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THE

I DEAL THEORY OP BERKELEY,

REAL WOELD.

FREE THOUGHTS ON BEEKELEY, I DEALI SM, AND

METAPHYSI CS.

BY

THOMAS HUGHES.

PREFACE.

About one- f our t h of t hi s vol ume was publ i shed

some mont hs si nce, i n a smal l spi r i t ed I r i sh

per i odi cal . I t i s now gi ven t o t he publ i c not onl y -

enl ar ged i n mat t er , but al so al t er ed i n f or m. I

am not so cont r act ed i n vi ew, and vai n i n expect a-

t i on, as t o t hi nk t hat i t wi l l set t l e t he vexed

quest i on bet ween t he r eal i st and t he i deal i st . I f

i t wi l l i n any way advance knowl edge, and cast a

r ay of l i ght on any dar k spot on t he canvass of

human vi si on, i t wi l l sat i sf y mj expect at i on and

wi sh.

The book i s not i nt ended f or t he advanced and

t he er udi t e; but f or t hose who aspi r e af t er

advancement and knowl edge, and r ecei ve wi t h

gr at i t ude any l i ght and assi st ance, f r om what ever

quar t er t hey may come. The i nt ent i s, t o gi ve

wi t hi n a nar r ow compass, some acquai nt ance wi t h

Ber kel ey' s t heor y, t o t hose who have not st udi ed

hi s wor ks f or t hemsel ves : i t ai ms al so t o hel p and

encour age t he st udent of met aphysi cal sci ence, i n

hi s l onel y and per sever i ng ef f or t s.

Ther e i s one ambi t i onal t hought r unni ng

Page 2 of 108

I V PREFACE.

t hr ough t he vol ume, — t he uni ver sal uni t y of

al l t r ut h and knowl edge. Though t he book i s on

met aphysi cs, met aphysi cal phr ases and f or mul ar i es

ar e avoi ded ; i t i s i nt ended f or t he unsophi st i cat ed

and unmet aphysi cal r eader , as wel l as t o assi st

t hose humbl e st udent s who wi sh t o t r avel f or war d

i n t he pat h of t r ut h and sci ence. The not es ar e

added t o gi ve mor e var i et y and i nt er est t o t he

or di nar y r eader .

As peopl e val ue t hi ngs by t hei r char act er and

i nher ent qual i t i es, and not by t hei r appear ance

and what may be sai d of t hem, so books, by t he

di scr eet and i nt el l i gent , wi l l be t hus est i mat ed,

and not by what may be sai d of t hem i n t hei r

pr ef aces; and a di f f er ent ver di ct I cannot r eason-

abl y wi sh f or t hi s vol ume. A book becomes a

member of a l ar ge f ami l y, t he moment i t i s gi ven t o

t he publ i c, and an obj ect of bl ame or pr ai se, as i t s

char act er i s, or as t he vi ews and t ast e of i t s cr i t i cs

may be ; and, i n some degr ee or ot her , wi t hout a

doubt , t hi s unpr et endi ng vol ume wi l l shar e t he

same common l ot . And, i n common wi t h al l

nat ur al f eel i ng, I cannot but wi sh wel l t o my

own : yet , i f i t happens t o have pr ai se, i t wi l l not

el at e ; but , i f ot her wi se, i t wi l l not di st r ess.

T. H.

Febr uar y St h, 1865.

CONTENTS.

i ar f | .

PAGE.

LI FE 1

f ar t Sg,

BERKELEY' S PHI LOSOPHY . . . 33

i ^ r t | J| .

METAPHYSI CS.

CHAPTER I .

Mi st aken Vi ews concer ni ng Met a-

physi cs 92

CHAPTER I I .

The Advant ages op Met aphysi cal St udy 116

Page 3 of 108

CHAPTER I I I .

The Necessi t y of Met aphysi cs 130

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I V.

PAGE.

Met aphysi cs and t ue Bi bl e 140

CHAPTER Y.

The Rel at i on of Met aphysi cs t o ot her

For ms of Knowl edge 147

CHAPTER YI .

Met aphysi cal Danger s 167

CHAPTER VI I .

The Encour agement s and Di scour age-

ment s whi ch meet t he St udent of

Met aphysi cs 178

PAET I .

LI FE.

SECTI ON I .

The hand of Supr eme Pr ovi dence i s i mpar t i al

i n t he di st r i but i on of i t s r i ch and sui t abl e bene-

f i t s. The chi ef bl essi ngs of t hat l i ber al and wel -

come hand ar e gi ven unt o al l peopl e and count r i es

al i ke. Al l count r i es have t hei r beaut i f ul spot s

and spl endi d scener i es, el evat ed hi l l s and magni f i -

cent mount ai ns, r i ch f i el ds and char mi ng val l eys,

t r anspar ent r i l l s and gi gant i c r i ver s. They have

t hei r Fauna and Fl or a, t hei r br i ght summer s and

f r ui t f ul har vest s ; t hey have t hei r sun, moon,

st ar s, and comet s. Ther e ar e, hovr ever , spot s

wher e i t s bl essi ngs appear t o have been l avi shed

mor e copi ousl y t han t hey ar e i n ot her par t s ; yet ,

when al l t hi ngs ar e consi der ed and compar ed,

t her e ar e f ound pal pabl e evi dences of sui t abi l i t y^

i mpar t i al i t y, and equal i t y i n t he whol e. What

appear s t o be def i ci ent i n one pl ace t o compet e

wi t h anot her i n beaut y, val ue, and gr andeur , i s

made up of ot her el ement s equal l y i mpor t ant , and

B

2 PART I .

much mor e sui t abl e and needf ul t o answer t he

wi se end of bot h pl ace and ci r cumst ances.

The physi cal ar r angement of t hi ngs, pr esent s a

Page 4 of 108

pr esumpt i ve pr oof of t l i e i mpar t i al i nt ent i on and

bl essi ngs of God i n t he mor al and spi r i t ual . The

nat ur al i s bot h an embl em and a pr oof of t he

Di vi ne pur pose i n t he spi r i t ual . As t he bl essi ngs

of t he nat ur al wor l d ar e di st r i but ed wi t h an ap-

pr oxi mat e equal i t y and unf ai l i ng sui t abi l i t y over

al l t he f ace of t he mat er i al , so i s t he i nt eut i on of

God r el at i ve t o t he mor al and t he spi r i t ual . Ther e

i s t hi s di f f er ence. The mor al vi ews man on a hi gher

gr ound t han t he nat ur al does; he i s vi ewed on

t hi s hi gher gr ound of hi s r el at i on as a r at i onal

and account abl e bei ng, capabl e of r ef usi ng, r e-

cei vi ng, usi ng, or mi s- usi ng, t he bl essi ngs gi ven.

Mor al bl essi ngs ar e equal l y cont i ngent and con-

di t i onal i n t hei r char act er t o t he nat ur al . Ac -

cor di ng t o t he exact degr ee t hese cont i ngenci es

and condi t i ons ar e obser ved or negl ect ed, mor al

bl essi ngs i ncr ease or di mi ni sh i n t hei r val ue and

usef ul ness t o us. I n t he spr ead and di st r i but i on

of mor al bl essi ngs t her e ar e t wo par t i es t o be con-

sul t ed ; t he agent , as t he par ent , t he mi ni st er , or

t he t ut or , and t he chi l d, t he di sci pl e, and t he

schol ar . I f one of t hei se mi scar r y i n t he di schar ge

of hi s dut i es, t he condi t i ons ar c vi ol at ed, and t he

r esul t s wi l l most assur edl y f ol l ow.

LI FE.

SECTI ON I I .

