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Science in Gulliver's Travels, Part Two

While in Lagado, Gulliver investigates thethe bits of wood were moved. By using this
grand Academy of Projectors and describesFrame, the scientist claimed that "the most
many of their current investigations, whichignorant person" could "write Books in
seem pointless and useless for the benefit ofPhilosophy, Poetry, Politicks, Law,
mankind.The first project in Swift's satireMathematicks and Theology, without the least
is that of "extracting Sun-beams out ofAssistance from Genius or Study" (Swift 176).
Cucumbers" which had been worked on for eightIn this passage, Swift is satirizing people's
years at the Academy (Swift 171). Thedesire to gain knowledge through artificial
scientist working on this project stated themeans instead of reading and studying for the
purpose of it as being "to supply theattainment of knowledge.Another instance of
Governors Gardens with Sun-shine at aattaining knowledge by artificial means is
reasonable Rate" (Swift 171). Here Swiftseen in the project of teaching mathematics
describes scientific studies that areto students by writing the information on a
undertaken to improve on something that has"thin Wafer with Ink composed of a Cephalick
no necessity of being improved. In this case,Tincture" (Swift 178). The students were
it is ridiculous to try to improvise sunshinerequired to swallow these wafers "upon a
because the sun is readily available to all.fasting stomach and for three Days following
This satire may have been based on theeat nothing but Bread and Water" (Swift 178).
"recent investigations of John Hales into theThis was supposed to work by as the wafer
action of sunlight in promoting thewould be digested, the "Tincture mounted to
respiration of plants" (Turner 334).Nexthis brain" carrying the information with it
Gulliver encounters a projector who had been(Swift 178). This project was unsuccessful
working on the same study since he had comedue to the "perverseness" of the students who
to the Academy many years ago. His experimentrefused to adhere to the scientist's
was:an Operation to reduce human Excrement toinstructions regarding fasting.In the School
its original Food, by separating the severalof Languages, Gulliver finds projectors who
Parts, removing the Tincture which itare endeavoring to make the English language
receives from the Gall, making the Odourmore efficient. The methods proposed are: (1)
exhale, and scumming off the Saliva (Swiftto "shorten discourse by cutting
172).This project shows the futility ofPolysyllables into one, and leaving out Verbs
scientific experiments that will have noand Participles"; and (2) to abolish all
useful benefit for mankind, because no matterwords altogether. In this last method, people
what he does to restore the excrement to itswould communicate with physical objects which
original form no one is going to want tothey would "carry about" with them to
consume it. This project satirizes"express the particular Business they are to
scientists' tendencies to expend largediscourse on" (Swift 177).This proposal was
amounts of time, money, and energy onnot very successful with the women and the
investigations which are useless and even"Vulgar and Illiterate" who demanded to be
largely ridiculous.The physical descriptionable to "speak with their Tongues, after the
of the two aforementioned scientistsManner of their Forefathers" (Swift 177).
satirizes how scientists are neglectful ofNonetheless, many of the "Learned and Wise"
their appearance and personal hygiene. Theaccepted the use of this method of
first projector is a man of "meagre aspect"communication. Swift shows the ludicrousness
with "sooty hands and face" (Swift 171). Hisof this method by describing the
hair and beard are worn long and are "raggedinconveniences of it:I have often beheld two
and singed in several places" (Swift 171).of those Sages almost sinking under the
The second scientist is described as the:mostWeight of their Packs, like Pedlars among us;
ancient Student of the Academy. His Face andwho when they met in the Streets would lay
Beard were of a pale yellow; his Hands anddown their Loads, open their Sacks, and hold
Clothes dawbed over with Filth (SwiftConversation for an Hour together; then put
171-72).Swift attempts to show thatup their Implements, help each other to
scientists, being so immersed in theirresume their Burthens, and take their Leave
studies, neglect their outward appearance,(Swift 178).This passage demonstrates how
which makes them an object of ridicule insome projects are not only useless to
polite society.Swift also satirizesmankind, but detrimental also. Such a
scientists for undertaking projects that theyscenario as this would cause unnecessary
claim will improve upon current practicesphysical strain, which would lead to many
when there is nothing wrong with the presentserious health problems.In the School of
system. One of these projects described ispolitical projectors, Swift has Gulliver
that of an architect who asserts humansdenounce what Swift himself is in favor of;
