A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

5
^AMBIX riir journal ol'lhe Society for llic Mistoiy orAklicmy and C^hcmistry Editor: Dr Michael'stuaowNewcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic .Aulhoritalivc scholarly articles and book reviews on all aspects of the history of alchemy and chemistry from earliest times to the twentieth century are publishetl in Ambix. I t is of great value to all who are iiuerested in the subject, and indispensable to those engaged in teaching and research. Each volume of over 200pp consists of three parts, published in March, July and November. The conienls of Volume 29, lf)H2, include: S. K . HAMARNEH, 'Arabic-Islamic Alchemy' M. I-:. I.1-: GRAND, 'The Montpellier Socicte Royalc des Sciences' R. PAT/M, 'Maria the Jewess' C;. E . P E R R I N , 'Joseph Black and the Edinburgh Reception of Lavoisier's Chemistry* R. S1EGFRIIT3, 'Lavoisier's Table of Simple Substances' I'VE TITCH, 'Conservation of Matter and the Biological World in the 18th C<'ntury' E. li. WICLLES, 'The Unpublished Alchemical Sonnets of Eelice Ecliciano' I'or libraries and other institutions the su'iscripiion is £10.50. A l l b-.u'k luunbers from Volume I (1937) to Volume 28 (1981) are available at £1.') each. Subscriptions and enquiries should be sent to: Hcffers Printers Ltd. K-ing's Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2PQ, England .In indiuidunl requiring Arnhix for his own use may obtain it at a reduced rate by joining Ihe Societyfor the History of A Ichemy and Chemistry. Enquines nhout the Soi.ietv shout ihe addressed to the Hon. Treasurer, DrN. G. Coley, Open Unioer.uty, 230-2 London Road, East Crmstedd, West Simex RHI'J ll.A llisl. Sn.,ssJ\'m) ON V/HIGGISM A. Rupert Hall Wellcome Institute for the History of Mediant, London Herbert Biitterfield (1900-79) ^erased a deep inlluencc upon my own development as a historian of science; he was a inan whom I both admired and loved, and whose generosity towards me was remarkabk'. Bui (hough I res|)ect him, and acknowledge his learning and Hashing inielligeiuc, I do no: ihink be was right in all things, in particular, I have (onie to doubt the t.iiih ol ilijii particular maxim oi Rutterlield's historiograjjliy which is ])erlia ])s best known, rhat the '\\Tiii^_JjiicrpireJ^^ <>l' hisniry necessarily involves a misleading historical ciUer [)risc. As his critics have not failed to emphasize, through some fifty years of historical writing in which his faith and his philosophy were expressed in vigorous and often picturesque language, Bultcrfield was not by any means always consistent. In maturity he could swallow what the delicate a[)p('tite of his youth found nauseous. Notably, much of the content of The IVhii; inlerpreUitiim of history (19!i I) was to be reversed in The Englishman and his history (l!)44): here '"the bending of history, so far from being regretted, was now treated as a virtue, bent Tusioiy having become a specific against vice".' From having mislakenly dlsceiiuil, perhaps, some useful regenerative strengih in the teachings of lasiism and Nazism as so many did belbn' l9.'iH Builerfield was (oincricd im<lci- C:hurchill's guidance during the crisis of o faith ill the Biitisb liberal, that is Whig, tradition. I do not think that in subsequent writings he c\-cr resolved the seeming contradiction between a style of historical writing that is morally / good though intellectually indefensible and "historical research" (as be some- times called it) carried through without care for the morality of its products. [ do not mean to face this issue, which may be regarded as a version of the problem about history as culture and history as science and mav we Ibe itself a kind ol illusory dichotomy, but ratlier to examine the assumj)n(^ is! \vbos<' r"justicc the B^utlerfidcl , o f _i^9i|^I was so conlidenl, that "Whig history' is I intellecttially iiVk 'fensilile. Tlien Ise at. .eked " 'the Whig inici pi ciaiion of "llislory' in what I conceive to be the iicicpled meaning of llu' phrase" as lluiiigb this was often used bv oilier wrilcrs, and in the ncxi seiilence releired lo '"\', hal is ordinarily understood bv the words" as though lhc\|(i\l (i>miiii)n i uniiu \ but 1 believe that if the label v \as not (unferred b\d liiiiisell. Ms u s c . i i IHiyi- :!7.'i :i/;ii /:'UII - UU l . .'.n© pllli .S, i m , IIISI.MA I 'uhli. .Uiun^ 1.1,1

description

that particular maxim of Butterrfield's historiography which is perhaps best known, that the 'Whig interpretation' of history necessarily involves a misleading historical enterprise

Transcript of A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

Page 1: A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

^AMBIX r i i r j o u r n a l o l ' lhe Society for l l ic Mis to iy o r A k l i c m y and C^hcmistry

Editor: D r M i c h a e l 'stuaow Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic

. A u l h o r i t a l i v c scholarly articles and book reviews on al l aspects o f the history o f a lchemy and chemistry from earliest times to the twentieth century are publ i she t l in Ambix. I t is o f great value to al l who are iiuerested in the subject, and indispensable to those engaged in teaching and research. Each volume o f over 200pp consists o f three parts, published in M a r c h , Ju ly and November.

T h e conienls o f V o l u m e 29, lf)H2, include:

S. K . H A M A R N E H , 'A rab i c - I s l amic A lchemy '

M . I - : . I.1-: G R A N D , ' T h e M o n t p e l l i e r Socicte Royalc des Sciences'

R. P A T / M , ' M a r i a the Jewess'

C;. E. P E R R I N , 'Joseph Black and the Ed inburgh Reception o f Lavoisier's Chemis t ry*

R. S 1 E G F R I I T 3 , 'Lavoisier 's T a b l e o f Simple Substances'

I'VE T I T C H , 'Conservat ion o f M a t t e r and the Biological W o r l d in the 18th C<'ntury '

E. l i . W I C L L E S , 'T he Unpub l i shed Alchemica l Sonnets o f Eelice Ecliciano'

I 'or l ibrar ies and other ins t i tu t ions the su ' i scr ip i ion is £10 .50 . A l l b-.u'k luunbers f rom V o l u m e I (1937) to V o l u m e 28 (1981) are available at £1.') each.

Subscr ip t ions and enquiries should be sent to:

H c f f e r s P r i n t e r s L t d .