Hi st or y i nf or ms us t hat hi t her t o most nat i ons

and peopl es have had t hei r epochs and cycl es i n

i nt el l ect ual and mor al excel l enci es. Nat i ons, no

mor e t han t he physi cal wor l d, have not f l our i shed al l

at once. When t he l i ght and gl or y of one count r y

gr ew di m, t he ot her count r y r ose f r om obscur i t y

t o a hi gher and a nobl er el evat i on ; as i f by some

myst er i ous power , t he gl or i es of oue wer e t r ans-

mi t t ed t o t he ot her . Thi s we at t r i but e i n par t t o

t he Avr ong and t empor i zi ng pol i ci es of nat i ons, and

not t o any f at e or necessi t y. Whi l st Gr eece"

* The anci ent Gr r eci a, a mar i t i me count r y i n t he sout h- east of

Eur ope. I t i s i n t he shape of a t r i angl e, wi t h i t s base ext endi ng

f r om t he t op of t he Adr i at i c t o t he mout hs of t he r i ver Danube, and

havi ng i t s t wo si des washed by t he sea. I t i s bounded ou t hj nor t h

by Eur opean Tur key, west by t he I oni an Sea and i sl ands, sout h by

t he Medi t er r anean, and east by t he ^ Egean Sea. I n ext ent i t i s

210 mi l es l ong, by 160 br oad; aud cont ai ns an ar ea of 15, ( ) 0U

squar e mi l es, i ncl usi ve of i t s i sl ands. I t was cal l ed by i t s i nhabi t -

ant s Hel l as, aud t he peopl e wer e cal l ed Hel l enes. The name Gr eece

comes t o us t hr ough t he Romans ; t hough why t he Koni ans gave i t

t hi s name, i s not known. I t i s a f ami l i ar f act , t hat f or ei gner s of t en

cal l peopl e by a di f l er ent appel l at i on t o what t hey cal l t hemsel ves.

Thus, l or i nst ance, t he nat i on cal l ed Ger mans by us, bear t he appel -

l at i on of Deut scheu among t hemsel ves : and t he peopl e whom t he

Eomans cal l ed Et r uscans, or Tuscans, wer e known i n t hei r own

t ongue by t hat of l l asena. Gr eece, as a smal l por t i on of ear t h, has

Page 5 of 108

a hi st or y wi t hout a par al l el , except t he hi l l y l and of Judea ; and,

except t he Jews, no peopl e ever have made f or t hemsel ves such a pr o-

mi nent and i l l ust r i ous pl ace i n t he ever l ast i ng pages of hi st or y ;

whi l st i n phi l osophy and sci ence t hey ar c f ar super i or t o t he Jews.

Schl egel cal l s t hem t he second peopl e of t he wor l d, chosen of

B 2

^ PART I .

f l oi t r i shed i n ar t Sj sci ence, and phi l osophy, ot her

^ar t s of Eur ope* wer e unci vi l i zed and dar k. Now

t he l and of sci ence and phi l osophy i s deser t ed, and

not l i i ng l ef t but sacr ed and spl endi d monument s;

as mement oes t o t est i f y t o t he passer - by of her

past gr eat ness and gl or y ; ot her par t s of Eur ope

f l our i sh i n sci ence and phi l osophy. Whi l st t he

hi l l s and l akes of Judea t wer e f avour ed wi t h t he

God t o he t he medi um of f i i r t l i er di f Tnsi on of r evel at i on i n t he cause

of t he devel o) ) ment of humani t y.

* That par t of t he gl obe whi ch i s now consi der ed as one of t he

f i s' e di vi si ons of t he ear t h, and i n mat er i al si ze t he l east of t hem.

I t i s bounded by t he sea i n al l di r ect i ons except t he east , wher e i t

i s separ at ed f r om Asi a by a bot ui dar y- l i ne, f or med by t he r i ver

Kava, t he Ur al mount ai ns and r i ver , and t he Caspi an Sea. I t has

t he Bal t i c on t he nor t h, t he Medi t er r anean, t he Sea of Mar mor a,

and t he Bl ack Sea, on t he sout h, and a l ar ge e: ?l ent of coast , bor -

der ed on t he west by t he At l ant i c. I t s ext ent i s about 3, ' 400 mi l es

l ong: , by about 2, 300 br oad ; popul at i on, 265, 000, 000. Kel i ?; i oasl y,

t he popnl at i ou i s di vi ded bet ween t he Cat hol i cs, t he Pr ot est ant s, t he

Gr eek Chur ch, a sn) al l por t i on of Jews, and a smal l er por t i on st i l l of

Mohammedans. The appel l at i on Eur ope, ap] ) l i ed t o t hi s j ) ar t of t he

f ^ l obe, has a l i t t l e uncer t ai nt y about i t , Bochar t supposes t hi s wor d

t o be composed of N3t * l i n, / l ur ap/ / a, " whi t e f ace, " t he l and of

whi t e peo) ) l c, as di st i ngui shed f r om t he Et hi opi ans, bl ack - l aced peopl e,

or t awny i nhabi t ant s of Asi a i md Af r i ca.

t Judea l i es bet ween Phoeni ci a on t l i e nor t h, and I dnmea on t he

sout h, separ at ed f r om each by a cl i ai u of l ot t y mount ai ns. On t he

east i t was bounded by t he Dead Sea, t he r i ver Jor dan, and t he

Sea of Gal i l ee , on t he west , i t ext ended t o t he Medi t er r anean. I t s

l engt h, f r om nor t h t o sout h, was about one hundr ed and ei ght y

mi l es ; and f r om east t o west , measur i ng f r om Jor dan, about l i f t y

mi l es. The most ext r aor di nar y count r y i n t he woi - l J, bot h as t o

i t s r el i gi ous and pol i t i cal hi st or y, no wonder t hat not hi r i g can ef l ' aee

an af i ' ect i on f or i t f r om t i i e memor y of i t s or i gi nal i nhabi t ant s. At

f i r st i t wub i nhabi t ed by i dol at r ous peopl es ; i t was t hen conquer ed by

LI FE. ' 5

savi ng phi l osophy * of God i n t he t eachi ng of t he

Di vi ne Savi our ^ f and t he nobl e band of Apost l es, J

ot her par t s of t he wor l d wer e f eedi ng upon vani t y,

and envel oped i n deep dar kness. Now, whi l st

Judea wi t h her sacr ed associ at i ons has not hi ng t o

boast of except her beaut i f ul scener i es, t he gr aves

and dust of Pr ophet s and Apost l es, and t he spot s

wher e t he Sou of God wept , § pr ayed, ] ] and

Page 6 of 108

t he I sr ael i t es, and di vi ded by t hem by l ot amoug t he t wel ve t r i bes.

Af t er t he deat h of Sol omon, i t was di vi ded i nt o t wo ki ngdoms ; and

f i nal l y i ut o smal l pr ovi nces, by i t s sever al conquer or s. I t was con-

quer ed and gover ned i n t ur n by t he Per si ans, t he Egypt i ans, t he

Macedoni ans, t he Romans, t he Sar acens, t he Chr i st i ans, t he Tur ks ;

and now i s gover ned by t he Mohammedan r ul e.

* * i A. 6 B, " t o l ove, " and cr ocpi a, " wi sdom, " " t he l ove of wi sdom. "

As a s y s t em, r el i gi on i s t he r ev el at i on of Di v i ne t hi ngs i n l ov e : and,

as an el ement of gov er nment i n t he human wi l l and f eel i ng, i t i s a

l ov e and a des i r e af t er Di v i ne wi s dom.

t J ohn i i i . 16; Heb. v i i . 25.

J Anoar eWc i f , " t o s end away ; " ai r o and t r r eWc j , " t o s end. "

An apos t l e i s a per s on deput ed t o ex ec ut e s ome i mpor t aut bus i -

nes s ; but , appr opr i at el y , a di s c i pl e of Chr i s t , c ommi s s i oned t o pr eac h

t he Gos pel . Twel v e per s ons wer e s el ec t ed by Chr i s t f or t hi s end ;

and J udas , one of t he number , pr ov i ng hi ms el f an apos t at e, hi s pl ac e

was s uppl i ed by Mat t hi as . The t i t l e Apos t l e i s appl i ed t o Chz ' i s t

Hi ms el f . ( Heb. i i i . 1. ) I n t he pr i mi t i v e ages of t he c hur c h, ot her

mi ni s t er s wer e c al l ed Apos t l es , as wer e al s o per s ons s ent t o c ar r y al ms

f r om one c hur c h t o anot her . ( Rom. x v i . 7 ; Phi l . l i . 25. ) Thi s

t i t l e was gi v en al s o t o t hos e who f i r s t pl ant ed t he Chr i s t i an f ai t h .

t hus Di ony s i us of Cor i nt h i s c al l ed t he Apos t l e of Fr anc e; henc e t he

Jes ui t Mi s s i onar i es ar e c al l ed Apos t l es . Among t he J ews , t he ap-

pel l at i on was gi v en t o of f i c er s who wer e s ent i nt o di s t ant pr ov i nc es ,

t o s ee t he l aws obs er v ed. Apos t l e, i n t he Gr eek Li t ur gy , i s a book

cont ai ni ng t he Epi s t l es of St . Paul , pr i nt ed i n t he or der i n whi c h

t hey ai " e t o be r ead i n c hur c hes t hr ough t he y ear .

