Malebranch's search after truth, or, A treatise of the nature of the humane mind and of its management for avoiding error in the sciences : vol I : done out of French from the last edition.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Prejudices of Commentators.

THis excess of Prejudice, appears much more strange in those who Comment upon any Author, because they, who undertake that Work, which seems in it self beneath a Man of Sense, imagine that their Authors deserve to be admir'd by all Men. They also look upon themselves, as making but one Person with their Author; and with this Conceit, Self-love most admirably plays it's part. They are cunningly profuse in the Praises of their Authors; they set them off with the best advantage, and heap Honours upon them, well knowing that this Honour will reflect upon themselves. And this Idea of Gran∣deur, does not only magni••ie Aristotle or Plato, in the Minds of many Persons, but it imprints also a Respect for all those that have Commented upon them: And such a one would never have Deify'd his Author, but that he imagin'd himself, as it were, comprehended in the 〈…〉〈…〉.

I do not believe, however, that all Commentators praise their Authors in hopes of a Return; many would abhor it, if they consider'd it; they Praise

them sincerely, and don't think they do it in respect to themselves, but Self-love does it for them, without their perceiving it. Men are not sensible of the Heat which is in their Hearts, tho' it gives Life and Mo∣tion to all the other parts of their Body; 'tis necessa∣ry that they feel it, by laying their Hands upon their Breast, to be convinc'd of it, because that Heat is Natural. 'Tis the same thing with Vanity; 'tis so Natural to Man, that he is not sensible of it, tho' it be that, which, as I may so say, gives Life and Mo∣tion to the greatest part of his Thoughts and Designs; it does it many times, in such a manner, as is imper∣ceptible to him. A Man must feel, handle, and search himself, to be convinc'd that he is Vain. There's no Man yet, has sufficiently been sensible, that 'tis this Vanity which sets the first Wheel of the greatest part of our Actions a going; for tho' Self love, in∣deed, knows it well enough, yet is that Knowledge to no other end, than to conceal it from all Man∣kind.

A Commentator then, having some Relation and Affinity with the Author, upon whom he Comments, his Self-love fails not to discover to him the great subjects of Praise in that Author, to the end he may reap the benefit of them himself: And this is done so dexterously, so subtilely, and so delicately, that it is not to be perceived. But this is not a place to dis∣cover the Artifices of Self-love.

Commentators not only Praise their Authors, be∣cause they are prepossessed with an Esteem for them, and because they Honour themselves in Praising them, but also, because it is the Custom, and for that it seems as if there were a necessity of doing it. There are some Persons, who not having any great value for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Authors, forbea•• not, however, to Comment upon them, and that with great Application too, be∣cause their Employment, Chance, or their own Ca∣pritious Fancy, engages them to undertake the Work. And these People believe themselves oblig'd, to extol, after a Hyperbolical manner, the Sciences, and Au∣thors upon which they Comment, tho' the Authors

are Impertinent, and the Sciences mean and use∣less.

And, indeed, it would be a very ridiculous thing for a Man to Comment upon an Author, whom he believes to be Impertinent, and seriously to apply himself to write, in such a manner, as he thought to be of no use. He must therefore, for his Reputation's sake, praise those Sciences, and those Authors, altho' both were Contemptible, and tho' the fault, which he has committed in undertaking an ill Work, may be repaired by another fault as bad. This is the Rea∣son that Learned Men, who Comment upon different Authors, frequently contradict themselves.

For this Reason also it is, that almost all Prefaces are scarce ever agreeable to Truth or good Sense. If the Comment be upon Aristotle, he is the Genius of Nature: If they Write upon Plato, he is the Divine Plato. They never Comment upon the Works of Men without Additions to their Names. They are always the Works of Men wholly Divine; of Men who are the Admiration of their Age; or such as have received from God particular Gifts. 'Tis the same thing also, with the Matter which they treat of; 'tis always the most Noble, the most Sublime, and the most useful of all other subjects.

But that I may not be thought to speak upon my own word, see here, after what manner a famous Commentator among the Learned, writes of the Au∣thor upon which he Comments. 'Tis Averroes speak∣ing of Aristotle: He says, in his Preface to the Physic; of that Philosopher, that he was the Inventor of Lo∣gie, Ethies, and Metaphysies, and that he brought them to Perfection. Complevit, says he, quia nullus eorum, qui seenti sunt eum us{que} ad hee tempus, quod est mille & quingentorum annorum, quid ••am addidit; nee invenies in ejus verbis errorem alicnjus quantitatis: Et talem esse virtutem in Individu•• un••, miracul••sum & extrancum existit; & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dispositio cum in uno Ho∣mine reperi••ur, dignus est esse divinus magis quam Hum••∣nus. And in other places, he gives him far m••re Pompous and Magnificent Praises * 1.1 Laudemus De∣um,

qui separavit bunc virum ab aliis in perfectione: appropriavit{que} ei ultimam dignitatem humanam, quam non omnis homo po••est in quacun{que} aetate attingere. The same Author also says, Comm. l. 1. destruc. disp. 3. Aristotelis Doctrina est SƲMMA VERITAS, quoniam ••jus Intellectus fuit Finis Humani Intellectus: quare bene dicitur de illo, quod ipse fuit creatus & datus nobis di∣vina Providentia, ut non ignoremus possibilia sciri.

