THE PONDERER, No. 33. "'Tis Universal Love which smiles around, THOMSON. AMONG the various speculations of philosophy, there is none more delightful than that which contemplates the human race, as capable of attaining such high degrees of improvement in knowledge and virtue, that at length they will scarcely admit of farther advances, This doctrine, was first advanced, I think, by Priestley, and under the denomination of the perfectibility of the species, was maintained by Franklin and Price, and Condorcet and Godwin; but having been made a subject of ridicule, among many untenable opinions of the last-mentioned writer, in that exquisite satire entitled, Modern Philosophers,' it seems now to be nearly relinquished, or at best, to be ranked among those dreams of benevolence which, however desirable, are too ideal to afford any basis for a rational expectation. With re spect to myself, however, I have no hesitation in acknowledging my firm belief, that the perfection of the human species, is one of the objects of the Deity in the creation; and as this doctrine appears to me, to furnish one of the most cheering prospects which the human mind can entertain, I propose to devote this essay to its consideration. The most superficial investigation of human nature is sufficient to convince us, that the characteristic distinction of man, when brought into comparison with the inferior animals, is, that among men the discoveries and improvements of individuals, may be communicated to their fellowmen, and that thus every succeeding generation, by extending these discoveries, and carrying on these improvements, is capable of excelling their predecessors, in an unlimited progression. No thing analogous to this appears to take place among other animals; for we have no reason to conclude that the bee, and the beaver, of the present generation, are in any respect superior to the same species of animals in any former generation. On the contrary, we have abundant evidence for believing, that they have ever remained stationary, if we except a very few instances, in which peculiar circumstances have produced occasional variations from the general uniformity. Ascending in the scale of rational being, from the beaver to the savage, we shall find that the successive improvements of different generations, bear a proportion to the progress, which any community has made in civilization. The exer tions of the savage are solitary: his few improvements are seldom known even to his tribe; and his successor generally begins at the very point with which he himself commenced. In civilized society there is a combination of exertion; and every man usually commences where his predecessor terminated. These are the reasons that savage nations make such little progress, when compared with the rapid advances of civilized communities; and it is the operation of these causes which will produce, in the course of successive generations, degrees of improvement in knowledge, virtue, and consequently of happiness, of which the present age can form but a very imperfect conception. From the retrospections of history are derived additional evidences, for this consolatory theory of liberal philosophy. Assisted by the information it furnishes, we can compare the state of society during the several stages of its progress, and, undazzled by extended empire, or the splendid pomp of royalty, endeavour to ascertain the means of happiness which have been furnished, aud in what extent these means have been participated from the earliest period of recorded time. There can be no doubt, that the comparison would bear the most ample testimony to the improvement of the human species, and demonstrate that the means of happiness at present, are not only multiplied to a great extent, but that these means are now more accessible to every individual than they ever were at any former period; and as there is reason to hope that the progress will be accelerated rather than retarded, it would be difficult to conjecture what degrees of improvement will be effected in the course of a few centuries. At all events, the prospect is truly animating; and if it does not promise absolute perfection, it sets no limits to improvement, which may finally so approximate towards perfection, that advances may be impossible, and in the present state perhaps not desirable. It appears, then, that the greatest possible improvement of the individual, is the means appointed by the governor of the world, for the amelioration of the species. Individual improvement is the lever of Archimedes to raise the world. Let it be observed also, that the completion of these designs is in all respects worthy K of Infinite Power and Benevolence-that the operations of the laws of nature are conspiring to produce the perfection of the species, while that of the individual has been provided for by an express revelation from the God of Nature. Death, which assists in producing the improvement of the species, interrupts the progress of the individual. But Christianity assures us that in another and a better world, the progress will be resumed, and carried on to its consummation. I cannot quit this subject without noticing the Essay upon Population, which must be acknowledged to contain much important matter upon subjects in political economy, notwithstanding the gloomy conclusions which it attempts to establish. If, however, we do anticipate any danger from an excessive population five hundred years hence, let us also suppose that the increased knowledge of our posterity will be more than adequate to the apprehended evil. But whatever may be thought of the speculations in this celebrated essay, of this we are certain, both from experience and from historical testimony, that ignorance is generally the source of vice, and that vice is always the parent of misery-consequently that the extermination of ignorance and vice should be the object of the highest ambition |