The dispute as to the priority of
particular discoveries concerns us all the less, since we hold that, at
any time, and among any civilized people, a man may appear who,
starting with very scanty preparation, is driven by an irresistible
impulse into the path of scientific investigation, and through his
native gifts achieves the most astonishing success. Such men were
Gerbert of Rheims and Roger Bacon. That they were masters of the whole
knowledge of the age in their several departments was a natural
consequence of the spirit in which they worked. When once the veil of
illusion was torn asunder, when once the dread of nature and the
slavery to books and tradition were overcome, countless problems lay
before them for solution. It is another matter when a whole people
takes a natural delight in the study and investigation of nature, at a
time when other nations are indifferent, that is to say, when the
discoverer is not threatened or wholly ignored, but can count on the
friendly support of congenial spirits. That this was the case in Italy
is unquestionable. The Italian students of nature trace with pride in
the 'Divine Comedy' the hints and proofs of Dante's scientific in-
terest in nature. On his claim to priority in this or that discovery or
reference, we must leave the men of science to decide; but every layman
must be struck by the wealth of his observations on the external world,
shown merely in his picture and comparisons.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335