K-ing's Hedges Road , Cambr idge , C B 4 2PQ, England

. I n indiuidunl requiring Arnhix for his own use may obtain it at a reduced rate by joining Ihe Societyfor the History of A Ichemy and Chemistry. Enquines nhout the Soi.ietv shout ihe addressed to the Hon. Treasurer, DrN. G. Coley, Open Unioer.uty, 230-2 London Road, East Crmstedd, West Simex RHI'J ll.A

llisl. Sn.,ssJ\'m)

ON V/HIGGISM

A. Rupert Hall Wellcome Institute for the History of Mediant, London

H e r b e r t B i i t t e r f i e l d ( 1 9 0 0 - 7 9 ) ^ e r a s e d a deep i n l l u e n c c u p o n m y own d e v e l o p m e n t as a h i s t o r i a n o f science; he was a inan w h o m I b o t h a d m i r e d and l o v e d , a n d w h o s e g e n e r o s i t y t o w a r d s m e was r e m a r k a b k ' . B u i ( h o u g h I res|)ect h i m , a n d a c k n o w l e d g e his l e a r n i n g a n d H a s h i n g i n i e l l i g e i u c , I d o no : i h i n k be w a s r i g h t i n a l l t h i n g s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , I have ( o n i e to d o u b t the t . i i i h ol i l ij i i p a r t i c u l a r m a x i m o i R u t t e r l i e l d ' s h i s t o r i o g r a j j l i y w h i c h is ])erlia])s best k n o w n , r h a t t h e ' \ \T i i i^_J j i i c rp i reJ^^ <>l' h i s n i r y necessar i ly i n v o l v e s a m i s l e a d i n g h i s t o r i c a l c iUer [ ) r i s c .

A s h i s c r i t i c s h a v e n o t f a i l e d to e m p h a s i z e , t h r o u g h some fif ty years o f h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g i n w h i c h h i s f a i t h a n d his p h i l o s o p h y were expressed i n v i g o r o u s a n d of ten p i c t u r e s q u e l a n g u a g e , B u l t c r f i e l d was no t by a n y means a l w a y s cons i s t en t . I n m a t u r i t y he c o u l d s w a l l o w w h a t the d e l i c a t e a [ )p ( ' t i t e o f his y o u t h f o u n d n a u s e o u s . N o t a b l y , m u c h o f the c o n t e n t o f The IVhii; inlerpreUitiim of history (19!i I ) w a s to be r eve r sed i n The Englishman and his history ( l ! ) 4 4 ) : here '"the b e n d i n g of h i s t o r y , so far f r o m b e i n g r e g r e t t e d , was n o w t r ea t ed as a v i r t u e , ben t T u s i o i y h a v i n g b e c o m e a spec i f ic aga ins t v i c e " . ' F r o m h a v i n g m i s l a k e n l y d l s c e i i u i l , p e r h a p s , s o m e useful r e g e n e r a t i v e s t r e n g i h in the t each ings o f l a s i i s m and N a z i s m — as so m a n y d i d b e l b n ' l9. 'iH — B u i l e r f i e l d was ( o i n c r i c d im<lci-C : h u r c h i l l ' s g u i d a n c e d u r i n g the cr is is o f o f a i t h i l l the B i i t i s b l i b e r a l ,

t h a t is W h i g , t r a d i t i o n . I d o no t t h i n k tha t in subsequen t w r i t i n g s he c\-cr r e so lved t h e s e e m i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n a s ty le o f h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g t ha t is m o r a l l y

/ g o o d t h o u g h i n t e l l e c t u a l l y i n d e f e n s i b l e a n d " h i s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h " (as be some­t i m e s c a l l e d i t ) c a r r i e d t h r o u g h w i t h o u t care for the m o r a l i t y o f its p r o d u c t s .

[ d o n o t m e a n to face th i s issue, w h i c h m a y be r e g a r d e d as a v e r s i o n o f the p r o b l e m a b o u t h i s t o r y as c u l t u r e a n d h i s t o r y as science a n d m a v we I b e i t s e l f a k i n d o l i l l u s o r y d i c h o t o m y , b u t r a t l i e r to e x a m i n e the a s s u m j ) n ( ^ is! \vbos<'

r " j u s t i c c t h e B^u t l e r f idc l , o f _i^9i|^I was so c o n l i d e n l , t ha t " W h i g h i s t o r y ' is I i n t e l l e c t t i a l l y iiVk ' fensilile. T l i e n Ise a t . .eked " ' t he W h i g i n i c i p i c i a i i o n o f

" l l i s l o r y ' i n w h a t I c o n c e i v e to be the i i c i c p l e d m e a n i n g o f l lu' p h r a s e " as l l u i i i g b t h i s w a s o f t en used bv o i l i e r w r i l c r s , a n d in the n c x i se i i lence r e l e i r e d l o '"\', ha l is o r d i n a r i l y u n d e r s t o o d bv the w o r d s " as t h o u g h l h c \|(i\l (i>miiii)n i u n i i u \b u t 1 b e l i e v e t h a t i f the l a be l v \as not ( u n f e r r e d b \d l i i i i i s e l l . Ms u s c . i i

I H i y i - : ! 7 . ' i : i / ; i i / : ' U I I - UU l . . ' . n © p l l l i .S, i m , I I I S I . M A I ' uh l i . .Uiun^ 1.1,1

Page 2: A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

A. R U I ' K R l ' I I A I . I .

• ! K ' | ) !Cseri i l i r i u ' is c c r i a i i i l y d u e l o his i n f lue i i ee a n d e x a m p l e . H e went on to

( - x | ) l a i n :

W h a t is d i s c u s s e d is t h e t e n d e n c y i n m a n y h i s t o r i a n s to w r i t e o n the side o f

P r o t e s t a n t s a n d W h i g s , to p ra i se r e v o l u t i o n s [ ) r o v i d c d they have been

successCul, t o e m p h a s i s e c e r t a i n p r i n c i p l e s o f progress i n the |)ast a n d to

p r o d u c e a s t o r y w h i c h is the r a t i f i c a t i o n i f no t the g l o r i l i c a t i o n o f the

p re sen t . ^

I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e W h i g h i s t o r i a n l i k e C o d f avour s the b i g b a t t a l i o n s , a n d

l>ecaiise (as t h e y o u t T n i T P B u t t e r f i e l d a s s u m e d ) the idt 'as o f l i b e r a l i s m a n d

