on which we live。 Ignorance of this cause was the sole obstacle which prevented the ancients from believing in the antipodes。 〃Can you not see；〃 said St。 Augustine after Lactantius； 〃that； if there were men under our feet； their heads would point downward； and that they would fall into the sky？〃 The bishop of Hippo； who thought the earth flat because it appeared so to the eye； supposed in consequence that； if we should connect by straight lines the zenith with the nadir in different places； these lines would be parallel with each other； and in the direction of these lines he traced every movement from above to below。 Thence he naturally concluded that the stars were rolling torches set in the vault of the sky； that； if left to themselves； they would fall to the earth in a shower of fire； that the earth was one vast plain； forming the lower portion of the world； &c。 If he had been asked by what the world itself was sustained； he would have answered that he did not know； but that to God nothing is impossible。 Such were the ideas of St。 Augustine in regard to space and movement； ideas fixed within him by a prejudice derived from an appearance； and which had become with him a general and categorical rule of judgment。 Of the reason why bodies fall his mind knew nothing； he could only say that a body falls because it falls。
With us the idea of a fall is more complex： to the general ideas of space and movement which it implies； we add that of attraction or direction towards a centre； which gives us the higher idea of cause。 But if physics has fully corrected our judgment in this respect； we still make use of the prejudice of St。 Augustine； and when we say that a thing has FALLEN； we do not mean simply and in general that there has been an effect of gravitation； but specially and in particular that it is towards the earth； and FROM ABOVE TO BELOW； that this movement has taken place。 Our mind is enlightened in vain； the imagination prevails； and our language remains forever incorrigible。 To DESCEND FROM HEAVEN is as incorrect an expression as to MOUNT TO HEAVEN； and yet this expression will live as long as men use language。
All these phrasesFROM ABOVE TO BELOW； TO DESCEND FROM HEAVEN； TO FALL FROM THE CLOUDS； &C。are henceforth harmless； because we know how to rectify them in practice； but let us deign to consider for a moment how much they have retarded the progress of science。 If； indeed； it be a matter of little importance to statistics； mechanics； hydrodynamics； and ballistics； that the true cause of the fall of bodies should be known； and that our ideas of the general movements in space should be exact； it is quite otherwise when we undertake to explain the system of the universe； the cause of tides； the shape of the earth； and its position in the heavens： to understand these things we must leave the circle of appearances。 In all ages there have been ingenious mechanicians； excellent architects； skilful artillerymen： any error； into which it was possible for them to fall in regard to the rotundity of the earth and gravitation； in no wise retarded the development of their art； the solidity of their buildings and accuracy of their aim was not affected by it。 But sooner or later they were forced to grapple with phenomena； which the supposed parallelism of all perpendiculars erected from the earth's surface rendered inexplicable： then also commenced a struggle between the prejudices； which for centuries had sufficed in daily practice； and the unprecedented opinions which the testimony of the eyes seemed to contradict。
Thus； on the one hand； the falsest judgments； whether based on isolated facts or only on appearances； always embrace some truths whose sphere； whether large or small； affords room for a certain number of inferences； beyond which we fall into absurdity。 The ideas of St。 Augustine； for example； contained the following truths： that bodies fall towards the earth； that they fall in a straight line； that either the sun or the earth moves； that either the sky or the earth turns； &c。 These general facts always have been true； our science has added nothing to them。 But； on the other hand； it being necessary to account for every thing； we are obliged to seek for principles more and more comprehensive： that is why we have had to abandon successively； first the opinion that the world was flat； then the theory which regards it as the stationary centre of the universe； &c。
If we pass now from physical nature to the moral world； we still find ourselves subject to the same deceptions of appearance； to the same influences of spontaneity and habit。 But the distinguishing feature of this second division of our knowledge is； on the one hand； the good or the evil which we derive from our opinions； and； on the other； the obstinacy with which we defend the prejudice which is tormenting and killing us。
Whatever theory we embrace in regard to the shape of the earth and the cause of its weight； the physics of the globe does not suffer； and； as for us； our social economy can derive therefrom neither profit nor damage。 But it is in us and through us that the laws of our moral nature work； now； these laws cannot be executed without our deliberate aid； and； consequently； unless we know them。 If； then； our science of moral laws is false； it is evident that； while desiring our own good； we are accomplishing our own evil； if it is only incomplete； it may suffice for a time for our social progress； but in the long run it will lead us into a wrong road； and will finally precipitate us into an abyss of calamities。
Then it is that we need to exercise our highest judgments； and； be it said to our glory； they are never found wanting： but then also commences a furious struggle between old prejudices and new ideas。 Days of conflagration and anguish！ We are told of the time when； with the same beliefs； with the same institutions； all the world seemed happy： why complain of these beliefs； why banish these institutions？ We are slow to admit that that happy age served the precise purpose of developing the principle of evil which lay dormant in society； we accuse men and gods； the powers of earth and the forces of Nature。 Instead of seeking the cause of the evil in his mind and heart； man blames his masters； his rivals； his neighbors； and himself； nations arm themselves； and slay and exterminate each other； until equilibrium is restored by the vast depopulation； and peace again arises from the ashes of the combatants。 So loath is humanity to touch the customs of its ancestors； and to change the laws framed by the founders of communities； and confirmed by the faithful observance of the ages。
_Nihil motum ex antiquo probabile est_： Distrust all innovations； wrote Titus Livius。 Undoubtedly it would be better were man not compelled to change： but what！ because he is born ignorant； because he exists only on condition of gradual self… instruction； must he abjure the light； abdicate his reason； and abandon himself to fortune？ Perfect health is better than convalescence： should the sick man； therefore； refuse to be cured？ Reform； reform！ cried； ages since； John the Baptist and Jesus Christ。 Reform； reform！ cried our fathers； fifty years ago； and for a long time to come we shall shout； Reform； reform！
Seeing the misery of my age； I said to myself： Among the principles that support society； there is one which it does not understand； which its ignorance has vitiated； and which causes all the evil that exists。 This principle is the most ancient of all； for it is a characteristic of revolutions to tear down the most modern principles； and to respect those of long…standing。 Now the evil by which we suffer is anterior to all revolutions。 This principle； impaired by our ignorance； is honored and cherished； for if it were not cherished it would harm nobody； it would be without influence。
But this principle； right in its purpose； but misunderstood： this principle； as old as humanity； what is it？ Can it be religion？
All men believe in God： this dogma belongs at once to their conscience and their mind。 To humanity God is a fact as primitive； an idea as inevitable； a principle as necessary as are the categorical ideas of cause； substance； time； and space to our understanding。 God is proven to us by the conscience prior to any inference of the mind； just as the sun is proven to us by the testimony of the senses prior to all the arguments of physics。 We discover phenomena and laws by observation and experience； only this deeper sense reveals to us existence。 Humanity believes that God is； but； in believing in God； what does it believe？ In a word； what is God？
The nature of this notion of Divinity；this primitive； universal notion； born in the race；the human mind has not yet fathomed。 At each step that we take in our investigation of Nature and of causes； the idea of God is extended and exalted； the farther science advances； the more God seems to grow and broaden。 Anthropomorphism and idolatry constituted of necessity the faith of the mind in its youth； the theology of infancy and poesy。 A harmless error； if they had not endeavored to make it a rule of conduct； and if they had been wise enough to respect the liberty of thought。