Testing Book-smarts with Observation: John Ray (1735) on the Value of Knowledge Creation

Should professors at universities actively participate in generating and testing ideas, or should they content themselves with being teachers of established knowledge? Many higher educational institutions, including the one employing me, grapple with the ongoing challenge of balancing the encouragement of knowledge creation and the dissemination of existing knowledge.

To phrase it differently, am I primarily tasked with generating knowledge, or am I paid solely to facilitate the communication of established knowledge, assuming its correctness, to the next generation? The way my university administration answers this question can significantly influence my job responsibilities, including teaching load, and shape the profile of future hires. In simpler terms, if professors are considered mere conveyors of book-smart knowledge, then there may be no need to hire tenure-track research faculty when adjunct faculty and lecturers with reduced salaries and increased student contact hours would suffice.

A university might opt for the approach of focusing solely on transmitting past knowledge to future generations, but at what cost? Without delving further into this, I’ll assert that I believe there are numerous downsides to this static perspective on information and knowledge. I’d like to highlight that some of these reasons are outlined in an article by Dr. Robert Berdahl titled “Research Universities: Their Value to Society Extends Well Beyond Research.”

These foundational questions about the purpose and value of educational institutions are not new. Regarding how and by whom new knowledge is generated, I was struck by a quote from John Ray’s “The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation.” In the 1735 edition on page 152, Ray laments the fact that so few professors of his day had practical experience or had generated their own data to confirm and test ideas. Instead, they seemed content with knowledge from the past acquired through books. Ray emphasizes the costs of becoming complacent with current knowledge, echoing concerns that persist today.

Let us not suffice us to be book-learn’d to read what others have written, and to take upon trust more falsehood than truth, but let us ourselves examine things as we have opportunity, and converse with nature as well as books. Let us endeavour to promote and increase this knowledge, and make new discoveries, not so much distrusting our own parts, or despairing of our own abilities, as to think that our industry can add nothing to the invention of our ancestors, or correct any of their mistakes.  Let us not think that the bounds of science are fixed, like hercule’s pillars, and inscrib’d with a ne plus ultra; let us not think we have done when we have learn’d what they have deliver’d to us; the treasures of nature are inexhaustible, here is employment enough for the vastest parts, the most indefatigable industries, the happiest opportunities, the most  prolix and undisturb’d vacancies.…….

Much might be done would we but endeavor, and nothing is unsuperable to pains and patience.  I know that a new study at first seems very vast, intricate, and difficult, but after a little resolution and progress, after a man becomes a little acquainted, as I may so say, with it, his understanding is wonderfully clear’d up and enlarg’d, the difficulties vanish, and the thing grows easy and familiar.  And for our encouragement in this study, observe what the Psalmist saith, Psal cxi 2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.  Which tho’ it be principally spoken of the world of providence, yet may as well be verify’d of the works of creation. I am sorry to see too little account made of real experimental philosophy in this university, and that those ingenious sciences of the mathematicks tbor ih’d at are so much neglected by us; and therefore do earnestly exhort those that are young especially gentlemen, to set upon these studies, they may possibly invent something of eminent use and advantage to the world; and one such discovery would abundantly compensate the experience and travel of one man’s whole life.  However, it is enough to maintain and continue what is already invented; neither do I feel what more ingenious and manly employment they can pursue, tending more to the satisfaction of their own minds, and the illustration of the glory of God, for he is wonderful in all his works.

A note about some terms; “Experimental philosophy” is used here in opposition to what we might call “armchair philosophy” but Ray obviously does not have in mind the modern field of experimental philosophy but rather a more general idea that ideas should be tested by experiment/evidence – ie. the scientific method.    “Indefatigable” means unable to tire out or not able to become fatigued.