In this voyage, Gulliver has gone to an unknown land “LUPUTA”. In this voyage, Gulliver has ridiculed the academies of England. In the first two voyages, he is satirizing the human beings and in this voyage, he is satirizing the institutes and it is quite interesting and deeply concerning with 18th century because that was the age of science.
Royal academy of sciences has been established at that time. It was an age of James I, who said that there should be some progress and advancement in science. They requested Hobbes to establish an academy of science. Hobbes was a great philosopher. The greatest qualification of Hobbes is that he was the secretary of Sir Francis Bacon.
Here Swift is trying to give us two theories. He is talking about the use of science and research on science. The good approach towards science is scientific approach but science which is used for the sake of science is not science.
Swift belongs to the 18th century which is in the first place in as age of reason and in 2nd place; it is an age of utility. These are the utilitarian people. They believe that no useless activities are good activities. Every activity must be purposeful. Science is not hair splitting. Science is not knowledge for the sake of science. Science is purposeful knowledge, meaningful knowledge. All knowledge or extra ordinary knowledge is not good.
‘Laputa”. if we see in the map is flying in the air, therefore, it is the parody of the seat of government, kings live in Laputa. It also represents London. And the place “Balnibarbi” lying under this flying area represents the common people or the area where the king govern (England). The whole map is build on the scientific rules.
VOYAGE TO LAPUTA
As Gulliver went at that island, he saw some strange faces which he had never seen before. Their physical features were as same as that of Gulliver but their faces were quite strange looking.
Gulliver said:
“I must in their debt; having never till then seen a race of mortals so singular in their shapes, habits and countenances”.
This strange condition of them was due to their deeper interest in science and making more and more experiments which were out of any use, not for the sake of mankind but for the wastage of time. They had destroyed their personal lives in the researches of science. Gulliver said:
“Their heads were all reclined to the right, or to the left; one of their eye turned inward, and the other directly up to the Zenith.”
This was the miserable condition of the scientist of that time. They were only and only indulged in their studies and had left their own life. Here we can say that knowledge is a very good thing but it should not be at the expense of life.
Actually, there must be a balance between the intellectualism and physical life. This kind of knowledge in which man had no care about his own personality is of no use. Science is used for mankind and if man is not getting any advantage, or if he, for the sake of science, neglects himself, that kind of knowledge and science is of no use.
Another defect of these scientific men were that they lack common sense. We can take the example of the tailor. He took measurement of each and every part of his body but only due to a small mistake in calculation, the whole dress was destroyed.
They were so such busy in their scientific experiments that they even had ignored their wives and daughters. Their family members were lamenting on their ignorance towards their homes. And even making flirt in front of their eyes. But they, not caring of any thing or any of their responsibility, were only found busy in their own scientism.
The scientists found at that place were very weak. Their condition was very strange and miserable. They were all busy in purposeless research, Gulliver said:
“The first man I saw was of a meager aspect, with sooty hands and face, his hair and beard long, ragged and singed in several places. His clothes, shirt, and skin were all of the same colour.”
This way of seeking knowledge and science is of no use. The scientist about which Gulliver is talking, is found in a very bad condition. He had no care about his own life. Therefore, knowledge should not be at the expense of life. It is for the sake of life, for the betterment of humanity, but here knowledge is used for the sake of science.
The next point, pointed out by Gulliver is that the experiments they are doing, are of no uses but just wastage of time and resources.
For example:
• One of the scientist had been on a project for extracting sun beams out of cucumber since eight years.
• One scientist is busy at the work to calcine ice into gun-powder.
• One architect who had contrived a new method for building houses, by beginning at the roof, and working down words to the foundation.
• Three professors were sitting together with the consultation to shorten discourse by cutting poly syllabus into one, and leaving out verbs and participles.
Then he went to the section of magicians in the academy. They were also making wrong works and searching on how to long and long. Some who have been successful are also of no use. Gulliver said:
“As soon they have completed the term of eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law.”
In the same way, at one more place he said:
“At ninety they lose their teeth and hair, they have at that age no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get without relish or appetite.”
Therefore, this was the unfavourable condition of the institutions found at that age. Scientists were busy for the sake of scientism than that of science.
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