§ J ohn x i . 35.

I I Luk e x x i i . 41, 42 ; J ohn i v i i .

6 PART I .

t augl i t j " ^ and wr ought Hi s numer ous mi r ael es , t

ot her par t s of t he gl obe pos s es s , enj oy , and f l our i s h

under t he i nf l uenc e of t he r el i gi on es t abl i s hed

t her e.

SECTI ON I I I .

Ev er y c ount r y and peopl e hav e s ome monu-

ment al r el i c s , ei t her i n f os s i l s , ar c hi t ec t ur e, t r a-

di t i ons , book s , or i l l us t r i ous names and c har ac t er s ,

whi c h mak e t he pas t s ac r ed and i mmor t al i n t hei r

r emembr anc e. On t hi s gr ound al l peopl e, i n s ome

way and degr ee or ot her , c l eav e t o t he pas t wi t h

sac r ed r ev er enc e and gr eat t enac i t y . Thi s i s a nat ur al

and r i ght af f ec t i on i n i t s pl ac e and pr udent i al us e.

I t i s a c ons er v at i v e power , t o pr es er v e f r om s udden

i nnov at i ons and f r equent r ev ol ut i ons i n bodi es ,

pol i t i c and r el i gi ous . When t hi s af f ec t i on s et t l es

down i n nar r ow s uper s t i t i on, and oppos es ev er y

i mpr ov ement and pr ogr es s bec aus e t hey di f l ' er f r om

t he pas t , t hen i t i s abus ed, and bec omes i nj ur i ous

t o t he i nt er es t of uni v er s al man. I n c ommon

wi t h al l c ount r i es , I r el and J has her r el i c s and

• Mat t . V. 2 ; J ohn i i i . 2.

Page 7 of 108

f Mi r ac ni um, f r om v i i r or , " t o wonder ; " l i t er al l y , a wonder f al

oc enr r c i i c e. Theol ogi c al l y , an ac t al ) ov e t he or di nar y l aws and or der

of t hi ngs , y et s ubj ec t t o t he l aw of I nf i ni t e Wi s dom, as t o i t s s onr c e

; i nd end. " We hav e a r ec or d, i n t he Gos pel s , of t hi i t y - t hr ee mi r ac l es

bei ng wr ought by Chr i s t .

J An i s l and i n t he At l ant i c Oc ean, s epar at ed f r om Gr eat Br i t ai n

by t he I r i s h Sea, or St . Geor ge' s f ' hannel , v ar y i ng i n br eadt h f r om

12 t o 130 mi l es . I t i s f er t i l e, and c apabl e of gr eat and v ar i ous de -

LI FE. 7

monument s , whi c h mak e t he pas t dear and gr eat

t o her f eel i ng and c onc ept i on ; and, mos t as s ur edl y ,

vel opment . I t v ar i es i u l engt h f r om 235 t o 290 mi l es , and i a

br eadt k f r om 110 t o 182 mi l es . The whol e c ompr i s es aa ar ea of

32, 513 s quar e mi l es .

The I r i s l i , doubt l es s , ar e of Cel t i c or i 5; i n. Thi s i s s een i n t he names

of t hei r r i v er s , t owns , momi t ai i i s , and ot her obj ec t s of c ommon and

hi s t or i c al i nt er es t . Thi s i s pr ov ed, equal l y c l ear l y and i ndel i bl y , i n t he

r emai ni ng i - el i c s of ant i qui t y , t he t umul i , t he c ai r us , t he c r oml ec hs ,

and t he dr ai di c al c i r c l es . The name of t he i s l and c onf i r ms t he s ame

t hi ng. Er i , or Er i n, i t s mos t anc i ent appel l at i on, t o whi c h t he na -

t i v es s t i l l c l i ng wi t h t he f ondnes s of v ener at i on, i s der i v ed f r om t he

Cel t i c l or , or Ei r , whi c l i s i gni f i es " wes t er n. " j M%s t of i t s mor e r ec ent

names may be t r ac ed t o t hi s s our c e. By t he Gr ec i ans i t was c al l ed

l er ue, bei ng honour ed by t hem as t he t hi r d i s l and of t he oc ean ;

yi el di ng pr ec edenc e onl y t o Tapr obane and Br i t ai n. I t i s named

by Pt ol emy , l ouer na; by J uv enal and Mel a, J uv er aa. Di odor us

Si c ul us c al l s i t I r i s . By t he Br i t ons i t was c al l ed I v er don ; and t he

Sax ons , at t ac hi ng t o t he or i gi nal name an epi t het f r om t hei r own

l anguage, c al l ed i t l er l and, or I r el and. I t s l at er name, Hi ber ni a,

has c aus ed muc h di v er s i t y of opi ni on, but pos s i bl y may be t r ac ed t o

t he s ame or i gi nal s our c e. Some der i v e i t f r om an adj ec t i v e of c l i mat e,

hi ber nal , on ac c ount of i t s wi nt r y t emper at ur e; ot her s f r om I ber us ,

a Spani ar d, or a r i v er i n Spai n. Anot her wr i t er goes s t i l l f ur t her .

Pos t eUus , i n hi s s t r i c t ur es on Mel a, deduc es i t f r om t he Hebr ew,

I r i n quas i J i t r i n, " t he l and of t he Hebr ews , " who, bel i ev i ng t hat

t he empi r e of t he wor l d woul d be es t abl i s hed i n a s t r ong pl ac e i n t he

nor t h- wes t , made t hems el v es mas t er s , as s oon as pos s i bl e, of t hos e

par t s , and of I r el and. Boc har t t r ac es i t agai n t o t he Pheni c i an :

Hi ber ni a, ac c or di ng t o hi m, or l er ne, bei ng not hi ng mor e t han

I ber ns e, or t he f ur t hes t habi t at i on ; bec aus e, bey ond I r el and, wes t -

war d, al l was oc ean, ac c or di ng t o t he anc i ent s .

Al l t hi s may hav e a di m t r ac e i n i t , t hat t he Cel t i c I r i s h and t he

Pheni c i an pr oc eed or i gi nal l y f r om t he s ame c ommon eas t er n s t em.

Ot her appel l at i ons , of l at er dat e, as Sc ot i a, and Ogy gi a, mean, ac -

cor di ng t o t hei r s ev er al adopt er s , di f f er ent t hi ngs . I t was not c on -

si der ed by t he Gr eek s and Romans as t he c ount r y i nhabi t ed by any

one nat i on ; on t he c ont r ar y , i t s c oas t s s i r e des c r i bed by Pt ol emy as

8 PART I .

t l i e l i i s t or y of I r el and i s r i c h wi t h gr eat ev ent s

and mos t i l l us t r i ous and wor t hy c har ac t er s . Ac -

cor di ng t o t l i C magni t ude of her ar ea, and t he

Page 8 of 108

pol i t i c al adv ant ages s he has had, per haps no

count r y i s r i c her i n ev ent s , t r adi t i ons , and i l l us -

t r i ous names and c har ac t er s , whi c h wi l l ev er r en-

der her pas t hi s t or y , t o her own c hi l dr en, v er y

dear and s aer c d. I f muc h of her hi s t or y i s s t ai ned

wi t h c r uel t y , i nj us t i c e, and oppr es s i on, t hes e mak e

t he i mpr es s i on al l t he mor e deep and l as t i ng.

