But, however, the opposition between men of practice, and men of speculation and invention may operate, it certainly exists, and there are perhaps few of the latter, who have been gifted with dispositions so happy, or fallen in times so fortunate, as not to have experienced some of its evils.Nevertheless, if the view which has been presented be correct, this opposition between the two classes, the one engaged in the application of what is already known to the production of the means of supplying future necessities or pleasures, the other, in the discovery of something yet unknown and which may serve the same purposes, arises, not so much from a difference in the motives to action, as from a diversity in the modes of action, and the principles of our nature exciting to the advance of invention, would seem to be nearly identical with those giving activity to the effective desire of accumulation.
The difference between the two is rather in degree than in kind.He who labors to provide the means of enjoyment to wife, children, relations, friends, pursues an end in some degree selfish.It is his own wife, his own children, his own relations, whom he desires to benefit.The fruits of the labors of genius, on the contrary, are the property of the whole human race.On this account, though, in the individual, manifestations of the inventive faculty imply a superiority in some of the intellectual powers, they rather imply, in the society, a preponderance of the social and benevolent affections.It is this general acuteness of moral sensation, and lively sympathy consequently with the pleasures arising to the individual, from the success of exertions for purposes of general good, that can alone excite, and nourish, the enthusiasm of genius.
But, though there are two of the circumstances giving strength to the principle of accumulation, on which the progress of the inventive faculty is equally dependent, there are yet a set of causes, the effects of which, while they paralyze the exertions of the one, rouse the other to activity.
Whatever disturbs, or threatens to disturb, the established order of things, by exposing the property of the members of the society to danger, and diminishing the certainty of its future possession, diminishes also the desire to accumulate it.Intestine commotions, persecutions, wars, internal oppression, or outward violence, either, therefore, altogether destroy, or, at least, very much impair the strength of the effective desire of accumulation.On the contrary, they excite the inventive faculty to activity.The excessive propensity to imitation, which is natural to man, seems the only means by which we can account for this diversity of effects.Men are so much given to learning, that they do not readily become discoverers.They have received so much, that they do not easily perceive the need of making additions to it, or readily turn the vigor of their thoughts in that direction."They seem neither to know well their possessions, nor their powers; but to believe the former to be greater, the latter less, than they really are." (68) Whatever, therefore, breaks the wonted order of events, and exposes the necessity, or the possibility, of connecting them by some other means, strongly stimulates invention.The slumbering faculties rouse themselves to meet the unexpected exigence, and the possibility of giving a new, and more perfect order to elements not yet fixed, animates to a boldness of enterprise, which were rashness, had they assumed their determined places.
Hence, as has often been remarked, periods of great changes in kingdoms or governments, are the seasons when genius breaks forth in brightest lustre.
The beneficial effects of what are termed revolutions, are, perhaps, chiefly to be traced, to their thus wakening the torpid powers; the troubling of the waters they bring about, undoes the palsy of the mind.
On this account courage distinguishing well between things difficult and things impossible, and calmly estimating them not as they appear to vulgar prejudices, but as they are, seems to be a necessary element in the composition of genius of a high order.Without the possession of such a faculty, it is impossible clearly to discern the things which changes have brought to light or produced, or to make free use of them.The comparison which Lord Bacon makes between Alexander the Great and himself, is far from being forced.Neither could have accomplished what he did, had he not been able to despise what had only a vain show, and to discover and trust to real though underrated powers.(69)Besides the.circumstances determining the progress of invention arising from the nature of man, the inventer, there are others depending on the modes on which the principles of that nature are excited to exert themselves in this sphere of action, and gradually to discern and develope the qualities and powers, of the various divisions of the material world.
The surface of the earth presents a vast variety of materials.Soils, climates, minerals, vegetables, the fish of the waters, the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, are endlessly diversified, and, could we bring back the surface of the globe to the state in which it existed when man first made his, appearance on it, we should probably scarcely find any two points in all respects alike.
This diversity of materials seems to have been the great exciting cause to the progress of art and science, men having been every now and then compelled or induced to adopt new materials, and, as they changed from the one to the other, to have been gradually led from the knowledge of the most simple and obvious qualities, and powers, to a perception of those which are more complex, and difficult to discern.
