Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning/Conclusion
Conclusion.
THis seems to me to be the present State of Learning, as it may be compared with what it was in Former Ages: Whether Knowledge will improve in the next Age, proportionably, as it has done in this, is a Question not easily decided. It depends upon a great many Circumstances; which singly, will be ineffectual, and, which no Man can now be assured, will ever meet. There seems Reason indeed, to fear, that it may decay, both because ancient Learning is too much studied in Modern Books, and taken upon trust by Modern Writers, who are not enough acquainted with Antiquity to correct their own mistakes; and because Natural and Mathematical Knowledge, wherein chiefly the Moderns are to be studied as Originals, begin to be neglected by the Generality of those who would set up for Scholars. For the Humour of the Age, as to those things, is visibly altered from what it was Twenty or Thirty Years ago: So that though the ROYAL SOCIETY has weathered the rude Attacks of such sort of Adversaries as Stubbe, who endeavoured to have it thought, That Studying of Natural Philosophy and Mathematicks, was a ready Method to introduce Scepticism at least, if not Atheism into the World: Yet the sly Insinuations of the Men of Wit, That no great things have ever, or are ever like to be performed by the Men of Gresham, and, That every Man whom they call a Virtuoso, must needs be a Sir Nicholas Gim-crack, have so far taken off the Edge of those who have opulent Fortunes, and a Love to Learning, that Physiological Studies begin to be contracted amongst Physicians and Mechanicks. The Truth is, one must spend a good deal of Time and Pains, of Industry and Attention, before he will be able thoroughly to relish them: And those who do not, rarely know their Worth, and consequently do very seldom pass a right Judgment upon them: For which Reason, when the present Sett of Philosophers are gone off, it is a great Question, whether a new one will succeed, that may equal them. Their Writings, however, will be preserved, and as our Age has raised a nobler Monument to the Memory of Archimedes and Diophantus, of Hippocrates and Aristotle, of Herophilus and Galen, by improving of their Inventions, than had been raised for a Thousand Years before; so some future Age, though, perhaps, not the next, and in a Country, now possibly little thought of, may do that which our great Men would be glad to see done; that is to say, they may raise real Knowledge, upon the Foundations laid in this our Age, to the utmost possible Perfection, to which it can be brought by mortal Men in this imperfect State.
But this is what one would gladly hope should be reserved for his own Posterity, and his own Country; how it may be reserved is obvious: It must be by joining Ancient and Modern Learning together, and by studying each as Originals, in those things wherein they severally do most excel; by that means few Mistakes will be committed, the World will soon see what remains unfinish'd, and Men will furnish themselves with fitting Methods to compleat it: And by doing Justice to every Side, they will have Reason to expect, that those that come after them will do the same Justice to them, whenever they shall think fit to submit their Productions to publick Censure.
FINIS.