Whet her t he hi s t or y of I r el and be v i ewed r el i gi -

ous l y , pol i t i c al l y , phi l os ophi c al l y , or s c l i ol as t i c al l y ,

i t i s v er y at t r ac t i v e and i ns t r uc t i v e, and mi x ed

wi t h mel anc hol y and pl eas ur abl e i nt er es t . I n al l

t hes e c l as s es , I r el and has gi v en bi r t h t o s ome of

t he mos t memor abl e and i l l us t r i ous men and

t hi ngs t hat c hr oni c l es c an r ec or d. Ev en i n t hi s

day s he i s behi nd none i n pr opor t i on t o her means ,

adv ant ages , and magni t ude. I n abs t r ac t and i n-

t el l ec t ual s c i enc e s he i s behi nd none. * Her s ons

i nhabi t ed by a r ui ni ber of t r i bes , of v ar i ons names . I n c ommon wi t h

al l peopl e dt l i j c ht i i i g i n t he ant i qui t y of t hei r l and and r ac e, t he

har ds and hi s t or i ans of I r el and t r ac e t he or i gi n of i t s popnl at i oo t o

t he f ami l y of Noah. Muc h of i t s hi s t or y , i u c omMi on wi t h al l hi s -

t or i es of t he l ong pas t , i s bur i ed i n t he t anj j l t d my s t er y of y ear s and

r omai . c e.

* Tl ; e s c i c nc f s of pnr e t hought ar e t hos e of met aphy s i c s , pur e

i i i at hemal i es , ont ol ogy , and t hat of mi nd gener al l y . 1. I t i s an

abs t r ac t i on f r om s ens e and obj ec t i v e nat ur e ; or a k i nd of an ef f or t t o

separ at e f r om t hem i n t hought and c ons c i ous nes s . 2. An abs t r ac t

sc i enc e i s s o named, bec aus e i t i s t he hi - i . hc s t and pur es t ex er c i s e of

LI FE. 9

ar e f ound us ef ul and i l l us t r i ous i n ev er y depar t -

ment of i nt el l ec t and r el i gi on, and t hat i n ev er y

par t of t he gl obe.

SECTI ON I V.

The f amous Geor ge Ber k el ey , Bi s hop of Cl oy ne, "

was bor n on t he s oi l of I r el and. I s hal l onl y gi v e

an epi t ome of hi s l i f e wi t hi n a s mal l c ompas s . My

bus i nes s c hi ef l y at pr es ent i s t o ex ami ne and, s o

f ar as I c an, wi t hi n a l i mi t ed c ompas s , gi v e an

i mpar t i al v i ew of hi s i deal phi l os ophy . The edi t or

of hi s Wor k s f gi v es us onl y a s hor t s k et c h of hi s

l i f e, j us t ex t endi ng i t ov er s ome f i ^ ' t een pages .

Whet her t hi s ar os e f r om want of mat er i al s , or t he

monot ony and dear t h of hi s l i f e, i n t hos e i nc i dent s

and c i r c ums t anc es whi c h mak e a memoi r pal at abl e

t o t he many , or t hat Ber k el ey f ai l ed t o f or m a

numer ous and i nf l uent i al s c hool , ei t her i n t heol ogy ,

pol i t i c s , or phi l os ophy , and f or t hes e r eas ons hi s

l i f e was not wr i t t en mor e ex t ens i v el y , we c annot

t el l . I t i s pos s i bl e t hat an anal y t i c al bi ogr aphy of

hi s l i f e, c ont ai ni ng t he dev el opment s of hi s mi nd

i n c onnex i on wi t h hi s di f i er ent phi l os ophi c al t heo-

t hought , a s c i enc e of pur e t hought . 3. As c out r as t ed wi t h and

di t l ' er ent f r om t he c ompl ex . 4. I t ai ms at t he k nowl edge of bei ngs

and t hi ngs i n t hei r Zeal nat ur e, c ondi t i on, and r el at i ons .

Page 9 of 108

* Cl oy ue i s a t own of I r el and, i n t he c ount y of Cor k , t wel v e

mi l es f r om Cor k . I t s popul at i ou i s under 2, 00u.

t Ber k el ey ' s Li f e and Wor k s , by t he Bev . G. N. Wr i ght , M. A. ,

i n t wo v ol umes .

10 PART I .

r i es , TTOul d hav e been bot h i nt er es t i ng and i n-

st r uc t i v e. But i t has been t he por t i on of onl y f ew

good and gr eat men, t o l eav e behi nd t hem f ai t hf ul

and abl e bi ogr apher s . An Agr i eol a* had an

ef f i c i ent and l uc i d bi ogr apher i n hi s s on- i n- l aw,

Tac i t us . f Not many Newt ons J l eav e behi nd

* Cnei us J ul i us Agr i c ol a was a Roman c ommander , whos e f at her ,

Jul i us Gr f ec i nus , was an or at or , and put t o deat h by Cal i gul a, f or

r ef us i ng t o pl ead agai ns t Si l anus . He was c ar ef ul l y br ought up by

hi s mot her , J ul i a Pr oc i l l a, and s ent t o Mas s i l i a, ( Mar s ei l l es , ) t he

chi ef s eat of l ear ni ng i n Gaul , t o pur s ue hi s s t udi es . He was s ent t o

Br i t ai n, wher e he was at t he t i me of t he i ns ur r ec t i on of Boadi c ea, i n

A. D. 61. Af t er hol di ng v ar i ous pos i t i ons , and per f or mi ng many gr eat

and ac t i v e s er v i c es i n ] 5r i t ai n, Gaul , As i a, and Kome, i t i s as s er t ed

t hat he f el l a s ac r i f i c e by poi s on t o t he c r uel j eal ous y of Doni i t i an.

He was bor n at For um J ul i i , now c al l ed Fr ej us , i n Pr ov enc e, a. d.

37, and di ed at Rome, a. d. 93.

t Cai us Cor nel i us Tac i t us , a c el ebr at ed Roman hi s t or i an, of whos e

f ami l y and ear l y l i f e har dl y any t hi ng i s k nown. Pi i ny t he Younger

dec l ar es hi m t o be t he f i r s t or at or of hi s day . He i s k nown c hi ef l y

by pos t er i t y t hr ough hi s hi s t or i es , many of whi c h ar e l os t . Hi s

Annal s wer e t hr mos t i mpor t ant of hi s wor k s ; but of t hes e we hav e

l os t a par t . Hi s Tr eat i s e on t he Manner s of t he Ger mans , and hi s

Li f e of Agr i c ol a, hi s f at her - i n- l aw, ar e bot h pur e i n s t y l e, and l of t y

i n s ent i ment ; but hi s Hi s t or y of t he Rei gn of Ti ber i us i s c ons i der ed

as hi s mas t er - pi ec e. I t i s s uppos ed t hat t hi s gr eat and nobl e c ha-

r ac t er was bor n about a. d. 54, and di ed about a. d. 130.

' X Si r I s aae Newt on, one of t he gr eat es t mat hemat i c al geni us es

and nat ur al phi l os opher s t hat ev er ex i s t ed. No name s o f ami l i ar and

mor e r es pec t ed i n al l c i v i l i z ed l ands t han hi s . He was bor n at

^ Voo] s t hor [ ) e, near Gr ant ham, i n Li nc ol ns hi r e, 1642, and di ed at

Kens i ngt on, 1727. On t he mant el pi ec e i n t he r oom wher e

Newt on was bor n at Wool s l hor pe, i s pl ac ed ' a mar bl e t abl et , c om-

memor at i v e of t he pas t , beneat h whi c h ar e t he wel l - k nown l i nes of

Pope :

—

" Nat ur e, and nat ur e' s l aws , l ay hi d i n ni ght ;

God bai d, ' Let Newt ou be ! ' and al l was l i ght . "

LI FE. 11

t hem a Br ews t er , * abl e and f ai t hf ul , and f ul l of

sy mpat hy wi t h hi s gr eat s ubj ec t ; and s o gi v i ng

unt o us a phi l os ophi c al det ai l of t he i nwar d and

out war d l i f e of t he gr eat phi l os opher . No one but

Johns on f l ef t behi nd hi m a Bos wel l , J t o wr i t e

* A l i v i ng ex per i ment al phi l os opher , and t he aut hor of Si r I s aac

