Chapter 8

CRITICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND SCHOLARS

Different opinions on the importance and dignity of external criticism--It is justified by its necessity--But is only preliminary to the higher part of historical work 112

Distinction between "historians" and "critical scholars" [Fr. "_érudite_"]--Expediency, within limits, of the division of labour in this respect--The exceptional skill acquired by specialists--Difference of work the corollary of difference of natural aptitudes 115

The natural aptitudes required for external criticism--Fondness for the work, which is distasteful to the creative genius--The puzzle-solving instinct--Accuracy and its opposite--"Froude's Disease"--Patience, order, perseverance 121

The mental defects produced by devotion to external criticism--Its paralysing effect on the over-scrupulous--Hypercriticism--Dilettantism 128

The "organisation of scientific labour" 135

The harshness of judgment attributed to scholars, not always rightly--Much of it a proper jealousy for historic truth--Bad work nowadays soon detected 136

SECTION II.--INTERNAL CRITICISM