Niels Klim's journey under the ground: being a narrative of his wonderful descent to the subterranean lands; together with an account of the sensible animals and trees inhabiting the planet Nazar and the firmament.Holberg, Ludvig
Science
Niels Klim's journey under the ground: being a narrative of his wonderful descent to the subterranean lands; together with an account of the sensible animals and trees inhabiting the planet Nazar and the firmament.
Holberg, Ludvig
Utopias -- Early works to 1800; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
The sciences taught in them are history, political economy, mathematics,
and jurisprudence. Their theological creed is so short that it can be
written on two pages. It contains this doctrine simply, that God, the
creator of all things, shall be loved and honored; and that He will, in
an other life, reward us for our virtues and punish us for our vices.
Theology forms no part of an academical course, as it is forbidden by
law to discuss these matters. Neither is medicine numbered among the
studies; for, as the trees live moderately, there is no such thing as
internal disease.
The students are employed in solving complicated and difficult
questions, and he who most elegantly and clearly explains his question,
is entitled to a reward. No one studies more than one science, and thus
each gets a full knowledge of his peculiar subject.
The teachers themselves are obliged to give, each year, a proof of their
learning. The teachers of philosophy are required to solve some problem
in morals; the historians, to _elaborate_ some passage in history; the
jurists, to elucidate some intricate point of law; these last are the
only professors expected to be good orators. I told them that the study
of rhetoric was common to all students in our colleges, and that all
studies were merged in it. They disapproved of this, saying, that should
all mechanics strive to make a masterly shoe, the work of most would be
bad, and the shoemakers alone would win the prize.
Besides these academies, there are preparatory gymnasiums, where great
pains are taken to discover the bent of the young, that they may be
brought up in that science to which they are best fitted. While I was at
the seminary of Keba, the bishop had four sons there, preparing for a
military course; four others, whose father was a counsellor, were
learning mechanical arts, and two maidens were studying navigation. The
rank and sex of the scholars are entirely overlooked, in their regard to
fitness and propriety.
He who challenges another to fight, loses forever his right to use
weapons, and is condemned to live under guardianship, as one who cannot
curb his passions or temper his judgment. I observed that the names of
parties who go to law, are kept secret from the judge, he not being an
inhabitant of the place where the trial is carried on. The object of
this singular law is to prevent all partiality and bribery on the part
of the judge, by withholding from him all knowledge of the influence or
property of the litigants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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