of the rise and progress of the arts and sciences-第2章
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ignorant and uninstructed； and not having knowledge sufficient to
make him sensible of the necessity of balancing his government
upon general laws； he delegates his full power to all inferior
magistrates。 This barbarous policy debases the people； and for
ever prevents all improvements。 Were it possible； that； before
science were known in the world； a monarch could possess so much
wisdom as to become a legislator； and govern his people by law；
not by the arbitrary will of their fellow…subjects； it might be
possible for that species of government to be the first nursery
of arts and sciences。 But that supposition seems scarcely to be
consistent or rational。
It may happen； that a republic； in its infant state； may be
supported by as few laws as a barbarous monarchy； and may entrust
as unlimited an authority to its magistrates or judges。 But；
besides that the frequent elections by the people； are a
considerable check upon authority； it is impossible； but； in
time； the necessity of restraining the magistrates； in order to
preserve liberty； must at last appear； and give rise to general
laws and statutes。 The Roman Consuls； for some time； decided all
causes； without being confined by any positive statutes； till the
people； bearing this yoke with impatience； created the
； who promulgated the ； a body of laws；
which； though； perhaps； they were not equal in bulk to one
English act of parliament； were almost the only written rules；
which regulated property and punishment； for some ages； in that
famous republic。 They were； however； sufficient； together with
the forms of a free government； to secure the lives and
properties of the citizens； to exempt one man from the dominion
of another； and to protect every one against the violence or
tyranny of his fellow…citizens。 In such a situation the sciences
may raise their heads and flourish： But never can have being
amidst such a scene of oppression and slavery； as always results
from barbarous monarchies； where the people alone are restrained
by the authority of the magistrates； and the magistrates are not
restrained by any law or statute。 An unlimited despotism of this
nature； while it exists； effectually puts a stop to all
improvements； and keeps men from attaining that knowledge； which
is requisite to instruct them in the advantages； arising from a
better police； and more moderate authority。
Here then are the advantages of free states。 Though a
republic should be barbarous； it necessarily； by an infallible
operation； gives rise to Law； even before mankind have made any
considerable advances in the other sciences。 From law arises
security： From security curiosity： And from curiosity knowledge。
The latter steps of this progress may be more accidental； but the
former are altogether necessary。 A republic without laws can
never have any duration。 On the contrary； in a monarchical
government； law arises not necessarily from the forms of
government。 Monarchy； when absolute； contains even something
repugnant to law。 Great wisdom and reflection can alone reconcile
them。 But such a degree of wisdom can never be expected； before
the greater refinements and improvements of human reason。 These
refinements require curiosity； security； and law。 The
growth； therefore； of the arts and sciences can never be expected
in despotic governments。
There are other causes； which discourage the rise of the
refined arts in despotic governments； though I take the want of
laws； and the delegation of full powers to every petty
magistrate； to be the principal。 Eloquence certainly springs up
more naturally in popular governments： Emulation too in every
accomplishment must there be more animated and enlivened： And
genius and capacity have a fuller scope and career。 All these
causes render free governments the only proper for the
arts and sciences。
The next observation； which I shall make on this head； is；
。 The emulation； which
naturally arises among those neighbouring states； is an obvious
source of improvement： But what I would chiefly insist on is the
stop； which such limited territories give both to and to
。
Extended governments； where a single person has great
influence； soon become absolute； but small ones change naturally
into commonwealths。 A large government is accustomed by degrees
to tyranny； because each act of violence is at first performed
upon a part； which； being distant from the majority； is not taken
notice of； nor excites any violent ferment。 Besides； a large
government； though the whole be discontented； may； by a little
art； be kept in obedience； while each part； ignorant of the
resolutions of the rest； is afraid to begin any commotion or
insurrection。 Not to mention； that there is a superstitious
reverence for princes； which mankind naturally contract when they
do not often see the sovereign； and when many of them become not
acquainted with him so as to perceive his weaknesses。 And as
large states can afford a great expence； in order to support the
pomp of majesty； this is a kind of fascination on men； and
naturally contributes to the enslaving of them。
In a small government； any act of oppression is immediately
known throughout the whole： The murmurs and discontents；
proceeding from it； are easily communicated： And the indignation
