New-York tribune., 1903-02-03
ANALyZTNG HUNAN GREA TNESS.

4 comparatively novel and highly suggestive
line of investigation is outlined by Professor D.
McKeen Cattell in "The Popular Science
Monthly for February. AS an essential prelim-
mary to a study which he had in view. he pre-
pared list of one thousand persons who might
be regarded the most eminent the world has
produced. This catalogue is itself an object of
much interest though not altogether sat1sfac-
tory If regarded as complete and final One
may be puzzled. for instance at the omission Of
the names of Moses. Hypatia and Bismarck
from 1t. However. when the writer's methoo
and intention are indicated this and other OBJ
jections disappear The basis of the c0mpila-
ton is the amount of space given in current
biographical dictionaries to public men and
women. Moreover Professor Cattell recog-
nizes. without having his attention called to 1T.
the distinction to be made between those who
are truly great and those who, like certain
rulers, are eminent without possessing eXcep-
tfonal gifts. Finally. he indicates some EN-
barrassments besetting his task which few
would foresee- One might not have much
trouble in deciding which of two men in the
same class, such as Homer and Virgil, should
take precedence of the other. but would be
bothered to name in the proper order three such
men as Columbus. Raphael and Descartes,
whose fields of activity We're widely different.
On the whole, the list itself admirably serves
the purposes of Professor Cattell, and that is
all that is necessary.
Material of this kind, treated statistically,
makes many interesting revelations 1t shows
how unevenly great men have been produced
in point of time. and hence how ftful has been
the worlds progress. Another classification In
dicates the share which different nations. an
cient and modern, have contributed to civiliza-
oh ic he
be given to the two sexes by the fact that only
thirty-two of Professor Cattells names
those of women He groups statesmen and SOL
ders as of action; poets, artists and mu-
sicians as men of feeling, and philosophers and
students of natural science as men OF thought.
It then appears that the first class has always
been more numerous than either of the other
two. but that the second and third together
have outnumbered it. There have been more
statesmen than generals at all times, the
whole, and it is gratifying to know that rela-
lively the soldier is now the decline.
One Of the incidental results. or by-products,
of the inquiry here described is a conclusion
that action, feeling and thought nearly
inseparable that man who is distinguished by
his qualifications for one form of activity is
not likely TO be deficient in the others Such a
notion is contrary to popular theories, and it IS
more thoroughly. 1t is idle to speculate. per-
haps, on Shakespeares fitness to command an
army, Napoleons to compose a symphony. and
Newton's to write Paradise Lost" On the
other hand. it is an important practical ques-
ton, in guiding boy to select his occupation in
life. whether a special lookout should be kept
for evidences of Il natural bent or whether it
should be taken for granted that he will sue
ceed equally well in anything he takes up.
Professor Cattell himself sees in a research
like that which he has undertaken Il number
of possibilities compared with which the vari-
Gus discoveries just recounted are of subordi-
genius from talent more sharply, he thinks,
and to show whether a relation exists between
greatness and insanity. and greatness and pure
" physical traits like height and longevity.
Francis Cation and Karl Pearson have already
done a little in that direction, but the matter
deserves following up. The author of The
Popular Science Monthly article--who. 1t is
hardly necessary to explain, is professor of
psychology in Columbia University-hOpes that
by these and kindred deductions from the sta
tisticaI study of greatness it will he practicable
to identify it in its incipiency. and encourage
it soon enough to affect civilization sensibly.
Professor Cattell, with commendable good
sense doubts the feasibility of improving the
human race by horticultural methods by
which he doubtless means scientific breeding"
but his other plan for profiting by the study Of
greatness certainly promises great things.
----------------