; founded on a correct knowledge of the subject; may be formed collectively to have any human character。 And although these compounds; like all the other works of nature; possess endless varieties; yet they partake of that plastic quality; which; by perseverance under judicious management; may be ultimately moulded into the very image of rational wishes and desires。     In the next place these principles cannot fail to create feelings which; without force or the production of any counteracting motive; will irresistibly lead those who possess them to make due allowance for the difference of sentiments and manners; not only among their friends and countrymen; but also among the inhabitants of every region of the earth; even including their enemies。 With this insight into the formation of character; there is no conceivable foundation for private displeasure or public enmity。 Say; if it be within the sphere of possibility that children can be trained to attain that knowledge; and at the same time to acquire feelings of enmity towards a single human creature? The child who from infancy has been rationally instructed in the

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的