Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

INTRODUCTION. 19
powers, are to be collected from the writings of ancient and
modern authors; but I do not know, that, in any language, an
attempt has been made to analyze and illustrate the principles
of human nature, in order to lay a philosophical foundation for
their proper culture.
The usefulness of systemnatic and thorough education defended.
— I have even heard some very ingenious and intelligent men
dispute the propriety of so systematical a plan of instruction.
The most successful and splendid exertions, both in the sciences
and arts, (it has been frequently remarked,) have been made
by individuals, in whose minds the seeds of genius were allowed
to shoot up wild and free; while, from the most careful and
skilful tuition, seldom any thing results above mediocrity. I]
shall not, at present, enter into any discussions with respect to
the certainty of the fact on which this opinion is founded. Supposing the fact to be completely established, it must still be rememnbered, that originality of genius does not always imply vigor
and comprehensiveness and liberality of mind; and that it is
desirable only in so far as it is compatible with these more valuable qualities. I have already hinted, that there are some
pursuits, in which, as they require the exertion only of a small
number of our faculties, an individual, who has a natural turn
for them, will be more likely to distinguish himself, by being
suffered to follow his original bias, than if his attention were distracted by a more liberal course of study. But wherever such
men are to be found, they must be considered, on the most
favorable supposition, as having sacrificed, to a certain degree,
the perfection and the happiness of their nature, to the amusement or instruction of others. It is, too, in times of general
darkness and barbarism, that what is commonly called originality of genius most frequently appears: and surely the great aim
of an enlightened and benevolent philosophy is, not to rear a
small number of individuals, )vho may be regarded as prodigies
in an ignorant and admiring age, but to diffuse, as widely as
possible, that degree of cultivation which may enable the bulk
of a people to possess all the intellectual and moral improvement of which their nature is susceptible. "Original genius,'