Il natural desiderio di sapere - Pontifical Academy of Sciences

ON THE NATURAL DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE 135the attainment of knowledge both by reason of past debts and present andfuture honors. And that it be frequented with the utmost spirit and ardor allthose reasons which it appeared could impede it shall be removed. I say firstof all doubt as to the quality and merit of the work itself, since from suchstudies there cannot but issue only those results most laudable and full ofdoctrine, and by conferral and communication with their companions theauthors will come to be assured of this, receiving no small earnest on thejudgment of all literati from the simple opinion of these. 86 Also by the convenienceof publications with no personal annoyance or expense, and equallyof the early 87 and orderly distribution of the works throughout the entireliterary republic, it being usual, such things lacking, for many tend to coolin composition, for many to be detained from it altogether. But many more 88by the doubt of not reaching publication and of the loss of their own laborsor that, the printed work falling into the hands of the ignorant, they convertit into use as waste paper, or of the impudent with little knowledge andmuch presumption who usurp them for their own or at the very least, suppressingthem, take the best out of them and change their arrangement andcondense them into a compendium and publish them as a thing of theirs. Asto which because of this it shall be further provided: as long as the compositionsshall be delivered, either in life or immediately following the death ofthe author to the Academic Official in charge, to this in its place, 89 after theothers previously presented, from time to time he shall see to their printingin the name of the Academy, 90 and they shall be notified 91 not only in suchact 92 to all his companions, but also during the life of the author and as theycome to be produced, in conferences, whence, under the faith and notice ofmany, each rich of his own, there shall be no danger that there could be committedeven the smallest usurpation of that of others. And the authors shallbe more than certain that their works well revised and corrected, even uponitself, thus making it fruitful like the ‘field after diligent labor and cultivation’; but alsoby the impulse to propagandize one’s own results, with an eye toward the glory thatderives from making oneself known not only to those present but also to posterity. Thehumanistic tradition of the heroism of knowledge is thus united, in a characteristic way,to the new ethic of the public diffusion of scientific results.86 Companions.87 Rapid.88 Many more are detained form writing.89 At its time.90 By the Academy as such.91 The compositions shall be made known.92 That is, at the moment of delivery to the Academic Official.