Was not this a Mad-man for talking at this rate? Was not the Dotage of this Author degenerated into Extravagance and Phrenzy? The Doctrine of Aristotle is SOVERAIGN TRƲTH, because no body had Ʋnder∣standing like to his, or which came near to his. 'Twas he who was created by God, to teach us what it is possible for us to know. 'Tis ••e who makes all Men Wise; and they are so much the more Learned, the deeper they enter into his Thoughts. And in another place, Aristoteles fuit Princeps, per quem persiciuntur omnes sapientes qui fuerunt p••st cum, licet different ••nter se in intelligendo verba eju, & in co quod sequitur ex eis. Nevertheless, the Works of this Author are dis∣pers'd all over Europe, as also over Countries far more remote. They have been Translated out of Arabic into Hebrew, out of Hebrew into Latin, and it may be into many other Languages, which suffi∣ciently shews the Esteem which the Learned had of him: So that we could not have produc'd a more ma∣nifest Example than this, of the Prejudic'd Opinions of Studious Persons; for it shews us, that they are not only many times Prejudic'd with an Author, but also, their Prejudice is communicated to others, pro∣portionably to the Esteem which they have in the World: So that the false Pr••is•••• which Commentators gives him, are the reason that Persons of meaner Parts, and less Education, who are addicted to Reading, be∣come prepossess'd, and fall into an infinite number of Errors. But here's another Eample:

A certain Doctor, famous among the Learned, * 1.2 who has founded Lectures of Geometry and Astronomy in the University of Oxford, begins a Book, which he made upon the Eight first Propositions of Euclid, with

these Words: Consilium meum, Auditores, si vires & vaietudo suffecerit, explicare definitiones, petitiones, com∣munes sententias, & Octo priores Propositiones primi Li∣bri Elementorum, caetera post me venientibus relinquere, And he concludes thus, Exolvi per dei gratiam, Domi∣ni Auditores, promissum, liberavi fidem meam, expli∣cavi pro modulo meo, definitiones, petitiones, communes sententias, & octo priores propositiones Elementorum Eu∣clidis. Hic annis fessus, cyclos artem{que} repono. Succe∣dent in hoc munus alii fortasse magis vegeto corpore, vivi∣do ingenio, &c. Certainly one hour would be enough for a very mean Capacity to learn of himself, or with the help of the most ordinary Geometrician, the De∣finitions, the Postulates, Axioms, and the eight first Propositions of Euclid; they have hardly need of any Explanation: Yet here's an Author, that talks of this Enterprise as if it were extreamly hard and difficult. He is afraid lest his strength should fail him, si vires & valetudo suffecerint. He leaves it to his Successors to perfect what he has left undone, Caetera post me ve∣nientibus relinguere. He thanks God, for that by his particular favour, he has performed what he promis'd. Exclvi per dei gratiam premissum; liberavi fidem me∣am; explicavi pro modulo meo: What? The Quadra∣ture of a Circle? The Duplication of a Cube? This great Man has explain'd, pro modulo suo, the Definitions. Postulates, Axioms, and the eight first Propositions of the first Book of Euclids Elements. It may be, that among those that are to succeed him, there will be some that will have more health and strength than himself, to continue this Noble Work. Succedent in hoc munus alii FORTASSE magis vegetes corpore & vivido ingenio. But as for his part, 'tis time for him to take his rest, his annis fessus, cyclos artem{que} reponit.

Euclid, certainly, never thought of being so ob∣scure, or of speaking things so extraordinary, when he compos'd his Elements, that there should be a ne∣cessity of making a Book of near three hundred Pa∣ges, * 1.3 to explain his Definitions, his Postulates, his Axioms, and his Eigh•• first Propositions. But this Learned Gen∣tle-man, well knows how to magnify the Science

of Euclid, and had Age permitted him, and his Strength not fail'd him, we should have had, by this time, twelve or fifteen large Folio's only upon the Elements of Geometry, which would have been very useful to those that are desirous to learn that Science, and much to the Honour of Euclid.

These are the odd Designs which false Learning qualifies us for: This Man understood the Greek Lan∣guage, for we are beholding to him for a Greek Edi∣tion of St. Chrysostome's Works. He had also read, perhaps, the Ancient Geometricians: He knew, histo∣rically, their Propositions, as well as their Genealogy. He had all the same Respect for Antiquity that Men ought to have for Truth: And what does this same Qualification of Wit produce? A Commentary upon the Definitions, Postulates, Axioms, and the eight first Propositions of Euclid, much more difficult to un∣derstand and retain; I do not say, than the Propo∣sitions upon which he Comments, but than all that Euclid has Writ upon Geometry.

