Erewhonian position than I had done hitherto： nevertheless there
were parts of the scheme of which I could not comprehend the
fitness； although I fully admit that this inability was probably
the result of my having been trained so very differently； and to my
being then much out of sorts。
The main feature in their system is the prominence which they give
to a study which I can only translate by the word 〃hypothetics。〃
They argue thusthat to teach a boy merely the nature of the
things which exist in the world around him； and about which he will
have to be conversant during his whole life； would be giving him
but a narrow and shallow conception of the universe； which it is
urged might contain all manner of things which are not now to be
found therein。 To open his eyes to these possibilities； and so to
prepare him for all sorts of emergencies； is the object of this
system of hypothetics。 To imagine a set of utterly strange and
impossible contingencies； and require the youths to give
intelligent answers to the questions that arise therefrom； is
reckoned the fittest conceivable way of preparing them for the
actual conduct of their affairs in after life。
Thus they are taught what is called the hypothetical language for
many of their best yearsa language which was originally composed
at a time when the country was in a very different state of
civilisation to what it is at present； a state which has long since
disappeared and been superseded。 Many valuable maxims and noble
thoughts which were at one time concealed in it have become current
in their modern literature； and have been translated over and over
again into the language now spoken。 Surely then it would seem
enough that the study of the original language should be confined
to the few whose instincts led them naturally to pursue it。
But the Erewhonians think differently； the store they set by this
hypothetical language can hardly be believed； they will even give
any one a maintenance for life if he attains a considerable
proficiency in the study of it； nay； they will spend years in
learning to translate some of their own good poetry into the
hypothetical languageto do so with fluency being reckoned a
distinguishing mark of a scholar and a gentleman。 Heaven forbid
that I should be flippant； but it appeared to me to be a wanton
waste of good human energy that men should spend years and years in
the perfection of so barren an exercise； when their own
civilisation presented problems by the hundred which cried aloud
for solution and would have paid the solver handsomely； but people
know their own affairs best。 If the youths chose it for themselves
I should have wondered less； but they do not choose it； they have
it thrust upon them； and for the most part are disinclined towards
it。 I can only say that all I heard in defence of the system was
insufficient to make me think very highly of its advantages。
The arguments in favour of the deliberate development of the
unreasoning faculties were much more cogent。 But here they depart
from the principles on which they justify their study of
hypothetics； for they base the importance which they assign to
hypothetics upon the fact of their being a preparation for the
extraordinary； while their study of Unreason rests upon its
developing those faculties which are required for the daily conduct
of affairs。 Hence their professorships of Inconsistency and
Evasion； in both of which studies the youths are examined before
being allowed to proceed to their degree in hypothetics。 The more
earnest and conscientious students attain to a proficiency in these
subjects which is quite surprising； there is hardly any
inconsistency so glaring but they soon learn to defend it； or
injunction so clear that they cannot find some pretext for
disregarding it。
Life； they urge； would be intolerable if men were to be guided in
all they did by reason and reason only。 Reason betrays men into
the drawing of hard and fast lines； and to the defining by
languagelanguage being like the sun； which rears and then
scorches。 Extremes are alone logical； but they are always absurd；
the mean is illogical； but an illogical mean is better than the
sheer absurdity of an extreme。 There are no follies and no
unreasonablenesses so great as those which can apparently be
irrefragably defended by reason itself； and there is hardly an
error into which men may not easily be led if they base their
conduct upon reason only。
Reason might very possibly abolish the double currency； it might
even attack the personality of Hope and Justice。 Besides； people
have such a strong natural bias towards it that they will seek it
for themselves and act upon it quite as much as or more than is
good for them： there is no need of encouraging reason。 With
unreason the case is different。 She is the natural complement of
reason； without whose existence reason itself were non…existent。
If； then； reason would be non…existent were there no such thing as
unreason； surely it follows that the more unreason there is； the