Newt on' s Li f e, wi t h s ev er al ot her wor k s on mat er i al s c i en( : e. Hi s

di s c ov er i es r el at i v e t o t he pr oper t i es of l i ght hav e l ed t o gr eat i m-

Page 10 of 108

pr ov ement s i n t he i l l umi nat i on of l i ght hous es . I n 1815, he r ec ei v ed

t he Copl ey medal f or hi s paper on t he pol ar i z at i on of l i ght by r e-

f l ec t i on ; and i n t he f ol l owi ng y ear , f or hi s di s c ov er i es i n phy s i c s ,

r ec ei v ed f r om t he I ns t i t ut e of Fr anc e 1, 500 f r anc s , whi c h was t l i e

hal f of t he pr i z e. I n 1816, he i nv ent ed t he k al ei dos c ope ; i n 1818,

r ec ei v ed t he Rumf or d medal of t he Roy al Soc i et y ; and, i n 1830,

was pr es ent ed wi t h t he medal of t he Roy al Soc i et y , f or hi s f ur t her

r es ear c hes on t he pr oper t i es of l i ght . I n t he s ame y ear , wi t h Dav y ,

Her s c hel , and Babbage, he or i gi nat ed t he Br i t i s h As s oc i at i on, t he

f i r s t meet i ng of whi c h was hel d at Yor k , i n 1831. He was k ni ght ed

by " Wi l l i am I \ ' . , and dec or at ed wi t h t he Hanov er i an Guel phi c Or der .

I n 1841, he bec ame Pr i nc i pal of St . Leonar d' s Col l ege, at St . An-

dr ews . I n 1849, he was el ec t ed Pr es i dent of t he Br i t i s h As s oc i at i on ;

and, t he s ame y ear , had t he honour of bei ng c hos en i n t he pl ac e of

Ber z el i us one of t he ei ght f or ei gn as s oc i at es of t he Fr enc h Ac ademy

of Sc i enc es . For t went y - t wo y ear s he edi t ed t he Edi nbur gh Enc y -

cl opaj di a : he was al s o one of t he edi t or s of t he Edi nbur gh Phi l o-

sophi c al J our nal , as wel l as of t he Edi nbur gh J our nal of Sc i enc e.

He was bor n at J edbur gh, Sc ot l and, i n 1781.

t J ohns on has l ef t a f ame i n c r i t i c i s m, l ex i c ogr aphy , and mi s c el l a- '

neous wr i t i ng, t hat f ew c au hope t o ac qui r e ; whi c h wi l l l as t as l ong

as t he l i t er at ur e of t he Engl i s h l anguage. He was bor n at Li c hf i el d,

1709, and di ed i n London, 1784.

J J ames Bos wel l , t he aut hor of t he Li f e of Dr . J ohns on, has

sec ur ed hi ms el f i mmor t al i t y , i n c onnex i on wi t h hi s gr eat s ubj ec t .

Though not pos s es s i ng v i gor ous i nt el l ec t ual power s , he has wr i t t en

one of t he mos t at t r ac t i v e and i ns t r uc t i v e memoi r s i n Engl i s h or any

ot her l anguage Mac aul ay s ay s of i t , as t o i t s ac c ur at e det ai l :

—

" Hi s c oat , hi s wi g, hi s f i gur e, hi s f ac e, hi s s c r ol ul a, hi s St . Vi t us '

13 PART I .

ador i ngl y t he l i f e of hi s f r i end and mas t er ;

comi ng t o hi s wor k af t er many y ear s of per pet u-

al l y s t udy i ng hi s unwi el dy s ubj ec t i n al l hi s c apa-

bl e bear i ngs , and di l i gent l y c ol l ec t i ng mat er i al s f or

i t f r om al l r es our c es about t he l i v i ng man, bot h

wl i i l s t hi s s ubj ec t was awak e, and whi l s t he was

as l eep. Few t heol ogi ans , i f any at al l , hav e, or

ev er wi l l l eav e behi nd a Hanna, " ^ t o hand f ai t h-

f ul l y down t hei r l i v es t o gener at i ons t o c ome, as

was t he f or t une of Chal mer s . t The l os s i s t hat of

f ut ur e humani t y , and not t o t hems el v es ; f or t he

dauc e, hi s r ol l i ng wal k , hi s bl i nk i ng ey e, t he out war d s i gns whi c h t oo

cl ear l y mar k ed t he appr obat i on of hi s di nner ; hi s i ns at i abl e appet i t e

f or f i s h- s auc e and v eal - pi e, wi t h pl ums ; hi s i nex t i ngui s habl e t hi r s t

f or t ea; hi s t r i c k of t ouc hi ng t he pos t s as he wal k ed ; hi s my s t er i ous

pr ac t i c e of t r eas m- i ng up s c r aps of or ange- peel ; hi s mor ni ng s l um-

ber s ; hi s mi dni ght di s put at i ons ; hi s c ont or t i ons ; hi s mut t er i ngs ;

hi s gr unt i ngs ; hi s puf f i ngs ; hi s v i gor ous , ac ut e, and r eady el oquenc e ;

hi s s ar c as t i c wi t ; hi s v ehemenc e; hi s i ns ol enc e; l i i s f i t s of t empes -

t uous r age; hi s queer i nmat es , ol d Mr . Lev et t and bl i nd Mr s .

Wi l l i ams , t he c at Hodge, and t he Negr o Fr ank , al l ar e as f ami l i ar t o

us as t he obj ec t s by whi c h we hav e been s ur r ounded f r om c hi l dhood. "

Dur i ng mor e t han t went y y ear s of f r i ends hi p and f ami l i ar i nt er c our s e

bet ween Bos wel l and J ohns on, t hey di d not s pend mor e t han t wo

hundr ed and s ev ent y - s i x day s t oget her . He was bor n at Edi nbur gh,

1740, and di ed, 1790.

Page 11 of 108

* Hanna i s a l i vi ng mi ni st er of t l i e Fr ee Pr esbyt er i an Chur ch, an

abl e pr eacher , a di scr i mi nat i ve t heol ogi an, and an el egant wr i t er .

He i s a son- i n- l aw of t he l at e Dr . Chal mer s, and has been f or many

year s a col l eague, i n past or al char ge, wi t h Dr . Gut hr i e. He has

wr i t t en a most abl e but somewhat t oo vol umi nous memoi r of Dr .

Chal mer s, wi t h some ot her t heol ogi cal wor ks.

t Dr . Chal mer s was one of t he most ] ) ower f ul ] ) r eachcr s and

wr i t er s t hat Scot l and, or any ot her l aud, ever pr oduced. He has

done mor e t owar ds t he uni t y and har mony of t heol ogy and sci ence.

LI FE. 13

l i f e of t he gr eat and good i s wr i t t en above ; i t has

done i t s ser vi ce bel ow, and i s i n an i ndest r uct i bl e

keepi ng, and on i mper i shabl e r ecor ds.

The 12t h of Mar ch, 1684, at Ki l l car n, near

Thomast own, * wer e t he t i me and pl ace t hat wi t -

nessed and r ecor ded t he bi r t h of a l i t t l e chi l d,

af t er war ds cal l ed t he " phi l osophi cal Doct or Ber ke-

l ey, " and t he " met aphysi cal Bi shop. " He r e-

cei ved t he f i r st r udi ment s of hi s educat i on at Ki l -

kenny School , t under Dr . Hi nt on, and was r e-

cei ved a pensi oner of Tr i ni t y Col l ege, Dubl i n, at

t he age of f i f t een, under t he i nst r uct i on of Dr .

Hal l ; but was r ecei ved a f el l ow of t hat col l ege i n

t he year 1707.

SECTI ON V.

I n 1713 he came t o London, and, at t he cl ose

of t he same year , went , i n t he capaci t y of a chap-

l ai n, i n t he t r ai n of t he Ear l of Pet er bor ough i nt o

t han any ot her t heol ogi an. l i e was bor n at Anst r ut her , Fi f eshi r e,

17S0, and di ed at Edi nbur gh, 1847.

* Thomast own i s a bor ough t own of I r el and, i n t he count y of

Ki l kenny, ou t he r i ver Nor e ; wi t h popul at i on about 2, 200. I t

was f or mer l y encl osed wi t h wal l s.

t Ki l kenny i s t he capi t al of t he cuunt y cal l ed under t hat name.