' f ) r o g r e s s ' , i n E n g l a n d a t a n y r a t e , c a r r i e d a s ecu l a r p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f force, the

C l a t h o l i c , t h e r e a c t i o n a r y a n d the f a i l u r e s i i l f e r e d : " I t is a s t o n i s h i n g to w h a t an

••xtent the E i i j j ; l i sh_h!S tor ian has been P r o t e s t a n t , p rogress ive a n d W h i g , a n d the

v e r y mocfe i o f the 19 th c e n t u r y g e n t l e m a n . " ^ A s here , B u t l e r f i e l d i n his essay

g e n e r a l l y left t he W h i g h i s t o r i a n a n o n y m o u s : o n l y t w o are m e n t i o n e d b y n a m e ,

H e n r y H a l l a m as a n e x a m p l e o f the C o n s e i v a t i v e i n the p o l i t i c a l d i a l o g u e o f his

o w n d a y w h o neve r the l e s s w r o t e as a W h i g h i s t o r i a n , a n d L o r d A c t o n whose

v i e w s o n the m o r a l p r o n o u n c e m e n t s o f h i s t o r y are re fu ted at some l e n g t h . T h e

(b rce o f B u t t c r f i e l d ' s h i s t o r i o g r a p h i c a l a r g u m e n t , h o w e v e r , ex tends far b e y o n d

t h e p a r o c h i a l l i m i t s o f h is o w n c o u n t r y a n d its h i s t o r y ; w h a t he means by the

W h i g i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ' c a n be p u t i n a m o r e u n i v e r s a l l a n g u a g e :

I t is p a r t a n d p a r c e l of t he W h i g i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f h i s t o r y t h a t i t s tud ies the

pas t w i t h r d ' e r e i u x to t he p resen t . . . . T h r o u g h th is sys t em o f i m m e d i a t e

r e fe rence t o the p r e s e n t d a y , h i s t o r i c a l personages can eas i ly a n d i r r e s i s t i b l y

be c lassed i n t o t h e m e n w h o f u r t h e r e d progress a n d the m e n w h o t r i e d to

h i n d e r i t . . . . T h e W l i i g lnstoriIu7staiTd.roi^ s u m m i t o f the 2 ( ) lh c e n t u r y

a n d o r g a n i s e s his s c h e m e o f h i s l o r y f r o m the p o i n t o f v i e w o f his o w n ^lay. ' '

I n o t h e r w o r d s , as B u t l e r f i e l d e l s ewhere p o i n t s o u t , the W h i g h i s t o r i a n k n o w s the

m o r a l o f h i s t a l e be fo re he has sat d o w n to te l l i t , a n d solus t e n d e n c y is to search

fo r l i kenes s b e t w e e n pas t a n d p resen t , i n s t ead o f b e i n g v i g i l a n t Ibr

u n l i k e i i e s s e s ; so t h a t he w i l l find i t easy to say tha t he has 'sccn t h . present in

t h e pas t , he w i l l i m a g i n e t h a t he l ias d i s c o v e r e d a ' r o o t ' o r a n ' a n t i c i p a t i o n ' o f

the 2 0 t h c e n t u r y , w h e n i n r e a l i t y he is i n a w o r l d o f d i l l e r e n t c o n n o t a t i o n s

a l t o g e t h e r . . .

i Jo o n e , p e r h a p s , c o u l d m o r e a p t l y e x e m p l i f y th i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f ' W h i g ' h i s t o r y

t i i a n t h e ' T o r y | P i e r r e D u h e m , i n his search I b r the m e d i e v a l p recu r so r s o f

G a l i l e o ; i n d e e d B u t l e r f i e l d is a t p a i n s to e m p h a s i z e t h a t T o r y h i s t o r y o r

i d e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e past is ( i n his 'sense) ecfual ly ' W h i g ' , because 'MThas l )ee i reasy

i771)elicv(- t h a t C l i o h e r s e l f is o n the s ide o f the \ V h i g s " . ^ F o r t h o u g h the j j i v u ess o f

p i c k i n g a n d c h o o s i n g heroes a n d v i l l a i n s m a y be in\ers<-, it is o f the i d e n t i c a l k i n d .

O N w i i i ( ; ( ; i s M 47

I n c i t h e r case the n i e t h o d o f p r o c e d u r e def i 'a ts the o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e o f the W h i g

h i s t o r i a n " w h i t h was to use the past for the e l u c i d a t i o n o f d i e p r e s e n t " ; such

f h i s t o r y goes c i i i ' u l a i d y f r o m a s s u m p t i o n s to c o n c l u s i o n s : " i h e u p s h o t o f a l l oui-

h i s t o r y is o n l y to send us back l i n a l l y to the p lace w h e r e we began a n d to ra t i fy

w h a t e v e r c o n c e p t i o n s we o r i g i n a l l y h a d in r e g a r d to o u r o w n l i m e s . " ' I f , I I J I -

e x a n i i ) k ' , one be l ieves t ha t m a t h e m a t i c a l t h e o r e t i c a l s t r u c t u r e s d e i i o i e the

essence o f m a t u r e sc ience , t h e n one is u n l i k e l y by h i s t o r i c a l e x p l o r a t i o n to c o m e

across a r e f r r t a t i o n o f one ' s v i e w , Ibr the h i s t o r i c a l ex i s l i ' n ce o f i r u u m i e r a b l e

I p e r sons w h o h a v e l a b o u r e d i n e a r l y t imes in n a t u r a l h i s t o r y o r g e o l o g y can be

' • ' d i s p o s e d o f s i m p l y by c l a s s i f y i n g t h e i r l ab t ju r s as i n u n a t u r e science, p r o t o -

s c i e i u ( V i j r i iv Ru the r iu rc | ^ s express i ( )n ,_ ' ' s t amp-c ( j | l ec ' t ing ' ' .

