首页 >出版文学> Characteristics>第2章

第2章

  Oflogic,anditslimits,andusesandabuses,thereweremuchtobesaidandexamined;onefact,however,whichchieflyconcernsushere,haslongbeenfamiliar:thatthemanoflogicandthemanofinsight;theReasonerandtheDiscoverer,orevenKnower,arequiteseparable,—indeed,formostpart,quiteseparatecharacters。Inpracticalmatters,forexample,hasitnotbecomealmostproverbialthatthemanoflogiccannotprosper?Thisishewhombusiness—peoplecallSystematicandTheoriserandWord—monger;hisvitalintellectualforceliesdormantorextinct,hiswholeforceismechanical,conscious:ofsuchaoneitisforeseenthat,whenonceconfrontedwiththeinfinitecomplexitiesoftherealworld,hislittlecompacttheoremoftheworldwillbefoundwanting;thatunlesshecanthrowitoverboardandbecomeanewcreature,hewillnecessarilyfounder。Nay,inmereSpeculationitself,themostineffectualofallcharacters,generallyspeaking,isyourdialecticman—at—arms;werehearmedcap—a—pieinsyllogisticmailofproof,andperfectmasteroflogic—fence,howlittledoesitavailhim!ConsidertheoldSchoolmen,andtheirpilgrimagetowardsTruth:thefaithfulestendeavour,incessantunweariedmotion,oftengreatnaturalvigour:onlynoprogress:
  nothingbutanticfeatsofonelimbpoisedagainsttheother;theretheybalanced,somersetted,andmadepostures;atbestgyratedswiftlywithsomepleasure,likeSpinningDervishes,andendedwheretheybegan。Soisit,sowillitalwaysbe,withallSystem—makersandbuildersoflogicalcard—castles;
  ofwhichclassacertainremnantmust,ineveryage,astheydoinourown,surviveandbuild。Logicisgood,butitisnotthebest。TheIrrefragableDoctor,withhischainsofinduction,hiscorollaries,dilemmasandothercunninglogicaldiagramsandapparatus,willcastyouabeautifulhoroscope,andspeakreasonablethings;neverthelessyourstolenjewel,whichyouwantedhimtofindyou,isnotforthcoming。Oftenbysomewingedword,wingedasthethunderboltis,ofaLuther,aNapoleon,aGoethe,shallweseethedifficultysplitasunder,anditssecretlaidbare;whiletheIrrefragable,withallhislogicaltools,hewsatit,andhoversroundit,andfindsitonallhandstoohardforhim。
  Again,inthedifferencebetweenOratoryandRhetoric,asindeedeverywhereinthatsuperiorityofwhatiscalledtheNaturalovertheArtificial,wefindasimilarillustration。TheOratorpersuadesandcarriesallwithhim,heknowsnothow;theRhetoriciancanprovethatheoughttohavepersuadedandcarriedallwithhim:theoneisinastateofhealthyunconsciousness,asifhe'hadnosystem';theother,invirtueofregimenanddieteticpunctuality,feelsatbestthat'hissystemisinhighorder。'Sostandsit,inshort,withalltheformsofIntellect,whetherasdirectedtothefindingoftruth,ortothefitimpartingthereof;toPoetry,toEloquence,todepthofInsight,whichisthebasisofboththese;alwaysthecharacteristicofrightperformanceisacertainspontaneity,anunconsciousness;'thehealthyknownotoftheirhealth,butonlythesick。'Sothattheoldpreceptofthecritic,ascrabbedasitlookedtohisambitiousdisciple,mightcontaininitamostfundamentaltruth,applicabletousall,andinmuchelsethanLiterature:"Wheneveryouhavewrittenanysentencethatlooksparticularlyexcellent,besuretoblotitout。"
  Inlikemanner,undermilderphraseology,andwithameaningpurposelymuchwider,alivingThinkerhastaughtus:'OftheWrongwearealwaysconscious,oftheRightnever。'
  ButifsuchisthelawwithregardtoSpeculationandtheIntellectualpowerofman,muchmoreisitwithregardtoConduct,andthepower,manifestedchieflytherein,whichwenameMoral。'Letnotthylefthandknowwhatthyrighthanddoeth';whispernottothyownheart,Howworthyisthisaction!—