I t cont ai ns many el egant bui l di ngs, and i t s st r eet s ar e paved wi t h

bl ack mar bl e. The vener abl e r ui ns of i t s cl i nr ches, monast er i es, and

abbeys, st i l l r emai n t o pr ove i t s f or mer i mpor t ance. I t s col l ege, or

f r ee school , i s st i l l one of i t s cel ebr at ed bui l di ngs and est abl i shment s.

I t s popul at i on i s about 20, 000.

14 PART I .

I t al y. * The edi t or r el at es a ver j ' l udi cr ous i uci -

dei i t t hat t r anspi r ed at Leghor n ; t we shal l

t r anscr i be i t f or t he r eader , i n t he wor ds of t he

l ear ned edi t or . " I t may not be ami ss, " says t he

bi ogr apher , " t o r ecor d a l i t t l e i nci dent t l i at bef el

Mr . Ber kel ey i n t hi s ci t y, wi t h t he r el at i on of

whi ch he used somet i mes t o make hi msel f mer r y

among hi s f r i ends. Basi l Kennet t , t he aut hor of

t he * Roman Ant i qui t i es, ^ was t he chapl ai n t o

Page 12 of 108

t he Engl i sh f act or y at Leghor n, t he onl y pl ace i n

I t al y wher e t he Engl i sh Ser vi ce i s t ol er at ed by

t he Gover nment ; whi ch f avour had been l at el y

obt ai ned f r om t he Gr and Duke, at t he par t i cul ar

i nst ance of Queen Anne. J Thi s gent l eman r c-

* Char l es Mor dai i nt , Ear l of Pct er bor ot i gl i , a gr eat Eu' i l i sb

gener al who ent er ed t he navy, and di st i ngui shed hi ni sel l " at Tangi er s,

when i t was besi eged by t he Moor s. He was cr eat ed t he Ear l of

Monmout h ; and, on t he deat h of hi s unel e, succeeded t o t he

t i t l e — t he Ear l of Pet er bor ough. Some of hi s l et t er s ar e pr i nt ed i n

t he wor ks of I ' ope, wi t h whom he was i ut i mat e. I t was sai d of l i i m,

t hat he had seen mor e Ki ngs and mor e post i l i ons t han any man i n

Eur ope. He was bor n i n 1658, and di ed 1733.

t Leghor n i s a cel ebr at ed seapor t - t own of I t al y, t he I t al i an

I , i vor no. I n t he si xt eent h cent ur y, i t was made a f r ee por t by Cosmo

de Medi ci ; and t o t hi s i t s advancement and pr osper i t y may be

gr eat l y at t r i but ed. Among ot her t i l i ngs, i t s l i ght house i s not ed.

I t s popul at i on i s about 85, 000.

^ Queen Anne was t he second daught er of James I I . , by Lady

Anne Hyde, daught er of t he gr eat Ear l of Cl ar endon. I n 1668, she

mar r i ed Pr i nce Geor ge of Denmar k, by whom she had sever al chi l -

dr en, but al l of whom di ed young. I n 1702, on t i i e deat h of Wi l -

l i am I I I . , she succeeded t o t he cr own. One of t he gr eat est event s

of t hi s r ci gu was t i i e uni on of Scot l and wi t h Engl and. Ou account

LI FE. 15

quest ed Mr . Ber kel ey t o pr each f or hi m one Sun-

day. The day f ol l owi ng, as Ber kel ey was si t t i ng

i n hi s chamber , a pr ocessi on of pr i est s, i n sur pl i ces,

and wi t h al l ot her f or mal i t i es, ent er ed t he r oom ;

and, wi t hout t aki ng t he l east not i ce of t he wonder -

i ng i nhabi t ant , mar ched qui t e r ound, mut t er i ng

cer t ai n pr ayer s. Hi s f ear s i mmedi at el y suggest ed

t o hi m t hat t hi s coul d be no ot her t han a vi si t

f r om t he I nqui si t i on, who had hear d of hi s of f i ci -

at i ng bef or e her et i cs wi t hout l i cence t he day bef or e.

As soon as t hey wer e gone, he vent ur ed, wi t h

much caut i on, t o i nqui r e i nt o t he cause of t hi s ex -

t r aor di nar y appear ance ; and was happy t o be i n-

f or med, t hat t hi s was t he season appoi nt ed by t he

Bomi sh Cal endar f or sol emnl y bl essi ng t he houses

of al l good Cat hol i cs, f r om r at s and ot her ver mi n ;

a pi ece of i nt el l i gence whi ch changed hi s t er r or

i nt o mi r t h. "

I n August , 1714, he r et ur ned f i ' om t he Cont i -

nent . The f al l of Queen Anne' s mi ni st r y havi ng

put an end t o hi s hope of pr ef er ment , he accept ed

an of f er f r om Dr . Ashe, t he Bi shop of Cl ogher , *

t o accompany hi s son on a t our t hr ough Eur ope.

of t he number of emi nent l i t er ar y char act er s who f l our i shed i n her

r ei gn, i t has beea cal l ed t he August an age of Br i t ai n. Though t oo

much t he dupe of her mi ni st er s and f avour i t es, she wi l l ever be r e-

spect ed f or t he gener al excel l ency of her pr i vat e char act er . She was

hor n, 1664, and di ed, 1714.

* Cl ogher i s an anci ent , smal l , epi scopal ci t y of I r el and, 82 mi l es

Page 13 of 108

f r om Dubl i n.

16 PART I .

He t r avel l ed, i n addi t i on, t o pl aces move coDr aon,

over Apul i a, Cal abr i a, and t he I sl and of Si ci l y.

He was on t he Cont i nent i n t hi s t our about f our

year s. When at Par i s he pai d a vi si t t o Per e

Mal ebr anche, * t he aut hor of an i ngeni ous syst em

of phi l osophi cal i deal i sm, M' hi ch t eaches t hat we

per cei ve al l i deas i n God, whi ch i s known under

t he name of occasi onal causes. Thi s t heor y has

poi nt s of r esembl ance and sympat hy wi t h t hat of

Ber kel ey; yet t hey ar e wi del y di f f er ent i n t hei r

* Per e Xi cl i ol as Jl al ebr ar i che was t he abl est di sci pl e of t he phi l oso-

phy of Descar t es. l i e has been der i ded by t he super f i ci al , and negl ect ed

al most by al l Pr ot est ant t hi nker s: par t l y ou account of hi s i deal

t heor y, and par t l y f r om t he not i on t hat he was a Jesni t . I t i s t r ue t hat

hi s t heor y i s consi der ed as expl oded among al most al l t hi nker s, yet

t he t hi nker hi msel f i s wor t hy of t he hi ghest r egar d bot h as t o hi 3

char act er and as a pr of ound t hi nker . I t i s a mi st ake t o t hi nk hi m

a Jesui t ; he was a pr i est of t he Or at or y. Si r ^ V. Hami l t on, i n

speaki ng of hi m, says: — " As a t hi nker he i s, per haps, t he most

pr of ound t hat Fr ance has ever pr oduced ; and as a \ vr i ; cr on phi l o-

sophi cal subj ect s, t her e i s not anot her Eur opean aut hor who can be

pl aced bef or e hi m. Hi s st yl e i s a model at once of di gni t y and

of nat ur al ease ; and no met aphysi ci an has been abl e t o expr ess hi m-

sel f so cl ear l y and pr eci sel y wi t hout r esor t i ng t o doct r i nal and scho-

l ast i c t er ms. That he was t he aut hor of a cel ebr at ed but expl oded

hypot hesi s, i s, per haps, t he r eason why he i s f ar l ess st udi ed t han he

ot her wi se deser ves. Hi s wor ks ar e of pr i nci pal val ue f or t he admi -

r abl e obser vat i ons ou human nat ur e whi ch t hey embody ; and wer e

ever yt hi ng t o be expunged f r om t hem connect ed wi t h t he vi si on of

ni l t hi ngs i n f / i a Dei t i / , and even wi t h t he ( Car t esi an hypot heses i n

gener al , t hey woul d st i l l r emai n an i ucst i nmbl e t r easur y of t he abl est

anal ysi s, expr essed i n t he most appr opr i at e and, t her ef or e, t he most

admi r abl e el oquence. I n t he l ast r espect , he i s onl y a| i pr oacbed,

cer t ai nl y not sur j i assed, by Hume and Mendel ssohn. " He was bor n

at Par i s i n 1C38, and di ed at Par i s i n 1715.