B i i t t e r l i t ' l d j i i s i ' c h a r a c f e r i z e c l W h i g hisiucv^as.an ' ^ ' a b r i c l g e n i e n j ^ i i i cor i i ras t . lo

h i s t o r i c a l ( £ c ^ ' a r c h ; w h e r e a f u l l r e v i e w o f the a v a i l a b l l T i n f o r m a i i o n is m a d e d u c c i

I f o m the sources . H e m a k e s the essence o f t r u e h i s t o r y consist i n th i s

c o m p l c t i ' i u ' s s ; the a m p l e r the s t a t e m a r i o r t h e r e c o r d 4Tie l i e t i e r the h i s t o r i a n

f u l l i l s h is t a s k . | l ' h e a b r i d g e r m u s t necessar i ly ^ e l e c p a i u l o f i en s(4cct I r o m o l l i e i '

m e i r s p r o d u c t i o n s , no t the r a w m a i / - r i a l . The m o m e n t a n y g i \ e n sub jec t has k f l

the h a n d s o f t h e s t u d e n t i n r e sea rch , H u t t e r l i e l d w r i t e s , the g rea t e r the elfeci o f ihe

i n h e r e n t t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s W l i i g g i s m : " I b r the m o r e w e are d i scuss ing , a n d n o i

m e r e l y i n c i u i r i n g , the m o r e w e are m a k i n g inferences ins t ead o f researc lies, i h c n

the m o r e W h i g o u r h i s t o r y becomes i f we have no t severely repressed o u r o r i g i n a l

e r r o r . " * I n l a t e r pages o f his b o o k , h o w e v e r , B u l t c r f i e l d c o n s i d e r a b l y ( a n d as I

t h i n k w i s e l y ) m o d i f i e d th i s s t a r k c o n d e m n a t i o n . H e n o w a d m i t s t ha t i f " h i s t o i A

c o u l d be t o l d i n a l l i ts c o m p l e x i t y a n d d e t a i l i t w o u l d p r o v i d e us w i t h s o m e t h i n g

as c h a o t i c a n d b a l l l i n g as l i fe i t s e l f " , a n d l l i a l " t h e r e never was a w o r k o f h i s t o r y

t h a t d i d n o t g r e a t l y a b r i d g e . . . . T h e a r t o f the h i s t o r i a n is p rec i s i4y ihe a r t o f

a b i ' i d g c i n e n C his p r o b l e m is th i s p r o b l e m . ' " ^ I n fact , as l U i i t c r f i c k l n o w pu t s n ,

the h i s t o r i a n w h o is a n h o n e s l a n d s t h o l a r l y a b r i d g e r conveys c ( / i r c c t l y ihe

s i g n i f i c a n c e o f d e t a i l a n d the c o m p l e x i t y o f events w h i t h he c a i m o i ana lyse

s e i ' i a l i r n , so t h a t the t r i u ' p a t t e r n o f the h i s t o r i c a l process is t o n v e y e d :

( J r e a l w o r k has been d o n e in th i s f o r m o f a b r i d g e d h i s l o r y w h e n the i na s i e r o f

s o m e h i s t o r i c a l p e r i o d has condensed i n t o a few pages his a [ )p r (4u-ns ion o f

t h e w o r k i n g o f even ts , his e x p o s i i i o n o f t h e i r i n i e r ] ) l a y ; and has m a n a g e d l u

c o m m u n i c a t e to the r eade r those w e a \ i n g s o f the h i s t o r i c a l | )roccss w h i c h

m a k e the l e x i u r e o f the p e r i o d . ' "

H e n c e it a j i p e a r s t h a t i t is the bat/ a b r i d g e r o r t e x t b o o k w r i t e r w h o is p r o n e to the

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' r e s e a r c h h i s t o r y ' o f r e s t r i c t e d s i o p e , as c o m p a r e d w i t h g e n e r a l o r n a r r a t i v e

h i s l o r y . M y d o u b t arises less , f rom p h i l o s o p h i c a l i i m c c r n a b o u t the st ; i (us of (he

h i s l o r i . c a l ' l a c t ' — a n issue t j u i t e ( j r o p e r l y no t c o n s i d e r e d m riie Wlitg nilerjxeldtiitn

— t h a n f r o m a h e s i t a n c y l o accept t ha t ' g e n e r a l ' h i s l o r y ( b y w h i i h I m e a n

b i o g r a p h i c a l , p e r i o d a n d p r o b l e m a t i c s tud ies o f some b r e a d t h ) c .ui b<-. issemble.!

iTohi t h e c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f spec ia l i s t s tudies . O f ( d u r s e a l l w r i ; e r s o f h i s lo rv

a d d r e s s i n g t h e m s e l v e s to a l a rge t h e m e m a k e use o f r e l evan t a r i i c l e s a n d

m o n o g r a p h s , b u t they u s u a l l y lean w i t h ; u least e q u a l w e i g h t u | ) n n o i i g i n . i l

sou rces ; i n d e e d , t l i e h i s t o r i a n w h o o n l y used ' spec ia l i s t s i ud i e s ' w o u l d be

c r i t i c i z e d I b r h i c k o l T i r s t - h a n d k n o w l e d g e o f h i s sub jec t . W h e n one e x a m i n e s a n v

b o o k t h a t is w i d e l y r e p u t e d to h ; ive a b r o a d h i s t o r i o g r a p h i c ; d s i g u i l i e a n c e —- sa\

/ M e x a n c i r e K o y r e ' s Kludes daltleennes o r Frances Yates ' s (jwidtiiui Ihiiim — one

u s u a l l y f i n d s t h a t ihe c o n t r i b u t i o n s to it t a k e n f r o m a n t e i e d e n i ' s p e c i . i l i s i

s t u d i e s ' a r c fa r f r o m c e n t r a l t o the b o o k ' s s i g n i f i c a n t c. ( ) n e observes u " ) t h a i m

l i i s t o r i c a l s t u t l i e s as i n the n a t u r a l sciences ( t h o u g h i t m u s i b e s a i d w i t h less s o u n d

r e a s o n ) the h i s t o r i a n |>ays l i t t l e a l t e n t i o n to a r t i c l e s a n d m o n o g r a p h s m o r e i l u i . i

t w e n t y yea r s o l d . H e assumes t h a t w h a t was o f rea l w e i g h t in the o l d e r speciahs t

l i t e r a t u r e w i l l have r e a c h e d h i m i n d i r e c l l y , a n d ( l i : i l the les l can be s a l i | \

n e g l e c t e d save, p e r h a p s , for a few j j a r t i c u l a r j ewels to w h i c h la te r l e l e r e i u e V M I I

l e a d h i m . M o s t ' s p e c i a l i s t s t u d i e s ' are s c a n n e d i n the j o u r n a l s o f t h e i r

| ) u b l i c a l i o i i a n d t h e n , e f f ec t i ve ly , l i i r g o l t e n ; they d o no t c o n t r i b u t e , as l i u l l e r i u i d

s u p p o s e d , lo s o m e m o r e s w c e | ) i n g an t l t r e m e n d o u s mo.saic o f h i s i D i y.