  forthenitisalreadybecomingworthless。Thegoodmanishewhoworkscontinuallyinwelldoing;towhomwelldoingisashisnaturalexistence,awakeningnoastonishment,requiringnocommentary;butthere,likeathingofcourse,andasifitcouldnotbutbeso。Self—contemplation,ontheotherhand,isinfalliblythesymptomofdisease,beitorbeitnotthesignofcure。AnunhealthyVirtueisonethatconsumesitselftoleannessinrepentingandanxiety;or,stillworse,thatinflatesitselfintodropsicalboastfulnessandvain—glory:eitherway,thereisaself—seeking;anunprofitablelookingbehindustomeasurethewaywehavemade:whereasthesoleconcernistowalkcontinuallyforward,andmakemoreway。Ifinanysphereofman'slife,thenintheMoralsphere,astheinmostandmostvitalofall,itisgoodthattherebewholeness;thattherebeunconsciousness,whichistheevidenceofthis。Letthefree,reasonableWill,whichdwellsinus,asinourHolyofHolies,beindeedfree,andobeyedlikeaDivinity,asisitsrightanditseffort:
  theperfectobediencewillbethesilentone。Suchperhapswerethesenseofthatmaxim,enunciating,asisusual,butthehalfofatruth:Tosaythatwehaveaclearconscience,istoutterasolecism;hadweneversinned,weshouldhavehadnoconscience。Weredefeatunknown,neitherwouldvictorybecelebratedbysongsoftriumph。
  This,trueenough,isanideal,impossiblestateofbeing;yeteverthegoaltowardswhichouractualstateofbeingstrives;whichitisthemoreperfecttheneareritcanapproach。Nor,inouractualworld,whereLabourmustoftenproveineffectual,andthusinallsensesLightalternatewithDarkness,andthenatureofanidealMoralitybemuchmodified,isthecase,thusfar,materiallydifferent。Itisafactwhichescapesnoone,that,generallyspeaking,whosoisacquaintedwithhisworthhasbutalittlestocktocultivateacquaintancewith。Aboveall,thepublicacknowledgmentofsuchacquaintance,indicatingthatithasreachedquiteanintimatefooting,bodesill。
  Already,tothepopularjudgment,hewhotalksmuchaboutVirtueintheabstract,beginstobesuspect;itisshrewdlyguessedthatwherethereisgreatpreaching,therewillbelittlealms—giving。Oragain,onawiderscale,wecanremarkthatagesofHeroismarenotagesofMoralPhilosophy;Virtue,whenitcanbephilosophisedof,hasbecomeawareofitself,issicklyandbeginningtodecline。Aspontaneoushabitualall—pervadingspiritofChivalrousValourshrinkstogether,andperksitselfupintoshrivelledPointsofHonour;
  humaneCourtesyandNoblenessofminddwindleintopunctiliousPoliteness,'avoidingmeats';'payingtitheofmintandanise,neglectingtheweightiermattersofthelaw。'Goodness,whichwasaruletoitself,mustnowappealtoPrecept,andseekstrengthfromSanctions;theFreewillnolongerreignsunquestionedandbydivineright,butlikeamereearthlysovereign,byexpediency,byRewardsandPunishments:orrather,letussay,theFreewill,sofarasmaybe,hasabdicatedandwithdrawnintothedark,andaspectralnightmareofaNecessityusurpsitsthrone;fornowthatmysteriousSelf—impulseofthewholeman,heaven—inspired,andinallsensespartakingoftheInfinite,beingcaptiouslyquestionedinafinitedialect,andanswering,asitneedsmust,bysilence,—isconceivedasnon—extant,andonlytheoutwardMechanismofitremainsacknowledged:ofVolition,exceptasthesynonymofDesire,wehearnothing;of'Motives,'withoutanyMover,morethanenough。
  Sotoo,whenthegenerousAffectionshavebecomewell—nighparalytic,wehavethereignofSentimentality。Thegreatness,theprofitableness,atanyratetheextremelyornamentalnatureofhighfeeling,andtheluxuryofdoinggood;
  charity,love,self—forgetfulness,devotednessandallmannerofgodlikemagnanimity,—areeverywhereinsistedon,andpressinglyinculcatedinspeechandwriting,inproseandverse;SocinianPreachersproclaim'Benevolence'toallthefourwinds,andhaveTruthengravedontheirwatch—seals:unhappilywithlittleornoeffect。Werethelimbsinrightwalkingorder,whysomuchdemonstratingofmotion?ThebarrenestofallmortalsistheSentimentalist。Grantingeventhatheweresincere,anddidnotwilfullydeceiveus,orwithoutfirstdeceivinghimself,whatgoodisinhim?
