alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第9章
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and his entelechies and energies； and the rest of the notions which he has
made for himself out of his own brain； and then pack each thing away in
its proper niche in his great cloud…universe of conceptions？ Is it that God
hides things from such men many a time； and reveals them to babes； to
gentle； affectionate； simple…hearted men； such as we know Archimedes to
have been； who do not try to give an explanation for a fact； but feel how
awful and divine it is； and wrestle reverently and stedfastly with it； as
Jacob with the Angel； and will not let it go； until it bless them？ Sure I am；
from what I have seen of scientific men； that there is an intimate
connection between the health of the moral faculties and the health of the
inductive ones； and that the proud； self…conceited； and passionate man will
see nothing： perhaps because nothing will be shown him。
But we must leave Archimedes for a man not perhaps so well known；
but to whom we owe as much as to the great SyracusanHipparchus the
astronomer。 To his case much which I have just said applies。 In him
astronomic science seemed to awaken suddenly to a true inductive method；
and after him to fall into its old slumber for 300 years。 In the meantime
Timocharis； Aristyllus； and Conon had each added their mites to the
discoveries of Eratosthenes： but to Hipparchus we owe that theory of the
heavens； commonly called the Ptolemaic system； which； starting from the
assumption that the earth was the centre of the universe； attempted to
explain the motions of the heavenly bodies by a complex system of
supposed eccentrics and epicycles。 This has of course now vanished
before modern discoveries。 But its value as a scientific attempt lies in
this： that the method being a correct one； correct results were obtained；
though starting from a false assumption； and Hipparchus and his
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successors were enabled by it to calculate and predict the changes of the
heavens； in spite of their clumsy instruments； with almost as much
accuracy as we do now。
For the purpose of working out this theory he required a science of
trigonometry； plane and spherical： and this he accordingly seems to have
invented。 To him also we owe the discovery of that vast gradual change
in the position of the fixed stars； in fact； of the whole celestial system； now
known by the name of the precession of the equinoxes； the first great
catalogue of fixed stars； to the number of 1080； attempts to ascertain
whether the length of years and days were constant； with which； with his
characteristic love of truth； he seems to have been hardly satisfied。 He
too invented the planisphere； or mode of representing the starry heavens
upon a plane； and is the father of true geography； having formed the happy
notion of mapping out the earth； as well as the heavens； by degrees of
latitude and longitude。
Strange it is； and somewhat sad； that we should know nothing of this
great man； should be hardly able to distinguish him from others of the
same name； but through the works of a commentator； who wrote and
observed in Alexandria 300 years after； during the age of the Antonines。 I
mean； of course； the famous Ptolemy； whose name so long bore the
honour of that system which really belonged to Hipparchus。
This single fact speaks volumes for the real weakness of the great
artificial school of literature and science founded by the kings of Egypt。
From the father of Astronomy； as Delambre calls him； to Ptolemy； the first
man who seems really to have appreciated him； we have not a discovery；
hardly an observation or a name； to fill the gap。 Physical sages there
were； but they were geometers and mathematicians； rather than astronomic
observers and inquirers。 And in spite of all the huge appliances and
advantages of that great Museum； its inhabitants were content； in physical
science； as in all other branches of thought； to comment； to expound； to do
everything but open their eyes and observe facts； and learn from them； as
the predecessors whom they pretended to honour had done。 But so it is
always。 A genius； an original man appears。 He puts himself boldly in
contact with facts； asks them what they mean； and writes down their
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answer for the world's use。 And then his disciples must needs form a
school； and a system； and fancy that they do honour to their master by
refusing to follow in his steps； by making his book a fixed dogmatic canon；
attaching to it some magical infallibility； declaring the very lie which he
disproved by his whole existence； that discovery is henceforth impossible；
and the sum of knowledge complete： instead of going on to discover as
he discovered before them； and in following his method； show that they
honour him； not in the letter； but in spirit and in truth。
For this； if you will consider； is the true meaning of that great
command； 〃Honour thy father and mother； that thy days may be long in
the land。〃 On reverence for the authority of bygone generations depends
the permanence of every form of thought or belief； as much as of all social；
national； and family life： but on reverence of the spirit； not merely of the
letter； of the methods of our ancestors； not merely of their conclusions。
Ay； and we shall not be able to preserve their conclusions； not even to
understand them； they will die away on our lips into skeleton notions； and
soulless phrases； unless we see that the greatness of the mighty dead has
always consisted in this； that they were seekers； improvers； inventors；
endued with that divine power and right of discovery which has been
bestowed on us； even as on them； unless we become such men as they
were； and go on to cultivate and develop the precious heritage which they
have bequeathed to us； instead of hiding their talent in a napkin and
burying it in the earth； making their greatness an excuse for our own
littleness； their industry for our laziness； their faith for our despair； and
prating about the old paths； while we forget that paths were made that men
might walk in them； and not stand still； and try in vain to stop the way。
It may be said； certainly； as an excuse for these Alexandrian Greeks；
that they were a people in a state of old age and decay； and that they only
exhibited the common and natural faults of old age。 For as with
individuals； so with races； nations； societies； schools of thought youth is
the time of free fancy and poetry； manhood of calm and strong induction；
old age of deduction； when men settle down upon their lees； and content
themselves with reaffirming and verifying the conclusions of their earlier
years； and too often； alas！ with denying and anathematising all
