New-York tribune., 1881-12-25
SELFINTEREST.
y. Il. Nalloct IN The Contemporary Recier.

r. II. Naiock q The Contemporary Rerieoc.
No action IS possible unless prompted by some
form Of sel-lutelest; indeed sei-iuterest Is Dut
another name for motive. Motives. however arc
various: therefore sci-lnterst IS OF various kinds
The cCumOueT form is the sire Tor fame, power or
riches, and, except in few special cases, this de-
sire Is essential 10 the production Oh any pubic be-
LCHcgHce. u hen the benehcence Is confined 10
smaller circle. other causes come INTO play. We
have 20 deal with affection, with good nature with
family pride and with class feeling; and sell-inter-
est by each OF these Is conditioned IN certain way
Thus. III the az family pride II Is merely case
OF cNtouded CgOtlsul-Oi an egolsM v hlcD Is capa-
bic of being extended thus to certain degree, but
to certain gree only. All this the inquirer VIII
have 10 note: but for the present IL Will De enough
ii we consider public beuchcence only. Now, is
VIII be found that there are three classes OF action
which are OF good to the world at large, aud which
are apparent exceptions to the doctrine OF selt-n-
terest. refer TO artistic production to the search
for knowledge, and to the lncuicatOn ot religious
or moral goodness. And these aIe not apparent eN-
CeptlOES only; to Scmc extent tneS are real ones.
The question Il, to what eNtentf The religious mo-
tive It viii take too long 10 discuss 50 We Will let
thai pass. We VIII only I0uch upon the artEuo
and he scientific motives. Now, 40 one viii iOr q
moment deny that there Is n delight TO the artist IN
the very fact of productions ana tnat there Is ds-
light to the man OF science IN the very tact OF dis
cOvery. Indeed, when the one Is painting
great picture the other discovering new planet,
there Is nothing, probably, OF se.IntoTest present
TO the CONSCIOUSNESS OF either Ihs, however. goes
for little. Let us try an experiment. Let another
artist claim the picture, let another astronomer
c i'm the discovery OF the planet. ana the indIgna-
revelation to us. 1t will show that IN each case,
though at the time il was unsupported. there was
sciI-interest working and giving life to the other
motives The artist feels not only that great pic
ture being painted but he feels " 1t is that am
painting it : and the astronomer feels similarly,
" 10 Is that am discovering this planet thus
some form of selfIuteres Is essential 10 all great
deeds and the deeGs are great In proportion 10 its
character and vitality.
We shall find that whereas the selfnterest proper
to art science, or philosophy, Is concerned merely
with prestige, all other forms of sell-ntereS arc
concerned WIN political power, with riches and with
material eleva non and we shall ind corresponding
difference in the social results produced by these
two classes of motive. We shall find that the moro
abstract or may call 1t, the purer form. never
produces results that of direct popular benefit.
1t produces discoveries, but ii does not produce in-
yeutious: il may lead to tine understanding of eco-
nomc laws but it Will never lead to the establish
ment OF any special trade or manufacture; 1t may
produce q great architect, but II Will never produce
a builder; il may lead men TO form theories of gov
ernment, but il will never produce an active and
succesof ul statesman.