206 PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS AND POLITICAL THEORY
His course on physics follows pretty much the ordinary scheme of
Newtonian physics, being primarily devoted to the study of statics,
dynamics, and optics. In the later sections, he deals briefly with mag-
netism in which he was very much interested, electricity, and chemistry.
We need not be concerned here with an analysis of the course or with
its scientific merit. We may, however, note one interesting thought
expressed by Speransky, something that gives a hint as to the direction
in which his mind was already tending. One of the chief reasons for
studying physics, he says, is to find the basic elements of things. Thus,
by studying dynamics and statics we find out about the correct working
of force, for it is force that provides an unitary principle of explanation
for a great number of areas and phenomena of the world. And more
generally, "all solutions [of physical problems] make us see at least
four elements in matter, consequently matter itself is heterogeneous.
But reason goes further than experience, and usually leaves us with
doubt instead of a system. Who knows, are these elements not the
result of a further combination of elements and don't they perhaps
contain an element still simpler than themselves?" 1 Man should con-
tinue his search for a more fundamental principle than the basic
elements of matter and he may eventually be able to explain all the
diversity of the world on the basis of one single element. It is signif-
icant that already in the 1790's Speransky came to this idea on the
basis of his study and exposition of the classical Newtonian world, and
because he was dissatisfied with its adequacy. Chemistry might yield
that unifying principle he was looking for, the experiments of Priestley
and Lavoisier indicated the proper direction, but it was still too early
to be convinced; and Speransky let the matter drop. 2
After entering government service, Speransky kept busy with too
many administrative and political affairs to have much time left for
the systematic study and exposition of philosophical problems. But he
did not abandon them completely and tried to keep abreast of the
current literature in the field as much as his occupations permitted.
Later, during and after his exile, he devoted much of his time to
learning languages and concentrated his energy most particularly on
the study of religious and mystical questions. Most of his philosophical
statements have to be gleaned from passing remarks and fragmentary
notes, usually undated, jotted down as he went along in his reading
and thinking. His philosophising is determined by the needs of his
religious speculations, and he treats some questions, such as the problem1 Fizika, pp. 10-11.
2 Fizika, pp. 135-96 passim, in particular p. 168.