T h e p o i i i l l l i a l 1 a m m a k i n g is s i m p l y t h a i h i s i o r i c a l w r i l l n g is (nu i n i m - i l i a n ,

u a l u r a l sc ience a c o m p i h i l i o i i o l l ac i s a n d i n d t u l i v e genei . d r / . i l i o i i N . ( h e !

a r g u m e n t s o f l ' ( j [ )per ( a n d o t h e r s ) aga ins t such a u idca_( i f s c i e i u e aj)plv e q u a l K i n

h i s t o r i o g r a p h y . H e r b e r t B u t l e r f i e l d , h i m s e l f a n ; i d e a l i s l ) i n l a te r l i fe , k n e w i b i s i

p e r f e c t l y w e l l even t h o u g h i n the e n i h u s i a s m o f h i s a t t a c k o n W h i g g i s m . i i r i j

s p e c u l a t i v e h i s t o i d he chose to under |7 ray the Ibrce o f h i s i o r i c a l ideas.

r i i c j ' a c t i - ^ t l i a l T / i f Wliiii inlerpretalion, w i t h i ts c o n s p i c u o u s lac k o f d e i a i l :ui<l

e x e m p l i f i c a t i o n —- fiuTrrJTThHTTfli' b ( H ) k T o i u l e i n n s i n h i s i o r i c a l w r i t i n g — l i i i l s l u

giv(> a n y [posi t ive idea o f w h a t r e a l , n o n - W h i g h i s t o r y m a y be, exce | ) l t h a i i l is u ;

be f o u n d i n ' s j j e c i a l i s t s t u d i e s ' a r ; ' the ' : . :w pages by g rea t mas te rs a l r e a d y n o t e d .

W e • R a i i k e ; i i i d M o m i i i s c n g r e a l h i s t o r i a n s , o r P i r enne a n d Bloch.^ . \ c i o n

l ; i s c i n a l e d H u t t e r l i e l d in the lO.'iOs, a n d he c a r e f u l l y wen t i h r o u g h . A r i n i f s

m a t e r i a l s i n the ( l a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y , b u t i n th is b t x i k he is m e r e l y

b r o u g h t i n as a w l i i p p i n g - b o v l i u ' i h e i n l i o d u c l i o n o( p r e i o i i c c i v e d i i i i i r : i l i i v i n i o

i i i s i o r v :

Page 4: A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

A. K U I ' I ; K I ' I I A I . I .

. \ f i o i i h e l d u v e r y a t i r ac - t ivc t h e o r y e o i i e e r i i i n g the m o r a l r i m e i i o i i o l h i . s t o r y .

I l i-s perhap.s the h i g h e s f pos.sihie f o r m o f the W h i g l e f ideney to e.xalt

h i s t o r i i a l s t u d y . ' I ' o B i s h o p C l r e i g h t o i i . 'Vetoii w r o t e t ha t w h e n the h i s t o r i a n

m a k e s a c o m p r o m i s e o n the q u e s t i o n o f m o r a l [ ) r inc i [ ) l e s , h i s l o r y ceases to be

a n " a r b i t e r o f c o n t r o v e r s y , the u p h o c l e r o f t h a t m o r a ' s t a n d a r d w h i c h the

p o w e r s o l ' e a r t h a n d r e l i g i o n i t s e l l ' t e n d c o n s t a n t l y to depress" . ' - '

' . L 1 o B u t t e r f i e k l in* l 9 3 l j t h e idea o l Cho lonanswds i n i o l e r a b l c , t h o u g h his o p i n i o n s

w o u l d be v e r y d i l l e r e n t l a t e r . A r e there t h e n n o r e a l l y g rea t n o n - W h i g h i s to r i es o l '

m a j e s t i c scale a n d l i t e r a r y m e r i t ? I f s u c h there be, B u t t e r f i c i d d i d no t i n d i c a t e w h e r e t h e y m i g h t be f o u n d .

The Whig i/ilerprelalion is a n e g a t i v e essay. I t te l ls us w h a t h i s t o r y s h o u l d no t be,

n o t w h a t i l m i g h t be. I n its v e r y last sentences B u l t c r f i e l d dec la res r h e l o r i c a l l y

t h a t w e m u s t n o t suppose h i s i o r i c a l s t u d y to be c a p a b l e o f [ j r o n o u i i c i n g ve rd ic t s^

R a t h e r w e m u s t say to ou r se lves : " S h e w i l l l ie to us t i l l t l i e v e r y e n d o f the lasit^'"* ' i

c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n . " T h i s is the goddess the W h i g w o r s h i p s w h e n he c l a i m V '

to i n a k e h e r the a r b i t e r o f c o n t r o v e r s y . She cheats us w i l h o p t i c a l i l l u s i o n s ,

s l e i g h t - o f - h a n d , e q u i v o c a l p h r a s e o l o g y . I f we m u s t confuse counse l by

p e r s o n i f y i n g h i s t o r y at a l l , i t is best to t r ea t he r as a n o l d r e p r o b a t e , whose

tr ie ks a n d j u g g l e r i e s a r e i h i i t g s l o be g u a r d e d a g a i n s t . ' ^

Less e x t r a v a g a n t l y expressed , the s a m e l o w - k e y v i e w o f the [ jo s s ib i l i t i e s bc l i i r e

the h i s t o r i a n penru-a tes the h ' . o k . So l o n g as I k n e w h i m , B u t l e r f i e l d was s co ru f id

o f s u c h g r a n d i o s e , ' p h i l o s o p h i c a l ' s\vcc2S^^J\jiyuJ[wc^s__^ hi.s,jry a n d

