I have sometimes been inclined to think, that interruptions in the periods of learning, were they
not attended with such a destruction of ancient books, and the records of history, would be rather
favourable to the arts and sciences, by breaking the progress of authority, and dethroning the
tyrannical usurpers over human reason. In this particular, they have the same influence, as
interruptions in political governments and societies. Consider the blind submission of the ancient
philosophers to the several masters in each school, and you will be convinced, that little good
could be expected from a hundred centuries of such a servile philosophy. Even the ECLECTICS,
*35 who arose about the age of AUGUSTUS, notwithstanding their professing to chuse freely
what pleased them from every different sect, were yet, in the main, as slavish and dependent as
any of their brethren; since they sought for truth not in nature, but in the several schools; where
they supposed she must necessarily be found, though not united in a body, yet dispersed in parts.
Upon the revival of learning, those sects of STOICS and EPICUREANS, PLATONISTS and
PYTHAGORICIANS,*36 could never regain any credit or authority; and, at the same time, by
the example of their fall, kept men from submitting, with such blind deference, to those new
sects, which have attempted to gain an ascendant over them.
I.
XIV.23
I have sometimes been inclined to think, that interruptions in the periods of learning, were theynot attended with such a destruction of ancient books, and the records of history, would be ratherfavourable to the arts and sciences, by breaking the progress of authority, and dethroning thetyrannical usurpers over human reason. In this particular, they have the same influence, asinterruptions in political governments and societies. Consider the blind submission of the ancientphilosophers to the several masters in each school, and you will be convinced, that little goodcould be expected from a hundred centuries of such a servile philosophy. Even the ECLECTICS,*35 who arose about the age of AUGUSTUS, notwithstanding their professing to chuse freelywhat pleased them from every different sect, were yet, in the main, as slavish and dependent asany of their brethren; since they sought for truth not in nature, but in the several schools; wherethey supposed she must necessarily be found, though not united in a body, yet dispersed in parts.Upon the revival of learning, those sects of STOICS and EPICUREANS, PLATONISTS andPYTHAGORICIANS,*36 could never regain any credit or authority; and, at the same time, bythe example of their fall, kept men from submitting, with such blind deference, to those newsects, which have attempted to gain an ascendant over them.I.XIV.23
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