Chapter 73 farewell to nemi

This is the end of our investigation and research.But, as is often the case in the search for truth, we answer one question and ask more; These paths are not far from our own, and lead, or seem to lead, to other goals more distant than Nemi.We have also walked along some of these roads for a while, and if there is an opportunity in the future, the author and readers will explore the rest of the roads together.We've traveled far enough together so far, it's time to part ways.Before we leave, we should also ask ourselves: Is there a more comprehensive conclusion that could draw some hopeful and motivating benefits from the fallacies and sad experiences of human folly that this book purports to examine?If we take into account that, on the one hand, the main needs of people are basically the same no matter when and where, but on the other hand, the ways in which people meet the needs of life are very different in different ages, we may be able to draw such a conclusion : As far as we can see, the higher thought movements of human beings are generally developed from witchcraft to religion, and then to the stages of science.In the stage of magical thinking, man relies on his own strength to cope with difficulties and dangers. He believes in a certain established order in nature, and feels that he can rely on it, use it, and serve his own purposes.When he realizes that he has been mistaken, and sadly realizes that his idea of ​​the natural order and his confident ability to steer it are pure illusions, he no longer relies on his own ingenuity and helpless efforts, but humbly commits himself to in the mercy of some great and invisible god behind the scenes of nature, and ascribed to the gods the vast powers which they had previously presumptuously possessed.Therefore, in the minds of people with sharp minds, witchcraft ideas are gradually replaced by religious ideas, which explain the change of natural phenomena as determined by the will, emotion or desire of gods who are like humans in nature but infinitely more powerful than humans. of.

Over time, this explanation is unsatisfactory, because it assumes that the activities of nature, its evolution and change, are not determined by eternal and unchanging objective laws, but are somewhat capricious.This is conjecture without careful examination.On the contrary, the more carefully we observe the changing phenomena in nature, the more we feel their strict laws and absolute accuracy. No matter where we observe them, they are still proceeding accurately.Every great advance in our knowledge has once again expanded the scope of order in the universe, and correspondingly limited the scope of some apparent chaos in the universe.To this day we can foresee that the increased knowledge of man will bring harmony to every aspect of what appears to be real chaos, though in certain spheres fate and disorder seem to continue to reign.Astute minds continue to probe the mysteries of the universe for further answers, arguing that theories of natural religion are inappropriate, and sort of reverting back to the old point of view of witchcraft; Assuming that) natural phenomena have their own invariable laws, if you observe carefully, you can predict their progress with confidence and decide what actions you should take.In short, religion as an explanation of natural phenomena has been replaced by science.

What science and magic have in common is only the belief that everything has its own laws.The reader is of course aware that the laws of things assumed by magic are very different from those on which science is based.This difference arises naturally from the variety of patterns to which the two different laws reach.The laws believed by witchcraft are purely derived from the laws of things presented in the human mind through incorrect analogies and extensions; the laws proposed by science are obtained after patient and accurate observation of the natural phenomena themselves.The richness, detail, and splendor of science's achievements make us gladly convinced of the soundness of its methods.After countless centuries of groping in the dark, we finally found the clue to the maze of the universe and the golden key to open the treasure house of natural knowledge.The hopes for the future progress of mankind—spiritual, intellectual, and material progress—are closely related to the rise and fall of science, and every obstacle erected in the path of scientific discovery is a crime against mankind.I think that might not be an exaggeration to say.

However, the history of thought warns us not to draw such a conclusion: because the scientific theory is the best, it has yet to be formulated systematically, so it must be the perfect and ultimate scientific theory.It should be remembered that the generalizations of science, or, in general, the laws of nature, are only hypotheses to account for the ever-changing conditions of our thoughts, exaggerated by such loud terms as world and universe.After all, witchcraft, religion, and science are nothing but discourses of thought.Science has replaced witchcraft and religion before it, and it may be replaced by more complete hypotheses in the future, which may not be imagined by our generation. It is related to recording images on the screen of the universe and viewing all phenomena in nature. replaced in a completely different way.Knowledge is always moving towards a definite goal forever and ever.Therefore, we need not complain about this endless pursuit:

No matter how much knowledge and power is prepared for mankind in the future, mankind cannot stop the sweep of those great forces.It seemed that great forces were forming, silently but tenaciously, to destroy our splendid universe in which the earth floats like a speck or dust.In the centuries to come man may be able to foretell and even detect the changing winds and clouds, but his frail hands will still be powerless to hasten the slowing speed of the celestial bodies in their orbits, nor to reignite the dying flames of the sun.Anxieties about the earth and the sun are but figments of the human mind out of nothing, and the illusions of today's false witches will be cast aside tomorrow by herself.They seem to be real in the eyes of ordinary people, but they will surely turn into a puff of smoke and disappear in a blink of an eye.To the philosopher who trembles at the thought of the catastrophe of the distant future, this thought can be comforting.

Before delving into the future, we may liken the development of human thought so far to three different threads: the black thread—magic; the red thread—religion; the white thread—science—a web woven together.In scientific research we can include those simple truths that man has learned and accumulated through the observation of nature through the centuries.If we could examine this web of the development of human thought from the beginning, we would see that it was first and foremost a checkered pattern of black and white, a patchwork of ideas of right and wrong, not yet tinged with the red thread of religion. color.Looking forward along the patchwork, you will find that although it is still a black and white grid pattern, in the center of the fabric, religion has entered deeply, and there is a bright red pigment.But it has gradually faded as more and more white threads of science have been woven in.Weaving and coloring in this way, as the fabric is further unfolded, the color of the picture changes gradually.This is just like the situation of modern thought with its various interests and contradictory tendencies.Will the great movement that has been slowly changing the color of thought for centuries continue in the near future?Will there be setbacks, impeding progress, or even undoing what has already been achieved?On the very active loom of time, what colors will Fate weave in this fabric, according to the analogy we have just made?Is it white or red? —We can't tell yet.A thin twilight already illuminates the background of this fabric of thought, the other end of which is still locked in a thick cloud.

Our long voyage of exploration has come to an end, and our small boat is at last in port, furling its dust-laden sails.We set out again for Nemi.It was dusk, and we walked along the Via Appiu [this is the military road built by the ancient Roman soap emperor Appiu, from Rome to Brandision (now Brindisi) via Gapulia. 350 miles long. ] Climb up the long slope to the peak of Mount Alba. Looking back at the sunset in the west, the afterglow of the setting sun is like a halo on the head of a dying saint, reflecting over Rome, adding a layer of dazzling golden light to the spire of St. Peter's Basilica.Such a view is unforgettable at first sight.In order to hurry, we Yiyi left the peak and went straight to Nemi along the side path of the peak in the twilight.After arriving at the destination, looking down at the bottom of the valley, the Mirror Lake can be seen faintly, and the scenery is still faint, just like the appearance of Diana when she received worship from worshipers in this sacred forest.Verily, the temple of the Forest Goddess is gone, and the King of the Forest no longer stands guard by the Golden Bough.But the jungle in Nemi is still lush and green, and the sunset in the west has disappeared over it at this time, the breeze is blowing, and the evening prayer bells of the Alicia church in the town can be heard in the distance, Ave Maria! (Hail, Maria!) Sweet and solemn, the lingering lingering, fades away across the vast plains and marshes of the outskirts of Rome.

Le roi est mort, viveleroi! Ave Maria! [French: "The king is dead, long live the king! Hail Mary!" Or translated: "The old king is dead, long live the new king! Hail Mary!"]