; l o u b t f u l o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e a l l y c o n t r o l l i n g one 's sources a n d one 's t h o u g h t s in

s u c h a vas t e n t e r p r i s e as N e e d h a m ' s Science and civili.uilion in China — a v i e w no i

i n c o m p ; i t i b l e w i t h p e r s o n a l es teem for its a u t h o r , l i e w o u l d n o t , I b e l i e \ c , l u i \

r e g a r d e d K u h n ' s Struclure oj scienlijic reuohilions as a w o r k o f h i s t o r y , i n his o w n

sense, at a l l . The IVhig inlerpreiatiim makes p l a i n tha t d i s t r u s t o f p a t t e r - s in l u s l o i y

w h i c h he r e t a i n e d a n d expressed t h r o u g h o u t his l i fe . T h e exis tence o f p a i t c m s , ^ ,

w h e t h e r o f T o y n b e e ' s o r o l K u h n ' s t y p e , e n t a i l e d a loss o f i n d g ^ e n d c i u e M t i the

i c i o r s i n h i s t o r y i n t o l e r a b l e to l i i m , l u i d a p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n o f ideas tha t he f o u n d

l o c d i y a - h i s l o r i c a l . R e p e a t e d l y i n llie Whig inlerprelalion he tel ls us t ha t to w r i t e

' u s t o r y is to s t u d y t r a n s i t i o n s t h r o u g h t i m e , o r r a the r , to use a f a v o u r i t e

.••xpi e ss ion , to s t u d y the process o f m e d i a i i o n by w h i c h one g e n e r a t i o n o r j i e r i o d '\

H o w s i n t o the n e x t . T h e d r a w i n g s o f l ines o f filiation t h r o u g h t i m e , the t r a c i n g o f ;

d i s i i n g t i i s h e d ideas O r i n s t i t u t i o n s t h r o u g h a n a u t o g e n o u s his . tor ica l e v o l u t i o n , I

a n d the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s o m e h i s t o r i c a l a n t e c e d e n t as the cause o r | ) re i -ursor or / \ , " )

w h a t e v e r o f s o m e p o s t e r i o r even t w e r e a l l to h i m g r a v e f a l s i f i ca t ions o f t rue | \

l i i s t o i y . f o r , i n his o w n w o r d s , " f r o m the w o r k o f a n y h i s t o r i a n w h o h a s -

c o i u c n t r a t e d h i s researches u p o n any c h a n g e o r t r a n s i t i o n , the re emerges ;\h

o f h i s l o i y w h i c h seems to c o m b i n e w i t h a t r u t h o f p h i l o s o p h y ' . .And l i i i s l i i i l h is a

ON \ v i n c ; ( , i . s . \ . ' ) !

k i n d o f h i s t o r i c a l h o l i s m , a d e n i a l o l i i u c l l e c t u a l a l o m i s m or. c a l e g n r i z a t i u n or

s | ) c c i a l i o n :

I .N | o t h i n g less t h a n the w h o l e o f the past , w i t h its c o m p l e x i t y o f m o v e n i e n i ,

i l s e n l ; i n g l c m e n l o f issues, a n d its i n i r i c a i e i n t e r a c t i o n s , [ h a s ] p r o d u c e d ihe

w h o l e o f the c o m p l e x [ ) rcsent ; a n d th i s , w h i c h is i l s c l l an a s s u m p t i o n a n d not

) a ' c o n c l u s i o n o f h i s t o r i c a l s t u d y , is the o n l y sale piece o f c a u s a l i o n i h a i : i

h i s t o r i a n c a n p u t h is h a n d L i [ )on , the o n l y t h i n g w h i c h he can p o s i i i v e l y

; i s se r l a b o u t the r e l a t i o n s h i | ) b e t w e e n [ last a n d presen t .

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t h a t a n y h i s t o r i c a l s t u d y o f c a u s a t i o n , a n y c o n t i n u o u s e l f o r i at h i s t o r i c a l

e x p l a n a t i o n , a n y e m p k j y m c n l i n d e e d o f c o n v e m e n t labels such as "Renaissance '

o r ' d r c a t ( . ' h a i i i o f B e i n g ' o r ' .Arisurfe l i a n i s m ' , m u s t lead lo w h a t is f i l s c : i i i d

u n j u s t i f i a b l e :

W h e n the need arises to sor t a n d d i s e n t a n g l e f r o m t in- present one l a d o r

f e a t u r e t h a t is r e q u i r e d to be t r aced back i n t o h i s t o r y , the h i s t o r i a n is l;ice(l

w i t h m o r e u n r a v e l l i n g t h a n a m i n d can d o , a n d finds the nel-.vork ol

i n t e r a c t i o n s so i n t r i c a t e , t h a t i t is i m p o s s i b l e to | ) o i n l l o any one i h i i i g In d ie

s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y as i h e cause o f a n y one t h i n g in the i w e n l i e i h , I , is as m u c h

as t h e h i s t o r i a n can d o to t r ace w i t h some p r o b a b i l i t y i h c s e ( | u c i K c o f <>.cMis

f r o m o n e g e n e r a t i o n l o a n o i h e r . . . . / T h i s s ( |ua res w i l h the v i e w t h a t the l i a i i t o f the W h i g h i s t o r i a n has been , in evci \

w a y , t o o v e r b u r d e n the h i s t o r i a n to expect h i m to p r o d u c e a v ; ' . l i d i l i c i i l i i i i i ni

t he l i b e r a l , r a t i o n a l w a y o f t h i n k i n g w h i c h , in B u t t e r f i e U I ' s v i e w ( i n I 9151^ h i s u u y

c a n n o t y i e l d , a n y m o r e t h a n it c an y i e l d a v a l i d i l i c a l i o n o f a n y o i l i e r w a y o f

t h i n k i n g o r l i v i n g i n the past . I I is I o r y is sun p i v a s l i i u j n c n l o l \sT. ii o( ( l u i c d , :i m i

B i i l l e r l i c l t l f r c ( | u e n t K in s i s t ed i h . i l i he h i s t o r i a n c o u l d o n l y dest r i be a n d ( i i i . i

v e r y r e s t r i c t e d m a n n e r ) t r ace piecTse c ( i i i i ux t i (Mis a i u f r c j a i i i i n s h j l i s :

I n the last resor t the h i s t o r i i i n ' s c x | ) l a n a l i o n o f w h a i li . is h i q j p e n e d is iu)i . i

p iece o f g e n e r a l r e a s o n i n g at a l l . f i e e x p l a i n s ihe I V e n c h Re\i b \

^ d i s c o v e r i n g e x a c t l y w h a t i t was t ha t o c c i u r e d ; a i u l i l : i l a i i \t we i i c i ' d

7 ' f u r t h e r e l u c i d a t i o n a l l t ha t he can d o is to t ake us I n l o i ; re :uer d e u i l l , a n d

m a k e us see m s t i l l m o r e d e f i n i t e concre leness w h a l r ea l l v d u l u ike p l a c e . ' '