There are many People, whose Vanity causes them to speak Greek, and sometimes a Language which they do not understand; for Dictionaries, as well as Index's, and Common Places, are a great help to ma∣ny Authors, but there are few Men that caution themselves, about heaping up Greek upon a subject where it is little to the purpose to make use of it. And this it is, which makes me believe 'twas a pre∣judic'd Opinion, and an irregular Esteem for Euclid, which form'd the design of that Book in the Ima∣gination of its Author.

Had this Man made as much use of his Reason as of his Memory, in a subject where Reason ought to be employ'd; or had he had as much Love and Re∣spect for Truth, as Veneration for the Author upon whom he Comments, 'tis very probable, that having spent so much time upon so little subject, he would have acknowledg'd, that the Definitions which Euclid gives of a Plain Angle, and Parallel Lines, are de∣sective, and that they do not sufficiently explain the Nature of them; and that the second Preposition is

Impertinent, since it cannot be prov'd but by the third Postulate, which cannot be granted, unless you like∣wise grant the second Proposition. For in granting the third Postulate, which is, On any Centre, and at any Distance, to describe a Circle, they not only grant, that one Line equal to the other, may be drawn from a Point, which Euclid demonstrates by great Circum∣locutions in his second Proposition, but also, that an infinite number of Lines, of any length, may be drawn from every Point.

But the Design of the most part of Commentators is not to illustrate their Authors, and to enquire after Truth, but to shew their Learning, and inconsiderate∣ly to desend the faults themselves, of those upon whom they Comment: They speak not so much to be understood themselves, or to make their Authors to be understood, as to procure Admiration to them∣selves and them. Had not the Person, whom we have mention'd, stuft his Book with Greek Passages, seve∣ral Names of Authors little known, and other Re∣marks of the same Nature, of little use to the Under∣standing of Common Notions, Definitions of Names, and Postulates in Geometry, who would have read his Book? Who would have admir'd him? And who would have given the Author of it, the Title of a Learned Man, or a Man of Sense?

After what has been said, I do not believe it can be doubted, that the indiscreet Reading of Authors often prepossesses the Mind. Now so soon as the Mind of a Man is prepossess'd, he ceases to be owner of what we call Common Sense: He can no longer give a found Judgment upon any thing, that has Rela∣tion to the subject of his Prejudic'd Opinion, it in∣fects every thing he thinks on; he can apply himself but very little to any thing, besides what he is Preju∣dic'd in favour of. Thus a Man that admires Aristo∣tle, can never relish any body but Aristotle; he Judges of every thing as it relates to Aristotle; what∣ever is contrary to his Philosophy, is in his Opinion false, he will have always some Passage of Aristotle in his Mouth; he will Quote him upon all occasions,

and upon all sorts of subjects; to prove things ob∣scure, which no body understands, to prove things as clear as day, and which are known to every Child i'th' Street: 'tis all one, because that Aristotle is to him what Reason and Evidence are to others.

In like manner, if a Man Dote upon Euclid, and Geometry, he shall refer to the Lines and Proposi∣tions of his Author, whatever you say to him: He will not talk to ye, but his Words shall have some de∣pendence upon his Science. The whole shall not be greater than a part, only because Euclid says it, and he will not be asham'd to Quote him to prove it, as I have observ'd. But this is much more usual with those who adhere to other Authors than those of Geo∣metry; and we frequently find large Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic Passages in their Books, to prove things that are perfectly evident.

All this befalls them, because the Traces, which the Objects of their Prejudic'd Opinion have imprinted on the Fibres of their Brains, are so deep, that they always remain open, and for that the Animal Spirits, passing continually quite through them, will not per∣mit them to close: So that the Mind, being con∣strain'd to have always those Thoughts that are an∣nex'd to the Traces, she becomes, as it were, their Slave, and is always troubled and disquieted by them, when knowing her Errors, she endeavours to apply a Remedy to them. Thus the Mind is continually in danger of falling into a great number of Errors, if she does not always stand upon her Guard, and, with an unalterable Resolution, observe the Rule which we have spoken of at the beginning of this Work, that is to say, never to assent but to Things that are in∣tirely evident.

I speak not here of the ill choice of those Studies to which they apply themselves, that is a subject to be handled in E••••••ics, tho' it might be referr'd to what has been said concerning Prejudic'd Opinions: For when a Man throws himself desperately upon the study of the Rabbins, and other Books in all forts of Languages, and consequently the most unprofitable,

and wastes his whole Life therein, he does it, doubt∣less, out of a Prejudic'd Opinion, and an Imaginary hope of becoming Learned, tho' he will never be able to acquire any real Knowledge by this way of Study. But because this Application to an unprofitable Study, does not so much lead us into Error, as it wastes our Time, and fills us with a foolish Vanity, we shall not here discourse of those, who take pains to become Learned in all sorts of mean, or unprofitable Scien∣ces, whose Number is very great, and who, for the most part, Study with too much Passion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Com ••. de generatione Animal.
• * 1.2

  Prelectiones 12. in prin. Elementor. Euclidis.
• * 1.3

  In Quarte.