APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1931, Page 1

APHORISMS AND REFLECTIONS

Descartes as we have sen, illustrates what he means by an innate idea, by the analogy of hereditary diseases or hereditary mental peculiarities such as generosity. On the other hand, hereditary mental tendencies may justly he termed instincts; and still more appropriately might those special proclivities, which constitute what we call genius, come into the sa’me category. -x- -X- -X- -X The child who is impelled to draw as soon as it can hold a pencil; the Mozart who breaks out into music as early; the hoy Didder who worked out the most complicated sums without learning arithmetic; the bay Pascal who evolved Euclid out if h’s own consciousness: till these may be said to have been impelled by instinct, as much as are the beaver and the hoe. And the man of genius is distinct, in kind from the man of cleverness, by reason of the working within him of strong in mite tendencies —which cultivation may improve, but which it can no more create than horticulture can make thistles bear figs. The analogy between the musical instrument and the mind bolds good here also. Art and industry may get much music, of a sort, out of a penny whistle; but, when all is done it Ims no chance against an organ. The innate musical potentialities of the two tire infinitely different.