I 'Dr m v s e l f , I Wwd g rea t d I H i c u l l y in this a i u i l o g y b e i w c e n i l i e l u s i o i i c ; i l process

a n d a m i c r o s i ' O j i c w i l h a z o o m - l e n s s y s i e m , not leasi in d i e f i c i e< |ua l l \f o p i i i

; m d h i s t o i ' y t h a t incrc ; i se o f m a g n i f u a i i o n en ta i l s r e d n c l i o i i nl d ie f ie ld n l \u

.And I a m n o t c ( m l i d c n l d i a X J i i e ' r o n c r e l e facts ' seen l l m i u g h i h c n i i i l o scope

^ a s s e m b l e i h e m s e l v e s ; i - t h c o r c t i c a l l V ; i n t o ' e x p l a n a t i o n s ' , w h e i h e r one e x . i i i i u i c s

cel ls ( H ' t he l ' ' r enc l i R c x ' o l i i l i o n . Mere : i g a i n _ B u H e r l l e l ( l seems e i i i r a p p i - d b \e

spec ious i n d i i c l i v i s n i I I K I I I l i a ce a l readv n o u - d .

Page 5: A.Rupert Hall, On Whiggism

\ K L U ' I ' . K I ' I I A I . I .

S c i i i n t i l h a i ] ) r o l ) l c m as ide as less c e n t r a l to t l i e c h i e f issue o f W h i g g i s m , it i l l s t l i a t the B u l t c r f i e l d o f 19!i 1 c o u l d acce |) t n a r r a t i v e h i s t o r y as : )nly a m o r e o r s i ; . i n l e d ' a b r i d g e m e n t ' o f e p i s o d i c h i s l o r y . F o r g r ea t e r c l a r i t y I sha l l c o n t r a s t l i g g i s h linear h i s t o r y w i t h a - W h i g g i s h cross-\eMmial\ns{ory. L i n e a r h i s t o r y l udes s u c h b o o k s as L o v e j o y ' s Great chain of being as w e l l as D i j k s l e r h u i s ' s

•ihanisation of the world future { a i m ' s Anatomy of an institution, a ' swcf fasTnany ) ! ' • o b v ' i o i i s l y c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y o r g a n i z e d s t u d i e s . ' * l ' , .xamples o f c ross -sec t iona l ,().>• on i l i e l a r g e scale a r e h a r d to find (a t least o n m y shelves) unless th . ' y are v o t e d to a n i n d i v i d u a l o r cons i s t o f a loose ly c o m p a c t e d g r o u p o f papers by . ( • f i c h a n d s . O f co u r se , m a n y l i n e a r j i i s t o r i e s — i n c l u d i n g those ju s t c i t e d as a i ' i p l e s — d o c o n c e r n themse lves , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h B u t t c r f i e l d ' s | ) re-i p t i o n , w i t h " t h e s t u d y o f cn 'ective m e d i a t i o n s g e n u i n e l y l e a d i n g f r o m

m e t h i n g o l d to soiTictl i ing w h i c h the h i s t o r i a n m u s t r e g a r d as n e w " , ' ' ' o u t in ( h case t r a n s g r e s s i n g those ru les a b o u t t i m e - s p a n a n d filiation w h i c h he g a r d s as c a l e g o r i c . I n eve ry such case" the h i s t o r i a n has to some •.'xtenT~~ t i l l c i a l l y i s o l a t e d a n idea f r o m the i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d soc ia l c o n i e x t i n w h i c h it was iTHcdcTt'd, ancTby t lu i s~ j3e r somlyrng i ro in^mTTgiTTTnihenTu^e a n d i r i e n t i l i c a t i o n \ r o u g l i l i i n e has i n t r o d i i c e d ^ l i c i T h i r s h a d e o f t h a t d i s t o r t i o n w h i c h l U n i e r l i e l d

i l l c d W h i g g i s h .

11 is o f c o u r s e o b v i o u s t h a t the m o r e p a r t i c u l a r a n d r e s t r i c t e d the events w i l h l i i c h a p iece o f h i s i o r i c a l w r i t i n g is c o n c e r n e d , the^less l i k e l y i t is to be shaded i n lis w a y . I k i i i t is n o t s e l f - c v i d e n t l y t r u e t h a t an ex tens ive c ross -sec t iona l su rvey h i s t o r y is neces sa r i l y m o r e free f r o m consc ious o r u n c o n s c i o u s t enden t io t i sness

o n e o f s i m i l a r scale t h a t moves i h r o u g h t i m e . I f tlie d a t a chosen l()r m s i d c r a t i o n i n a j j i e ce o f l i n e t i r h i s t t ) ry are chosen a c c o r d i n g t o s o i r e p r e -

( i m n m e d p a t t e r n — a l l , let us .say, [ ) r e s u m p t i v e i y re la te to iHe7 ) roblem o f v i t a l riti 'rrncl c v c r y l l i i n g i r r e v e l a i i t to t h a t i i r o b l e m is e x c l u d e d by the h i s t o r i a n — it is ( p i a l l y i r n c tha t the d a t a chosen for a c ross - sec t iona l s l u d y It icussed o n this issue ( ' t w e e n ( s a y ) K i i i D a n d I ()7() h a v e l o be chosen a c c o r d i n g to some p a t t e r n . Fo r in i i h c r case the pos s ib l e r a n g e o f d a t a is i n f i n i t e ; se lec t ion m u s l be m a d e , a n d since > w o u l d be^a^ljsurd for s e l e c t i o n to be r a n d o m , i i m u s t be m a d e in a c c o r d vAi\\ e r i a i n p r i n c i p l e s , t h a t is a p a t t e r n . I 'he l i n e a r h i s t o r i a n m i g h t t h i n k i l needless to l i t e r i n t o B o y l e ' s r e l i g i o u s v i e w s w h e n d i s c u s s i n g his ideas a b o u t v i t a l h e a l . ' I h e 1 O S S - s e c t i o n a l h i s t o r i a n i n i g h l c o n s i d e r one o f r e l evance to tlu' o t h e r , no t o n l y i n he I use o f l i o v i c b u t i n t r e a t i n g the w r i t i n g s o f D i g b y , H o o k e , . M a y o w a n d o the r s , i i i i o t h e r c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l r a m i f i c a t i o n s p rese i i i themselves i n endless r o w s ; i n v l i a i w c w o u l d now c a l l n a i u r a l science a lone , v i t a l heat relates to a l l o t h e r i spec t s o l hea t a n d a l l o t h e r c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n o f l i fe , to e h e m i s l r y a n d phys ics i n i p i - n - c n d e d p e r s p e c t i v e s , to the t h e o r y o f m a t t e r a n d c o r n l a l e d v i ews o f K " . i i i i i s m i n the u n i v e r s e , to the c o m | j o s i l i o n o f the a t m o s p h e r e a n d p n e u m a t i c s , I ) . i n i i n a l p l u s i o l o g y a n d n u t r i t i o n , lo disease a n d the s l u d y o f m e d i c i n e in