more reason there must be also？ Hence the necessity for the
development of unreason； even in the interests of reason herself。
The Professors of Unreason deny that they undervalue reason： none
can be more convinced than they are； that if the double currency
cannot be rigorously deduced as a necessary consequence of human
reason； the double currency should cease forthwith； but they say
that it must be deduced from no narrow and exclusive view of reason
which should deprive that admirable faculty of the one…half of its
own existence。 Unreason is a part of reason； it must therefore be
allowed its full share in stating the initial conditions。
CHAPTER XXII： THE COLLEGES OF UNREASONContinued
Of genius they make no account； for they say that every one is a
genius； more or less。 No one is so physically sound that no part
of him will be even a little unsound； and no one is so diseased but
that some part of him will be healthyso no man is so mentally and
morally sound； but that he will be in part both mad and wicked； and
no man is so mad and wicked but he will be sensible and honourable
in part。 In like manner there is no genius who is not also a fool；
and no fool who is not also a genius。
When I talked about originality and genius to some gentlemen whom I
met at a supper party given by Mr。 Thims in my honour； and said
that original thought ought to be encouraged； I had to eat my words
at once。 Their view evidently was that genius was like offences
needs must that it come； but woe unto that man through whom it
comes。 A man's business； they hold； is to think as his neighbours
do； for Heaven help him if he thinks good what they count bad。 And
really it is hard to see how the Erewhonian theory differs from our
own； for the word 〃idiot〃 only means a person who forms his
opinions for himself。
The venerable Professor of Worldly Wisdom； a man verging on eighty
but still hale； spoke to me very seriously on this subject in
consequence of the few words that I had imprudently let fall in
defence of genius。 He was one of those who carried most weight in
the university； and had the reputation of having done more perhaps
than any other living man to suppress any kind of originality。
〃It is not our business；〃 he said； 〃to help students to think for
themselves。 Surely this is the very last thing which one who
wishes them well should encourage them to do。 Our duty is to
ensure that they shall think as we do； or at any rate； as we hold
it expedient to say we do。〃 In some respects； however； he was
thought to hold somewhat radical opinions； for he was President of
the Society for the Suppression of Useless Knowledge； and for the
Completer Obliteration of the Past。
As regards the tests that a youth must pass before he can get a
degree； I found that they have no class lists； and discourage
anything like competition among the students； this； indeed； they
regard as self…seeking and unneighbourly。 The examinations are
conducted by way of papers written by the candidate on set
subjects； some of which are known to him beforehand； while others
are devised with a view of testing his general capacity and savoir
faire。
My friend the Professor of Worldly Wisdom was the terror of the
greater number of students； and； so far as I could judge； he very
well might be； for he had taken his Professorship more seriously
than any of the other Professors had done。 I heard of his having
plucked one poor fellow for want of sufficient vagueness in his
saving clauses paper。 Another was sent down for having written an
article on a scientific subject without having made free enough use
of the words 〃carefully；〃 〃patiently；〃 and 〃earnestly。〃 One man
was refused a degree for being too often and too seriously in the
right； while a few days before I came a whole batch had been
plucked for insufficient distrust of printed matter。
About this there was just then rather a ferment； for it seems that
the Professor had written an article in the leading university
magazine； which was well known to be by him； and which abounded in
all sorts of plausible blunders。 He then set a paper which
afforded the examinees an opportunity of repeating these blunders
which； believing the article to be by their own examiner； they of
course did。 The Professor plucked every single one of them； but
his action was considered to have been not quite handsome。
I told them of Homer's noble line to the effect that a man should
strive ever to be foremost and in all things to outvie his peers；
but they said that no wonder the countries in which such a
detestable maxim was held in admiration were always flying at one
another's throats。
〃Why；〃 asked one Professor； 〃should a man want to be better than
his neighbours？ Let him be thankful if he is no worse。〃
I ventured feebly to say that I did not see how progress could be
made in any art or science； or indeed in anything at all； without
more or less self…seeking； and hence unamiability。
〃Of course it cannot；〃 said the Professor； 〃and therefore we object
to progress。〃
After which there was no more to be said。 Later on； however； a