  Doeshenotliethereasaperpetuallessonofdespair,andtypeofbedridvaletudinarianimpotence?HisisemphaticallyaVirtuethathasbecome,througheveryfibre,consciousofitself;itisallsick,andfeelsasifitweremadeofglass,anddurstnottouchorbetouched;intheshapeofwork,itcandonothing;attheutmost,byincessantnursingandcaudling,keepitselfalive。Asthelaststageofall,whenVirtue,properlysocalled,hasceasedtobepractised,andbecomeextinct,andamereremembrance,wehavetheeraofSophists,descantingofitsexistence,provingit,denyingit,mechanically'accounting'forit;—asdissectorsanddemonstratorscannotoperatetilloncethebodybedead。
  ThusistrueMoralgenius,liketrueIntellectual,whichindeedisbutalowerphasisthereof,'everasecrettoitself。'ThehealthymoralnaturelovesGoodness,andwithoutwonderwhollylivesinit:theunhealthymakeslovetoit,andwouldfaingettoliveinit;or,findingsuchcourtshipfruitless,turnsround,andnotwithoutcontemptabandonsit。ThesecuriousrelationsoftheVoluntaryandConscioustotheInvoluntaryandUnconscious,andthesmallproportionwhich,inalldepartmentsofourlife,theformerbearsofthelatter,—mightleadusintodeepquestionsofPsychologyandPhysiology:such,however,belongnottoourpresentobject。Enough,ifthefactitselfbecomeapparent,thatNaturesomeantitwithus;thatinthiswisewearemade。Wemaynowsay,thatviewman'sindividualExistenceunderwhataspectwewill,underthehighestspiritual,asunderthemerelyanimalaspect,everywherethegrandvitalenergy,whileinitssoundstate,isanunseenunconsciousone;or,inthewordsofouroldAphorism,'thehealthyknownotoftheirhealth,butonlythesick。'
  Tounderstandman,however,wemustlookbeyondtheindividualmanandhisactionsorinterests,andviewhimincombinationwithhisfellows。
  ItisinSocietythatmanfirstfeelswhatheis;firstbecomeswhathecanbe。InSocietyanaltogethernewsetofspiritualactivitiesareevolvedinhim,andtheoldimmeasurablyquickenedandstrengthened。Societyisthegenialelementwhereinhisnaturefirstlivesandgrows;thesolitarymanwerebutasmallportionofhimself,andmustcontinueforeverfoldedin,stuntedandonlyhalfalive。'Already,'saysadeepThinker,withmoremeaningthanwilldiscloseitselfatonce,'myopinion,myconviction,gainsinfinitelyinstrengthandsureness,themomentasecondmindhasadoptedit,'Such,eveninitssimplestform,isassociation;sowondrousthecommunionofsoulwithsoulasdirectedtothemereactofKnowing!Inotherhigheracts,thewonderisstillmoremanifest;asinthatportionofourbeingwhichwenametheMoral:
  forproperly,indeed,allcommunionisofamoralsort,whereofsuchintellectualcommunion(intheactofknowing)isitselfanexample。ButwithregardtoMoralsstrictlysocalled,itisinSociety,wemightalmostsay,thatMoralitybegins;hereatleastittakesanaltogethernewform,andoneveryside,asinlivinggrowth,expandsitself。TheDutiesofMantohimself,towhatisHighestinhimself,makebuttheFirstTableoftheLaw:totheFirstTableisnowsuper—addedaSecond,withtheDutiesofMantohisNeighbour;wherebyalsothesignificanceoftheFirstnowassumesitstrueimportance。
  Manhasjoinedhimselfwithman;soulactsandreactsonsoul;amysticmiraculousunfathomableUnionestablishesitself;Life,inallitselements,hasbecomeintensated,consecrated。Thelightning—sparkofThought,generated,orsayratherheaven—kindled,inthesolitarymind,awakensitsexpresslikenessinanothermind,inathousandotherminds,andallblaze—uptogetherincombinedfire;reverberatedfrommindtomind,fedalsowithfreshfuelineach,itacquiresincalculablenewlightasThought,incalculablenewheatasconvertedintoAction。Byandby,acommonstoreofThoughtcanaccumulate,andbetransmittedasaneverlastingpossession:Literature,whetheraspreservedinthememoryofBards,inRunesandHieroglyphsengravedonstone,orinBooksofwrittenorprintedpaper,comesintoexistence,andbeginstoplayitswondrouspart。Politiesareformed;
