724 
The Ethics of Invention, 
[December, 
it would be his most sacred duty to keep it an absolute secret, 
and the obvious policy of Society towards a man possessing 
such an invention would be to take one of the only possible 
guarantees for his silence. 
But there are other inventions which, if not yet achieved, 
are eagerly aimed at, the effects of which would be scarcely, 
if at all, less dreadful. I may turn, in the first place, to 
aerial navigation. Not merely individuals, but associations, 
in different countries are busily engaged in planning, calcu- 
lating, and experimenting, with a view to sooner or later 
travelling through the air. But no one takes the trouble to 
estimate the probable results, should success crown the 
efforts of these enthusiasts. Says one of the characters in 
Rasselas — “ Were all mankind good and virtuous, I would 
with great alacrity teach them to fly.” But in our days, as 
in those of Dr. Johnson, all mankind are very far from being 
good and virtuous. Nay, without asserting that the human 
race has grown more wicked, which may or may not be the 
case, it may be safely asserted that crime is now better 
organised, more intelligent, more on the alert to take ad- 
vantage of modern improvements in the arts, mechanical, 
physical, or chemical. I will admit that the power of aerial 
navigation would be on some occasions and in some respeCts 
of exceeding value. I will take as an instance the explora- 
tion of unknown regions. Deserts, swamps, regions inac- 
cessible from cold, would be no obstacle to the traveller, 
who, gliding along, could map out at his ease the country 
beneath him. Africa would soon have to surrender her re- 
maining secrets, and the Polar regions would soon be as 
completely known as Switzerland or Norway. All this is an 
exceedingly tempting prospeCt, and I can scarcely wonder 
that those who do not take the time and the trouble to 
examine both sides of a question should become almost 
intoxicated at the very idea. And what is here the other 
side? Nothing more or less than that all the natural 
features and all the artificial appliances which from the pre- 
historical ages down to the present day have served to shelter 
individuals and nations from their enemies would be swept 
away at a stroke. Aggression would be indefinitely assisted, 
defence rendered almost impossible, and everyone who has 
anything to lose would be placed at the mercy of greed, of 
malice, or of a wanton disposition to injure ! 
This picture may seem at first sight overdrawn, but on 
close and calm examination it will be found correct to the 
smallest detail. 
Let us suppose flying-machines invented, manufactured, 
