“THE LUST TO LEARN”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24415, 28 September 1940, Page 13

“THE LUST TO LEARN”

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—l hope you will permit me to set down a more correct heading than the above for the short article from the pen of a Dunedin visitor to Melbourne which appeared in tc-day’s Notes for "/omen column. I should like to change this heading or title to “The Thirst for Knowledge” and continue this thought by quoting frem “The Advancement of Learning.” by Francis Bacon: But the greatest error ot all the rest is the mistaking or misplacing of the last or farthest end of knowledge; for men have entered into a desire of learning and knowledge, sometimes upon a natural curiosity and inquisitive appetite; sometimes to entertain their minds with variety and delight; sometimes for ornament and reputation; and sometimes to enable them to victory of wit and contradiction; and most times for lucre and profession: and seldom sincerely to give a true account of their gift of reason, to the benefit and use of men; as if there were sought in knowledge a couch whereupon to rest a searching and restless spirit; or a tarasse, for a wandering and variable mind to walk up and down with a fair prospect; or a tower of State, for a proud mind to raise itself upon; or a fort or commanding ground, for strife and contention: or a shop for profit or sale; and not a rich storehouse for the glory of the Creator and the relief of man’s estate. But this is that which will indeed dignify and exalt knowledge, if contemplation and action may be more nearly and straightly conjoined and united together than they have been, a conjunction like unto that of the two highest planets, Saturn, the planet of rest and contemplation, and Jupiter, the planet of civil society and action; howbeit, I do not mean, when I speak of use and action, that end before-mentioned of the applying of knowledge to lucre and profession. . . But as both heaven and earth do conspire and contribute to the use and benefit of man, so the end ought to be from both philosophies to separate and reject vain speculations, and whatsoever is empty and void and to preserve and augment whatsoever is solid and fruitful; that knowledge may not be as a courtesan, for pleasure and vanity only, or as a bondwoman, to acquire and gain to her master's use; but as a spouse, for generation, fruit, and comfort “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding ” (Proverbs iv, 7).—1 am, etc. The Philosopher. Dunedin, September 27.