Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 13 — Mr. Cavor Makes Some Suggestions
Wheretherearemindstheywillhavesomethingsimilar—eventhoughtheyhavebeenevolvedondifferentplanets.Ofcourseifitwasaquestionofinstincts,ifweortheyarenomorethananimals—”
“Well,arethey?They’remuchmorelikeantsontheirhindlegsthanhumanbeings,andwhoevergottoanysortofunderstandingwithants?”
“Butthesemachinesandclothing!No,Idon’tholdwithyou,Bedford.Thedifferenceiswide—”
“It’sinsurmountable.”
“Theresemblancemustbridgeit.IrememberreadingonceapaperbythelateProfessorGaltononthepossibilityofcommunicationbetweentheplanets.Unhappily,atthattimeitdidnotseemprobablethatthatwouldbeofanymaterialbenefittome,andIfearIdidnotgiveittheattentionIshouldhavedone—inviewofthisstateofaffairs.Yet....Now,letmesee!
“Hisideawastobeginwiththosebroadtruthsthatmustunderlieallconceivablementalexistencesandestablishabasisonthose.Thegreatprinciplesofgeometry,tobeginwith.HeproposedtotakesomeleadingpropositionofEuclid’s,andshowbyconstructionthatitstruthwasknowntous,todemonstrate,forexample,thattheanglesatthebaseofanisoscelestriangleareequal,andthatiftheequalsidesbeproducedtheanglesontheothersideofthebaseareequalalso,orthatthesquareonthehypotenuseofaright-angledtriangleisequaltothesumofthesquaresonthetwoothersides.Bydemonstratingourknowledgeofthesethingsweshoulddemonstrateourpossessionofareasonableintelligence....Now,supposeI...