  theweaksubmittingtothestrong;withawillingloyaltygivingobediencethathemayreceiveguidance:orsayrather,inhonourofournature,theignorantsubmittingtothewise;forsoitisinalleventherudestcommunities,manneveryieldshimselfwhollytobruteForce,butalwaystomoralGreatness,thustheuniversaltitleofrespect,fromtheOriginalSheik,fromtheSachemoftheRedIndians,downtoourEnglishSir,impliesonlythathewhomwemeantohonourisoursenior。Last,asthecrownandall—supportingkeystoneofthefabric,Religionarises。Thedevoutmeditationoftheisolatedman,whichflittedthroughhissoul,likeatransienttoneofLoveandAwefromunknownlands,acquirescertainty,continuance,whenitisshared—inbyhisbrothermen。
  'Wheretwoorthreearegatheredtogether'inthenameoftheHighest,thenfirstdoestheHighest,asitiswritten,'appearamongthemtoblessthem';thenfirstdoesanAltarandactofunitedWorshipopenawayfromEarthtoHeaven;whereon,wereitbutasimpleJacob's—ladder,theheavenlyMessengerswilltravel,withgladtidingsandunspeakablegiftsformen。SuchisSociety,thevitalarticulationofmanyindividualsintoanewcollectiveindividual:greatlythemostimportantofman'sattainmentsonthisearth;thatinwhich,andbyvirtueofwhich,allhisotherattainmentsandattemptsfindtheirarena,andhavetheirvalue。Consideredwell,Societyisthestandingwonderofourexistence;atrueregionoftheSupernatural;asitwere,asecondall—embracingLife,whereinourfirstindividualLifebecomesdoublyandtreblyalive,andwhateverofInfinitudewasinusbodiesitselfforth,andbecomesvisibleandactive。
  TofigureSocietyasendowedwithlifeisscarcelyametaphor;butratherthestatementofafactbysuchimperfectmethodsaslanguageaffords。
  Lookatitclosely,thatmysticUnion,Nature'shighestworkwithman,whereinman'svolitionplaysanindispensableyetsosubordinateapart,andthesmallMechanicalgrowssomysteriouslyandindissolublyoutoftheinfiniteDynamical,likeBodyoutofSpirit,—istrulyenoughvital,whatwecancallvital,andbearsthedistinguishingcharacteroflife。Inthesamestylealso,wecansaythatSocietyhasitsperiodsofsicknessandvigour,ofyouth,manhood,decrepitude,dissolutionandnewbirth;inoneorotherofwhichstageswemay,inalltimes,andallplaceswheremeninhabit,discernit;anddoourselves,inthistimeandplace,whetherascooperatingorascontending,ashealthymembersorasdiseasedones,toourjoyandsorrow,formpartofit。Thequestion,WhatistheactualconditionofSociety?hasinthesedaysunhappilybecomeimportantenough。Nooneofusisunconcernedinthatquestion;butforthemajorityofthinkingmenatrueanswertoit,suchisthestateofmatters,appearsalmostastheonethingneedful。Meanwhile,asthetrueanswer,thatistosay,thecompleteandfundamentalanswerandsettlement,oftenasithasbeendemanded,isnowhereforthcoming,andindeedbyitsnatureisimpossible,anyhonestapproximationtowardssuchisnotwithoutvalue。Thefeeblestlight,orevensomuchasamorepreciserecognitionofthedarkness,whichisthefirststeptoattainmentoflight,willbewelcome。