.general ( s i nce a b n o r m a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f v i t a l hea l c o n s t i t u t e a p a t h o l o g i c a l

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c o n d i t i o n ) — i n s h o r t , p i c k u p a n y [p ro b l e m, suc:h as v i t a l h e a l , a n d the l i i s i o r i a i i IS i n e l u c t a b l y l e d to eve ry o t h e r c o n t e m p o r a r y p r o b l e m , not l ( ) r g e l l i n g those o' m e t h o d o l o g y a n d p h i l o s o p h y . T h u s the p a r t i c u l a r w a y i n w h i c h a cross s i -c t ion is e x p l o r e d m a y be as ' W h i g g i s h ' as a n y process o f a l i n e a r h i s t o r i a n , because it is j u s t as s u r e l y p r e - d e t e r m T i i t - d : i l i e answers are e n t a i l e d by the f juest ions to the s a m e d e g r e e i n e i t h e r case, n e i t h e r m o r e n o r less, p r o v i d e d the c;ises are c o m p a r a b l e .

H o w e v e r , i n m y v i e w i l is p r o b a b l y m i s t a k e n a n d c e r t a i n l y needles,'; to g r a d e h i s t o r i c a l p r o c e d u r e s i n th i s w a y . I t is a f a v o u r i t e a n d fu t i l e a c a d e m i c g a m b i t to say t h a t o n l y o n e k i n d o f l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m , o r o n l y one schoo l o f h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g , o r o n l y o n e m o d e l o f t h e o l o g i c a l a r g u m e n l , is v a l i d a n d p e r m i s s i b l e ' I ' h a i each s u c h a t t e m p t e d p r o s c r i p t i o n is s h o r t - l i v e d a n d y i e l d s to a n o t l i e r p ro se l e tyzed \ v i t h e q u a l c o n v i c t i o n is a m e a s u r e o f the v a r i e t y a n d i n s t a b i l i t y o f h u m a n p u r p o s e . I . o g i c a l l \ ) s i i i v i s m a n d Scrutiny, once such fearful forces, have h a d t h e i r d a y . F o r t u n a t e l y , t he re are a l w a y s a c a d e m i c s as w e l l as o the r s r e s i s t an i tO diese s h e e p - l i k e n i o v c m c n t s , a n d l i t e r a t u r e , h i s t o r y , o h i l o s o [ ) h y a n d i l i c o l o g ) a rc c t i l t i v a l e c l w i t h o u t as w e l l as w i t h i n a c a d e i n i a . P a r t i c u l a r l y , the r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g o l h i s t o r y l l o u i i s h e s a m o n g non- t eache r s , a n d i t is a r easonab ly safe bet t h a t f ew B r i t i s h h i s t o r i a n s h a v e been m o r e w i d e l y rea t i t h a n D a m e \ ' c r o i u c a W e d g w o o c i a n d L a d y L o n g f o r d . I t is m e r e l y o s t r i c h - l i k e to p r e t e n d tha t w r i t i n g w h i c h is s e r i o u s , w e l l - i n f o r m e d a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l l y respec tab le , in any subjcc t, does n o t e x i s t because it fai ls l o m a t c h a c u r r e n t a c a d e m i c prescripNii<in. .Some h i s t o r i a n s o f sc ience m a d e themse lves look a l i t t l e Iciolish by t h e i r a t t acks o n . A r t h u r K f j e s t l e r ' s The .deefntmlkerx; l i k e mos t a c a d e m i c s tudies this b o o k h a d l a i i l t s , b u t i t w a s f u l l y se r ious , l i i u n d e d o n t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e o f the d o c u m e n t s , a n d w a s j ^ e r h a p s the m o s t w i d e l y read w o r k o n the h i s t o r y o f science p u b l i s h e d in i b i s c e n t u r y . I n m y v i e w i t is po in t l e s s l o l abe l such books as The shepiralkers as ' p o p u l a r ' a n d M a x C a s p a r ' s b i o g r a p h y o f K e p l e r as ' a c a d e m i c ' , e spec ia l ly i f the e p i t h e t s a r e su |3posed to c a r r y b l a m e a n d | )raise. 'Fha t 11 U M T _ a r r d J X l i w o f h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g , a n d d i O e r e n t degrees o f i n t e l l e c l u a l ( | u a l i l y w i t h i n i h e i n , is p e r f e c t l y o b v i o u s b u t ITiTnishes no reason l l i r d e s [ ) a i r i i i g o f h i s t o r y as m o r e t h a n t r a n s c r i b e d facts . ' I ' h e ex i s tence o f ' c h o c o l a t e b o x ' a n d ' cheese i ake ' is no a r g u m e n t for the p a l t r i n e s s o f a l l a r t . .And it is su rcK ' no t t l u ' least oWhi- irahison de\ clercs t o r e a s o n t h a t because the a n s w e r to a -ues l ion is d i l l i c u l t , n ay i m a l l a i n a b l e w i l h c e r t a i n t y , t h a t C | i i e s l ion is n o t ' : i t to be asked . ' I ' he need in the h u m a n c o n s c i o u s n e s s to search l i i r ances t ry a n d c o n t i m h l y is Tfeep. I n the w o r d s o f a d i s l i n g u i s h e d n o r t h e r n n o v e l i s t :

' i ' h e W e s i R i d i n g w;is w l u i t it w; i s i n HKSI, w i t h a l l i l s rifts a n d delects a n d < ' o n l l i c t s , i ts s t r e n g t h s a n d its we:iknesses, i l s \s a n d its v i r t u e s , bc i :uise o f t h e a c t i o n s o f the m e n a n d w o n i en o f I )i I L' ( d u ' y<'ar o f d ie l . i i d d i i c i ii iis |. ; i n d