LI FE. 17

t eacl i i ng and concl usi on. Ber kel ey f ound t hi s phi -

l osophi cal f at her i n hi s cel l , pr epar i ng a medi ci ne

i n a pi pki n f or a di sor der he was suf f er i ng under ,

— an i nf l ammat i on on t he l ungs. The conver sa-

t i on was nat ur al l y l ed t o t hei r pecul i ar phi l oso-

phi cal sympat hi es and t heor i es. I t gr ew so

ear nest and war m t hat t he i ngeni ous f at her r ai sed

hi s voi ce so hi gh, and became subj ect at t he

t i me t o so i nt ense and deep emot i ons, t hat hi s

di sor der i ncr eased and car r i ed hi m of f i n a f ew

days. So gr eat and gr ave a r eal i t y t he i deal i sm

of Ber kel ey pr oved t o poor j NI al ebr anche. What -

ever edi f i cat i on and i nt er est t hi s vi si t gave t o t he

vi si t or , accor di ng t o r epor t , i t pr oved a dear and a

mor t al one t o t he vi si t ed.

SECTI ON VI .

Page 14 of 108

I n Jul y, 1717, he was el ect ed a Seni or Fel l ow

of hi s col l ege ; and on t he 14t h of November ,

1721, he t ook degr ees of Bachel or and Doct or i n

Di vi ni t y. The year f ol l owi ng i ncr eased hi s f or -

t une consi der abl y ; a l ady t hat was no r el at i on l ef t

t he sum of

8, 000 bet ween hi ms el f and anot her

gent l eman. I n t he y ear 1724, he was pr es ent ed,

by t he Duk e of Gr af t on, t o t he deaner y of

Der r y , " ^ wor t h

1, 100 per annum. At t hi s t i me

* Der r y , a c i t y and a c ount y of I r el and, now c al l ed l i Ondon-

der r y , bec aus e gi v en t o t wel v e London c ompani es by J ames I . ,

C

18 PART I .

he c onc ei v ed a s c heme f or t he c onv er s i on of t he

abor i gi nes of Amer i c a t o Chr i s t i ani t y ^ and t he

bui l di ng of a c ol l ege i n t he Somer s I s l ands ; *

and i n 1725 publ i s hed hi s pur pos e, and of f er ed t o

r es i gn hi s opal ent pr ef er ment , and dedi c at e hi m-

sel f t he r emai nder of hi s day s t o t hi s nobl e and

Chr i s t i an ent er pr i s e, f or t he pal t r y s um of ,

100

per annum. I n Augus t , 1728, t he ent er pr i s i ng

phi l os opher ent er ed t he mar r i age c ondi t i on ; and

i n t he f ol l owi ng mont h of t he s ame y ear , af t er

muc h del ay and t r oubl e, he s et s ai l , f or hi s v er y

sangui ne mi s s i on, t o Amer i c a. He t ook up hi s

r es i denc e at Newpor t , and l abour ed i ndef at i gabl y

i n t he di s c har ge of t he dut i es of hi s c l er i c al f unc -

t i ons . Af t er bei ng t her e t wo y ear s , he r et ur ned

home, gr i ev ed and di s appoi nt ed t hat hi s s angui ne

wi s hes and c onf i dent ex pec t at i ons wer e not met

and f ul f i l l ed by t he Gov er nment and men i n

power . He t r us t ed t oo muc h i n pol i t i c al s c hemes

and Av or l dl y men ; s o hi s dar l i ng pr oj ec t f el l

unr eal i z ed. I n t hi s s c heme Ber k el ey ' s c onf i denc e

was on a wr ong bas i s , as wer e hi s mot i v es not t he

af t er t he r ebel l i on of i t s c hi ef s ; and now al mos t t he whol e c omi t y

i s owned by t hei r s uc c es s or s .

* Somer s I s l ands , or t he Ber mudas , a c l us t er of s mal l i s l ands

bel ongi ng t o Gr eat Br i t ai n, i n t he At l ant i c Oc ean, i n number about

t hr ee hundr ed. Thes e I s l ands wer e di s c ov er ed i n 1522 by J uan

Ber mudas , a Spani ar d; and i n 1609, Geor ge Somer s , an Engl i s h-

man, was wr ec k ed t her e, and s oon af t er t he Engl i s h f or med a s et t l e-

ment t her e.

LI FE. 19

l of t i es t and di v i aes t . He t r us t ed i n t he ef f i c i enc y

and f ai t hf ul nes s of wor l dl y pat r onage and enac t -

ment s , i ns t ead of c onf i di ng hi s c aus e t o t he s y m-

pat hy and f eel i ng of t he good and t he r el i gi ous ,

and t he i mmut abl e power of t r ut h. Thi s gr ound

f ai l ed hi m, as he mi ght wel l hav e ex pec t ed. Hi s

mot i v e, i n a gr eat meas ur e, was t o mak e r el i gi on

Page 15 of 108

subs er v i ent t o t he St at e. We c annot but l ook on

t hi s as one of t he gr eat f ai l ur es of hi s l i f e. We

ar e r eady t o bel i ev e t hat t hi s was t he nat ur al

r es ul t of a s y s t em t hat depends upon wor l dl y

pat r onage f or pr ef er ment s , r at her t han of want

of pr i nc i pl e and hi gh v i ew i n t he ami abl e

phi l os opher .

SECTI ON VI I ,

Queen Car ol i ne* was pec ul i ar l y f ond of phi l o-

sophi c al c onv er s at i on bet ween l ear ned and i ngeni -

ous men, and had one day i n t he week s et apar t

f or t hat pur pos e whi l s t s he was t he Pr i nc es s of

Wal es . Among t hos e who at t ended, and t ook an

ac t i v e par t i n t he c onv er s at i on i n t hi s i l l us t r i ous

and s el ec t c ompany , wer e Dr s . Sher l oc k , t Hoad-

* Pr i nc es s Car ol i ne, t k e wi f e of Geor ge I I . , and daught er of

Br audenbur gh- Ans pac h, who di ed i n 1737-

t Sher l oc k , Thomas , an emi nent pr el at e of t he Angl i c an Chur c h,

and a s on of Ri c har d Sher l oc k , an abl e di v i ne and a c hapl ai n of t he

ar my of Char l es I . ; he was bor n i n Loudon, 1678, and di ed near

London, 1761.

n O.

20 PART I .

l ev , * Cl ar k e, ! and Ber k el ey . Dr s . Cl ar k e and

Ber k el ey wer e t he t wo l eadi ng ant agoni s t s ;

Hoadl ey s i ded wi t h Cl ar k e, and Sher l oc k wi t h

Ber k el ey . I n t hi s s el ec t i nt el l i gent c ompany ,

Ber k el ey ' s i deal i s m, and ot her phi l os ophi c al t he-

or i es , wer e made t he c hi ef s ubj ec t s of c onv er s a-

t i on. I n Dr . Cl ar k e i t met a gi gant i c opponent ,

and, Av e s houl d t hi nk , i n poi nt of ment al s t r engt h

and s ev er e l ogi c , s uper i or t o Ber k el ey : but

Ber k el ey , i n ex per t nes s of mov ement s , c l ev er and

sk i l f ul handl i ng of hi s t ool s , and ami abl e t emper ,

was equal t o hi m. We s houl d t hi nk t hat Ber k e-

l ey ' s i deal i s m t ot t er ed, and was bl own down t o

t he gr ound, bef or e t he heav y c al i br e and gi gant i c

r eas oni ng of t he aut hor of t he a p7' wr i ev i denc e.