  Thisonceunderstood,letitnotseemidleifweremarkthatheretooouroldAphorismholds;thatagainintheBodyPolitic,asintheanimalbody,thesignofrightperformancesinUnconsciousness。Suchindeedisvirtuallythemeaningofthatphrase,'artificialstateofsociety,;ascontrastedwiththenaturalstate,andindicatingsomethingsoinferiortoit。For,inallvitalthings,mendistinguishanArtificialandaNatural;foundingonsomedimperceptionorsentimentoftheverytruthwehereinsiston:theartificialistheconscious,mechanical;thenaturalistheunconscious,dynamical。Thus,aswehaveanartificialPoetry,andprizeonlythenatural;solikewisewehaveanartificialMorality,anartificialWisdom,anartificialSociety。TheartificialSocietyispreciselyonethatknowsitsownstructure,itsowninternalfunctions;
  notinwatching,notinknowingwhich,butinworkingoutwardlytothefulfilmentofitsaim,doesthewellbeingofaSocietyconsist。EverySociety,everyPolity,hasaspiritualprinciple;istheembodiment,tentativeandmoreorlesscomplete,ofanIdea:allitstendenciesofendeavour,specialtiesofcustom,itslaws,politicsandwholeprocedure(astheglanceofsomeMontesquieu,acrossinnumerablesuperficialentanglements,canpartlydecipher),areprescribedbyanIdea,andflownaturallyfromit,asmovementsfromthelivingsourceofmotion。ThisIdea,beitofdevotiontoamanorclassofmen,toacreed,toaninstitution,oreven,asinmoreancienttimes,toapieceofland,iseveratrueLoyalty;hasinitsomethingofareligious,paramount,quiteinfinitecharacter;itisproperlytheSouloftheState,itsLife;
  mysteriousasotherformsofLife,andliketheseworkingsecretly,andinadepthbeyondthatofconsciousness。
  Accordingly,itisnotinthevigorousagesofaRomanRepublicthatTreatisesoftheCommonwealtharewritten:whiletheDeciiarerushingwithdevotedbodiesontheenemiesofRome,whatneedofpreachingPatriotism?ThevirtueofPatriotismhasalreadysunkfromitspristineall—transcendentcondition,beforeithasreceivedaname。SolongastheCommonwealthcontinuesrightlyathletic,itcaresnottodabbleinanatomy。WhyteachobediencetotheSovereign;whysomuchasadmireit,orseparatelyrecogniseit,whileadivineideaofObedienceperenniallyinspiresallmen?
  Loyalty,likePatriotism,ofwhichitisaform,wasnotpraisedtillithadbeguntodecline;thePreuxChevaliersfirstbecamerightlyadmirable,when'dyingfortheirking'hadceasedtobeahabicwithchevaliers。ForifthemysticsignificanceoftheState,letthisbewhatitmay,dwellsvitallyineveryheart,encircleseverylifeaswithasecondhigherlife,howshoulditstandself—questioning?Itmustrushoutward,andexpressitselfbyworks。
  Besides,ifperfect,itisthereasbynecessity,anddoesnotexciteinquiry:
  itisalsobynatureinfinite,hasnolimits;thereforecanbecircumscribedbynoconditionsanddefinitions;cannotbereasonedof;exceptmusically,orinthelanguageofPoetry,cannotyetsomuchasbespokenof。
  Inthosedays,Societywaswhatwenamehealthy,soundatheart。Notindeedwithoutsufferingenough;notwithoutperplexities,difficultyoneveryside:forsuchistheappointmentofman;hishighestandsoleblessednessis,thathetoil,andknowwhattotoilat;notinease,butinunitedvictoriouslabour,whichisatonceevilandthevictoryoverevil,doeshisFreedomlie。
  Nay,often,lookingnodeeperthansuchsuperficialperplexitiesoftheearlyTime,historianshavetaughtusthatitwasallonemassofcontradictionanddisease;
  andintheantiqueRepublicorfeudalMonarchyhaveseenonlytheconfusedchaoticquarry,nottherobustlabourer,orthestatelyedificehewasbuildingofit。
  IfSociety,insuchages,haditsdifficulty,ithadalsoitsstrength;
  ifsorrowfulmassesofrubbishsoencumberedit,thetoughsinewstohurlthemaside,withindomitableheart,werenotwanting。Societywentalongwithoutcomplaint;
  didnotstoptoscrutinizeitself,tosay,HowwellIperform!or,Alas,howill!