(IMG) Wild bird of planet earth
Citizen of the World by Oliver Goldsmith
Book review from 2009.
A collection of letters from a fictional Chinese philosopher who
visits England in the mid-1700's. The style is similar to Goldsmith
Friend Abroad and also other writings by Mark Twain. I read an
edition that included more modern typography, explanatory footnotes
and woodcut illustrations. I was surprised how philosophical some o
the letters were, and in some cases almost satirical.
The preface starts by introducing a poetical scale, which maxes out
20 and reminds me a little of ADND.
In letter XV the Chinese philosopher advocates vegetarianism to avo
cruelty to animals.
In letter XVII the Chinese philosopher discusses the English and
French dispute over the northwest American territories. He says tha
it is bad for territories to become too populated, because then the
become too powerful and independent. "Yet, obvious as these truths
are, there are many Englishmen who are for transplanting new coloni
into this late acquisition, for peopling the deserts of America wit
the refuse of their countrymen, and (as they express it) with the
waste of an exuberant nation. But who are those unhappy creatures w
are to be thus drained away? Not the sickly, for they are unwelcome
guests abroad as well as at home; nor the idle, for they would star
as well behind the Appalachian mountains as in the streets of Londo
This refuse is composed of the laborious and enterprising-of such m
as can be serviceable to their country at home-of men who ought to
regarded as the sinews of the people, and cherished with every degr
of political indulgence. And what are the commodities which this
colony, when established, are to produce in return? Why, raw silk,
hemp, and tobacco. England, therefore, must make an exchange of her
best and bravest subjects for raw silk, hemp, and tobacco; her hard
veterans and honest tradesmen must be trucked for a box of snuff or
silk petticoat. Strange absurdity! Surely the politics of the Daure
are not more strange, who sell their religion, their wives, and the
liberty for a glass bead, or a paltry pen-knife."
Letter XXV uses simple language to describe the natural rise and
decline of nations.
Letter LXXXII argued that "In order to make the sciences useful in
country it must first become populous ... The sciences are not the
cause of luxury, but its consequence." This is a subtle argument.
Luxury may produce laws and science, but science may produce an
infrastructure that is not a luxury. A luxury in the context of the
18th century may have become a matter of life or death in the conte
of 21st century population density.
Letter CXXI asserted that reason contributes to confusion and
injustice. "The man who examines a complicated subject on every sid
and calls in reason to his assistance, will frequently change; will
find himself distracted by opposing probabilities and contending
proofs; every alteration of place will diversify the prospect, will
give some latent argument new force, and contribute to maintain an
anarchy in the mind." The letter argues that a totalitarian governm
of ignorant subjects, though less reasonable, is safer because it i
more stable and predictable. "It is extremely difficult to induce a
number of free beings to cooperate for their mutual benefit; every
possible advantage will necessarily be sought, and every attempt to
procure it must be attended with a new fermentation; various reason
will lead different ways, and equity and advantage will often be
out-balanced by a combination of clamour and prejudice."
title: The Citizen Of The World
author: Goldsmith, Oliver, 1730-1774
LOC: PR3485 .C5
(HTM) source: Archive.org
(DIR) BenCollver - Phlog
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