Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Problem of Nationality: Read Before the Liverpool Philomathic Society, May 1st, 1889
IT is often said that when a man is called upon to enter into converse with his fellow-men in a capacity which is not peculiarly his own, he ought to take care to avoid those topics which happen to be particularly associated with the business or profession he pursues. To talk shop, when the shop is locked up for the day, is considered to display the very worst of taste. On the other hand, as has been pointed out by a distinguished writer, the subjects on which a man must be held most qualified to speak with weight and intelligence are those which are intimately connected with, or are suggested by, the occupation to which the main portion of his life is devoted; and as the object of the intellectual intercourse of men is the exchange of ideas and the development of thought, not merely with the view of realising the pleasure of mental exercise, but also, and mainly, for the purpose of eliciting truth, it follows that when the responsibility devolves upon one of attempting to engage the attention of his fellows by the discussion of some theme that may be of interest to them, he is far more likely to succeed in his object if he select a subject from his own Sphere of knowledge or study, than if he approach some new topic which requires to be specially read up for the occasion.
It is because I deem this principle to be valid that I venture to submit to the consideration of the Philomathic Society some thoughts on a subject which comes within the scope of the speculations with which I am, as a rule, more immediately occupied. I have the less hesitation, however.
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