should follow the practices of bees andnamely that monarchs choose people to fill
spiders in building houses "by beginning atposts based upon their "Wisdom, Capacity, and
the Roof and working downwards to theVirtue" (Swift 179). The projectors also
Foundation" (Swift 172). While this workspropose that "Ministers consult the publick
well for bees and spiders, it is plainlyGood" and that people should be rewarded
ridiculous for humans to do so.Other projectsbased upon "Merit, great Abilities, and
that Gulliver encounters include using hogseminent Services" (Swift 179). Gulliver takes
to plow and fertilize farmland, instead ofthe opposite side and calls these scientists
the traditional method of cattle and man made"unhappy people" who are "wholly out of their
plows. This new method of plowing does notSenses" (Swift 179). While this practice of
make the system any better, but rather "thechoosing people for employment and favors
Charge and Trouble" was found to be "verybased upon merit would be useful for mankind,
great" (Swift 172). Furthermore, this methodSwift shows (through Gulliver's deprecation
produced "little or no Crop" (Swift 172).of it) how most people would not appreciate
Nonetheless, the scientists refuse to give upthis being put into practice since most do
their project as fruitless, and continuenot achieve their posts due to their
working on the invention.Another projectormerit.Perhaps the most useless project
counsels Gulliver that using spiders' websdescribed in Gulliver's Travels is that of
for thread instead of silkworms is infinitely"discovering Plots and Conspiracies against
much better. He maintains that by feeding thethe Government" (Swift 182). The projector
spiders with flies of different colors theirclaims that by examining the excrement of a
webs would be of many different colors, whichperson minutely, one would be able to "form a
would save people from having to dye theJudgment of their Thoughts and Designs"
silk. This is another instance of trying to(Swift 182).Gulliver informs the projector of
replace a current way of doing things inhis own country's manner of discovering
which there is nothing wrong with the presentplots, which are equally ludicrous:It is
system.first agreed and settled among them, what
suspected Persons Shall be accused of a Plot:
Swift's attitudes concerning science andThen effectual Care is taken to secure All
scientists become explicit in histheir Letters and other Papers, and put the
descriptions of the experiments of theOwners in Chains. These Papers are delivered
"universal artist" (Swift 175).The Artistto a Set of Artists very dextrous [sic] in
himself was at that Time busy upon two greatFinding out the mysterious Meanings of Words,
designs:The first, to sow Land with Chaff,Syllables, and Letters. For instance, they
wherein he affirmed the true seminal Virtuecan decypher a Close-stool to signify A
to be contained, as he demonstrated byPrivy-Council; a Flock of Geese, a Senate; a
several Experiments which I was not skilfullame Dog, an Invader; The Plague, a standing
enough to comprehend. The other was, by aArmy, a Buzard...(Swift 183).In this passage,
certain Composition of Gums, Minerals, andSwift satirizes people's ability to twist
Vegetables outwardly applied, to prevent thewords and phrases into meaning whatever they
Growth of Wool upon two young Lambs; and hewish them to mean, disregarding the obvious
hoped in a reasonable Time to propagate themeaning of the words and phrases contained in
Breed of naked Sheep all over the Kingdomthe letters and other papers of suspected
(Swift 175).Sowing land with chaff is "theinsurgents.Thus in the voyage to Laputa,
traditional images for wasted labor" (TurnerSwift gives his view of science and
336). This reveals Swift's belief that mostscientists. He satirizes their
of the work of scientists is only so muchabsentmindedness, their detachment from
wasted labor. The experiments of trying tohumanity, their disregard for studying
breed naked sheep delineate Swift's beliefmankind, and their lack of social graces.
that studying animals is useless for mankind;Swift views much of scientific studies as a
how would sheep with no wool benefitwaste of time, money, and energy in that it
people?After Gulliver visits the scientistsdoes little to benefit mankind. This view of
working on utilitarian projects, he goes toSwift's is expressed through his satires of
see some of the inventions classified underscientific projects.BibliographySwift,
speculative sciences. The first invention heJonathan. Gulliver's Travels. Ed. Paul
investigates is a "Frame" that is designed toTurner. New York: Oxford University Press,
improve "speculative knowledge by practical1998.Turner, Paul. "Introduction and
and mechanical Operations" (Swift 175). ThisFootnotes." Gulliver's Travels. By Jonathan
Frame consists of all the words in theSwift. Ed. Paul Turner. New York: Oxford
English language written on pieces of paperUniversity Press, 1998. ix-xxvi, 289-371.Mary
which were then pasted onto bits of wood. ByArnold is an author on which is a site for
turning a handle, the words shifted around asWriters.



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