arises the higher； because the subjects are not apt to apprehend
in such states； that the distance is very wide between themselves
and their sovereign。 'No man；' said the prince of Cond偅弧�'is a
hero to his 。' It is certain that admiration
and acquaintance are altogether incompatible towards any mortal
creature。 Sleep and love convinced even Alexander himself that he
was not a God： But I suppose that such as daily attended him
could easily； from the numberless weaknesses to which he was
subject； have given him many still more convincing proofs of his
humanity。
But the divisions into small states are favourable to
learning； by stopping the progress of as well as that
of 。 Reputation is often as great a fascination upon men
as sovereignty； and is equally destructive to the freedom of
thought and examination。 But where a number of neighbouring
states have a great intercourse of arts and commerce； their
mutual jealousy keeps them from receiving too lightly the law
from each other； in matters of taste and of reasoning； and makes
them examine every work of art with the greatest care and
accuracy。 The contagion of popular opinion spreads not so easily
from one place to another。 It readily receives a check in some
state or other； where it concurs not with the prevailing
prejudices。 And nothing but nature and reason； or； at least； what
bears them a strong resemblance； can force its way through all
obstacles； and unite the most rival nations into an esteem and
admiration of it。
Greece was a cluster of little principalities； which soon
became republics； and being united both by their near
neighbourhood； and by the ties of the same language and interest；
they entered into the closest intercourse of commerce and
learning。 There concurred a happy climate； a soil not unfertile；
and a most harmonious and comprehensive language； so that every
circumstance among that people seemed to favour the rise of the
arts and sciences。 Each city produced its several artists and
philosophers； who refused to yield the preference to those of the
neighbouring republics： Their contention and debates sharpened
the wits of men： A variety of objects was presented to the
judgment； while each challenged the preference to the rest： and
the sciences； not being dwarfed by the restraint of authority；
were enabled to make such considerable shoots； as are； even at
this time； the objects of our admiration。 After the Roman
； or church had spread itself over the
civilized world； and had engrossed all the learning of the times；
being really one large state within itself； and united under one
head； this variety of sects immediately disappeared； and the
Peripatetic philosophy was alone admitted into all the schools；
to the utter depravation of every kind of learning。 But mankind；
having at length thrown off this yoke； affairs are now returned
nearly to the same situation as before； and Europe is at present
a copy at large； of what Greece was formerly a pattern in
miniature。 We have seen the advantage of this situation in
several instances。 What checked the progress of the Cartesian
philosophy； to which the French nation shewed such a strong
propensity towards the end of the last century； but the
opposition made to it by the other nations of Europe； who soon
discovered the weak sides of that philosophy？ The severest
scrutiny； which Newton's theory has undergone； proceeded not from
his own countrymen； but from foreigners； and if it can overcome
the obstacles； which it meets with at present in all parts of
Europe； it will probably go down triumphant to the latest
posterity。 The English are become sensible of the scandalous
licentiousness of their stage； from the example of the French
decency and morals。 The French are convinced； that their theatre
has become somewhat effeminate； by too much love and gallantry；
and begin to approve of the more masculine taste of some
neighbouring nations。
In China； there seems to be a pretty considerable stock of
politeness and science； which； in the course of so many
centuries； might naturally be expected to ripen into some thing
more perfect and finished； than what has yet arisen from them。
But China is one vast empire； speaking one language； governed by
one law； and sympathizing in the same manners。 The authority of
any teacher； such as Confucius； was propagated easily from one
corner of the empire to the other。 None had courage to resist the
torrent of popular opinion。 And posterity was not bold enough to
dispute what had been universally received by their ancestors。
This seems to be one natural reason； why the sciences have made
so slow a progress in that mighty empire。＇4＇
If we consider the face of the globe； Europe； of all the
four parts of the world； is the most broken by seas； rivers； and
mountains； and Greece of all countries of Europe。 Hence these
regions were naturally divided into several distinct governments。
And hence the sciences arose in Greece； and Europe has been
hitherto the most constant habitation of them。
I have sometimes been inclined to think； that interruptions
in the periods of learning； were they not attended with such a
destruction of ancient books； and the records of history； would
be rather favourable to the arts and sciences； by breaking the
progress of authority； and dethroning the tyrannical usurpers
over human reason。 In this particular； they have the same
influence； as interruptions in polit
