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better than their benighted ancestors。
If this talk were true； I； for one； should not greatly care to toil
in the service of natural knowledge。 I think I would just as soon
be quietly chipping my own flint axe； after the manner of my
forefathers a few thousand years back； as be troubled with the
endless malady of thought which now infests us all； for such
reward。 But I venture to say that such views are contrary alike to
reason and to fact。 Those who discourse in such fashion seem to me
to be so intent upon trying to see what is above Nature； or what is
behind her； that they are blind to what stares them in the face in
her。
I should not venture thus to speak strongly if my justification
were not to be found in the simplest and most obvious facts；if it
needed more than an appeal to the most notorious truths to justify
my assertion； that the improvement of natural knowledge； whatever
direction it has taken； and however low the aims of those who may
have commenced ithas not only conferred practical benefits on
men； but； in so doing； has effected a revolution in their
conceptions of the universe and of themselves； and has profoundly
altered their modes of thinking and their views of right and wrong。
I say that natural knowledge； seeking to satisfy natural wants； has
found the ideas which can alone still spiritual cravings。 I say
that natural knowledge； in desiring to ascertain the laws of
comfort； has been driven to discover those of conduct； and to lay
the foundations of a new morality。
Let us take these points separately； and first； what great ideas
has natural knowledge introduced into men's minds？
I cannot but think that the foundations of all natural knowledge
were laid when the reason of man first came face to face with the
facts of Nature； when the savage first learned that the fingers of
one hand are fewer than those of both； that it is shorter to cross
a stream than to head it； that a stone stops where it is unless it
be moved； and that it drops from the hand which lets it go； that
light and heat come and go with the sun； that sticks burn away in a
fire； that plants and animals grow and die； that if he struck his
fellow savage a blow he would make him angry； and perhaps get a
blow in return； while if he offered him a fruit he would please
him； and perhaps receive a fish in exchange。 When men had acquired
this much knowledge； the outlines； rude though they were； of
mathematics； of physics； of chemistry； of biology； of moral；
economical； and political science； were sketched。 Nor did the germ
of religion fail when science began to bud。 Listen to words which；
though new； are yet three thousand years old：
。 。 。 When in heaven the stars about the moon
Look beautiful； when all the winds are laid；
And every height comes out； and jutting peak
And valley； and the immeasurable heavens
Break open to their highest； and all the stars
Shine； and the shepherd gladdens in his heart。＇44＇
If the half savage Greek could share our feelings thus far； it is
irrational to doubt that he went further； to find as we do； that
upon that brief gladness there follows a certain sorrow；the
little light of awakened human intelligence shines so mere a spark
amidst the abyss of the unknown and unknowable； seems so
insufficient to do more than illuminate the imperfections that
cannot be remedied； the aspirations that cannot be realised； of
man's own nature。 But in this sadness； this consciousness of the
limitation of man； this sense of an open secret which he cannot
penetrate； lies the essence of all religion； and the attempt to
embody it in the forms furnished by the intellect is the origin of
the higher theologies。
Thus it seems impossible to imagine but that the foundations of all
knowledgesecular or sacredwere laid when intelligence dawned；
though the superstructure remained for long ages so slight and
feeble as to be compatible with the existence of almost any general
view respecting the mode of governance of the universe。 No doubt；
from the first； there were certain phenomena which； to the rudest
mind； presented a constancy of occurrence； and suggested that a
fixed order ruled； at any rate； among them。 I doubt if the
grossest of Fetish worshippers ever imagined that a stone must have
a god within it to make it fall； or that a fruit had a god within
it to make it taste sweet。 With regard to such matters as these；
it is hardly questionable that mankind from the first took strictly
positive and scientific views。
But； with respect to all the less familiar occurrences which
present themselves； uncultured man； no doubt； has always taken
himself as the standard of comparison； as the centre and measure of
the world； nor could be well avoid doing so。 And finding that his
apparently uncaused will has a powerful effect in giving rise to
many occurrences； he naturally enough ascribed other and greater
events to other and greater volitions and came to look upon the
world and all that therein is； as the product of the volitions of
persons like himself； but stronger； and capable of being appeased
or angered； as he himself might be soothed or irritated。 Through
such conceptions of the plan and working of the universe all
mankind have passed； or are passing。 And we may now consider what
has been the effect of the improvement of natural knowledge on the
views of men who have reached this stage； and who have begun to
cultivate natural knowledge with no desire but that of 〃increasing
God's honour and bettering man's estate。〃＇45＇
For example； what could seem wiser； from a mere material point of
view； more innocent； from a theological one； to an ancient people；
than that they should learn the exact succession of the seasons； as
warnings for their husbandmen； or the position of the stars； as
guides to their rude navigators？＇46＇ But what has grown out of this
search for natural knowledge of so merely useful a character？ You
all know the reply。 Astronomy；which of all sciences has filled
men's minds with general ideas of a character most foreign to their
daily experience； and has； more than any other； rendered it
impossible for them to accept the beliefs of their fathers。
Astronomy；which tells them that this so vast and seemingly solid
earth is but an atom among atoms； whirling； no man knows whither；
through illimitable space； which demonstrates that what we call the
peaceful heaven above us； is but that space； filled by an
infinitely subtle matter whose particles are seething and surging；
like the waves of an angry sea； which opens up to us infinite
regions where nothing is known； or ever seems to have been known；
but matter and force； operating according to rigid rules； which
leads us to contemplate phaenomena the very nature of which
demonstrates that they must have had a beginning； and that they
must have an end； but the very nature of which also proves that the
beginning was； to our conceptions of time； infinitely remote； and
that the end is as immeasurably distant。
But it is not alone those who pursue astronomy who ask for bread
and receive ideas。 What more harmless than the attempt to lift and
distribute water by pumping it； what more absolutely and grossly
utilitarian？ Yet out of pumps grew the discussions about Nature's
abhorrence of a vacuum； and then it was discovered that Nature does
not abhor a vacuum； but that air has weight； and that notion paved
the way for the doctrine that all matter has weight； and that the
force which produces weight is co…extensive with the universe；in
short； to the theory of universal gravitation and endless force。
While learning how to handle gases led to the discovery of oxygen；
and to modern chemistry； and to the notion of the indestructibility
of matter。
Again； what simpler； or more absolutely practical； than the attempt
to keep the axle of a wheel from heating when the wheel turns round
very fast？ How useful for carters and gig drivers to know
something about this； and how good were it； if any ingenious person
would find out the cause of such phaenomena； and thence educe a
general remedy for them。 Such an ingenious person was Count
Rumford；＇47＇ and he and his successors have landed us in the theory
of the persistence； or indestructibility； of force。 And in the
infinitely minute； as in the infinitely great； the seekers after
natural knowledge of the kinds called physical and chemical； have
everywhere found a definite order and succession of events which
seem never to be infringed。
And how has it fared with 〃Physick〃 and Anatomy？ Have the
anatomist； the physiologist； or the physician； whose business it
has been to devote themselves assiduously to that eminently
practical and direct end； the alleviation of the sufferings of
mankind；have they been able to confine their vision more
absolutely to the strictly useful？ I fear they are the worst
offe