Chapin on Gravitation and Heat. [From North American Review 101.2 (July 1865): 330-331.] ¹⁷

The Correlation and Conservation of Gravitation and Heat, and some of the Effects of these Forces on the Solar System. By Ethan S. Chapin. Springfield, Mass.: Lewis J. Powers and Brother. 1867. 12mo. pp. 120.

If we were to compare Mr. Chapin’s powers of mathematical and speculative insight with those of eminent modern physicists, it would be greatly to his disparagement. We think, nevertheless, that he reasons on physics much better than Aristotle, and has much clearer ideas on many scientific subjects. But if Aristotle had had the advantages, in early life, of a training in the maturest results of modern science, prior to the development in his own mind of speculative opinions grounded on his own unaided observations and reflections, — if, in other words, he had had a truly educational discipline in science, — he would doubtless have excelled our author. How it would have been had he acquired a knowledge of modern science later in life, and after his opinions were in great measure formed, it would be more difficult to decide. How far later instruction can supply the deficiencies of early education is indicated, however, in certain historical examples, to which our author refers in his Preface. Newton, at the time of his death, “had not above twenty followers out of England”; and Kepler said of his immortal work, “It may well wait a century for a reader, as God has waited six thousand years for an interpreter of his works.’’ The author adds, “Therefore, when I not only introduce new theories, but combat the errors of accepted ones, I may expect to wait long for an impartial reader.” It will be seen that our author here compares himself to these eminent philosophers. But to our mind he much more nearly resembles the majority of their contemporaries. The self-made

made man of our day is, with reference to the more abstruse matters of science, in the position of the instructed man of former times, whose maturity was contemporary with great discoveries in science, and with whom later instruction could not efface the prepossessions of an earlier education. To set out in the study of nature with the guidance of the results already reached has the supreme advantage of avoiding that greatest obstacle in the path of learning, the necessity of retracing our steps, and remodelling our fundamental ideas. If our author had had this advantage, we are sure, from the original mental power which his book discloses, that the book would not have been written, or else would have been made much more worthy of attention from students in science.