But Ber k el ey , doubt l es s , was s o enamour ed wi t h

hi s dar l i ng t heor y , and at t he s ame t i me s o ex per t

i n bui l di ng up hi s f or t i f i c at i on af t er i t f el l , t hat

he was bl i nd and i ndi f f er ent t o hi s own c ondi -

t i on. I t i s s ai d t hat Addi s on J made i t hi s

* I l oac l l c y , Benj ami n, a bi s hoj ) of t he Angl i c an Chur c h. Hi s

cont r ov er s y wi t l i At t er bur y i s f ami l i ar t o mos t r eader s ; and by

r eas on of hi s doc t r i ne of non- r es i s t anc e, he was not i c ed by t he

Hous e of Commons , who pr es s ed t he Queen t e c onf er pr ef er ment

upon hi m. He was bor n at Wes t c r ham, Kent , 1G76 ; di ed, 1761.

t Cl ar k e, Dr . Samuel , was one of t he pr of oundes t men t hat t he

Angl i c an ( . ' hur c h or any ot her Chur c h ev er pr oduc ed, l i e was at

onc e a s c hol ar , a mat hemat i c i an, a met aphy s i c i an, and a t heol ogi an.

He was bor n i n Nor wi c h, 1C75 ; di ed i n London, 1729.

Page 16 of 108

j Josnj j h Addi son was t he sou of t he Rev. Lancel ot Addi son, a

di vi ne and an aut hor of some emi nence. Joseph Addi son was t he

LI FE. 21

pur pose and wor k t o have t he t wo phi l osopher s

t oget her ; and t hat Ber kel ey compl ai ned of t he

unf ai r ness of Cl ar ke. We shoul d t hi nk t hat

Cl ar ke' s ar t i l l er y woul d be awf ul l y heavy upon hi s

ant agoni st ; and hi s opponent woul d f eel t hat he

met wi t h a gi ant ^ however mat t er s woul d ul t i -

mat el y end. But , so f ar as we know, nei t her of

t he par t i es wer e convi nced, whi ch i s most l y t he

r esul t . A man must be met si deways gener al l y

t o be convi nced. I f he i s consci ous t hat he meet s

an ant agoni st , he pr epar es hi s i nst r ument s, f or -

t i f i es hi s gr ound, sear ches f or ar gument s, and so

conf i r ms and r oot s hi msel f i n hi s own vi ews mor e

and mor e-

Af t er t he r et ur n of Ber kel ey f r om Pohode

I sl and, t he Queen of t en commanded hi s at t end-

ance t o communi cat e unt o her what he wi t nessed

on t he ot her si de of t he wat er . Apar t f r om al l

he saw i n Amer i ca, hi s conver sat i on must have

been exqui si t el y i nst r uct i ve and i nt er est i ng. I n

most el egant wr i t er of hi s age ; so much so, as t o secui - e t he admi r a-

t i on aud i mi t at i oa of i SI acaul ay. Johnson speaks of hi s st yl e, —

" Whoever wi shes t o at t ai n an Engl i sh st yl e, f ami l i ar but not coar se

and el egant but unost ent at i ous, must gi ve hi s days and ni ght s t o

Addi son. " I t may be sai d, however , t hat hi s st yl e i s want i ng i n

mascul i ne ener gy, and f or cef ul expr essi on. When he f ound r . nat t he

hand of deat h was upon hi ni , he sent f or Lor d War wi ck, aud, af f ec -

t i onat el y pr essi ng hi s hands, whi sper ed, " See i n what peace a

Chr i st i an can di e. " He was bor n at Mi l st on, Wi l t s, 107: ^ i and

di ed at Hol l and House, 1719.

22 PART I .

hi m met al l t he qual i f i cat i ons t o char m and

i nst r uct : — hi s cl assi cal t ast e ; hi s knowl edge of

t he moder n l anguages and manner s of Eur ope ;

hi s phi l osophi cal i nsi ght , anal ysi s, and qui ck

appr ehensi on; and hi s r i ch var i et y of ment al

t r easur es ; — f or hi s r ange of st udy cover ed t heo-

l ogy, pol i t i cs, and phi l osophy, i n t hei r wi dest

accept at i on. Hi s sweet t emper ament , pol i shed

manner s, and hi s r el i gi ous vi ews and f eel i ngs,

mel l owed and sweet ened t he whol e. I t i s t he

por t i on of but f ew, t o be ador ned wi t h so nume-

r ous ment al and mor al qual i f i cat i ons, and t hat i n

so hi gh a pr opor t i on, as met i n t he Bi shop of

Cl oyne. Rel i gi on and phi l osophy, r ef i ned and

ador ned, by t hei r combi ned t eachi ng and i nf l uence,

t he soi l t hat was nat ur al l y r i ch and f er t i l e.

Af t er t he deaner y of Down became vacant . Dr .

Ber kel ey, at t he r equest of Queen Car ol i ne, was

named t o i t ; and t he l et t er of t he Ki ng went over

t o I r el and t o t hat ef f ect . But t hr ough t he negl ect

Page 17 of 108

of Lor d Bur l i ngt on t o not i f y t he r oyal i nt ent i on

t o t he Duke of Dor set , who was t hen Lor d Li eu-

t enant of I r el and, hi s excel l ency was of f ended t hat

t he r i chest deaner y i n I r el and was t hus di sposed

of wi t hout hi s concur r ence, and t he mat t er was

not pr essed f ur t her ; so Ber kel ey l ost t he r i ch

deaner y of Down. Her I NI aj cst y now decl ar ed,

t hat si nce t hey woul d not al l ow Ber kel ey t o be

LI FE. 23

Dean i n I r el and, he shoul d be a Bi shop ; so i n t hi s

case, as i n t housands mor e, one mi sf or t une l eads

t o a hi gher honour and advant age. Accor di ng t o

t he det er mi nat i on of t he Queen, he was, on t he

] 9t h of May, consecr at ed t he Bi shop of Cl oyne,

i n t he spl endi d edi f i ce of St . Paul , Dubl i n. Fond

of st udy and r et i r ement , suscept i bl e t o t he beau-

t i es and char ms of nat ur e and r omant i c scener i es,

t hi s secl uded spot woul d be most agr eeabl e t o hi s

t ast e. He f or med such an at t achment t o i t , t hat

when Lor d Chest er f i el d* of f er ed hi m t he vacant

bi shopr i c of Cl ogher , t he val ue of whi ch was

doubl e t hat of Cl oyne, he modest l y r ef used i t .

SECTI ON VI I T.

I t was hi s habi t t o r i se bet ween t hr ee and f our

i n t he mor ni ng dur i ng t he whol e of t he t i me he

was at Cl oyne. I n 1752 he r emoved t o Oxf or d,

i n or der t o super i nt end t he educat i on of hi s son.

Bei ng convi nced of t he evi l of non- r esi dence, he

t r i ed t o exchange hi s hi gh pr ef er ment f or some

* Chest er f i el d, Phi l i p Dor mer St auhope, t he f our t h Ear l of , was

consi der ed t he gr eat est wi t and most accompl i shed i n manner s

of hi s day. He associ at ed much wi t h l i t er ar y men ; and par t l y

f r om t hat , and par t l y f r om some pr oduct i ons of hi s own, he enj oys

st i l l a degr ee of l i t er ar y r eput at i on. I n 1742, he r ecei ved t he

appoi nt ment of Lor d Li eut enant of I r el and: i n t hi s capaci t y he

gr eat l y di st i ngui shed hi msel f by r educi ng t he count r y i nt o a st at e of

t r anqui l l i t y, such as i t di d not enj oy bef or e. He was bor n i n

London, 1694; and di ed, 1773.

24 I ' Al l T I .

canonr y or headsl i i p at Oxf or d. Fai l i ng i n t hi s,

he wr ot e t o t he Secr et ar y of St at e, t o r equest t hat

he mi ght have per mi ssi on t o r esi gn hi s bi shopr i c,

wor t h at t he t i me j 8 1, 400 per annum. Such an

uncommon pet i t i on exci t ed Hi s Maj est y' s cur i -

osi t y t o i nqui r e who was t he ext r aor di nar y man

t hat sent i t : bei ng i nf or med t hat he was hi s ol d

f r i end Dr . Ber kel ey, t he Ki ng decl ar ed t hat he

shoul d di e a Bi shop i n spi t e of hi msel f , but gave

l i i r a l i ber t y t o l i ve wher e he pl eased. On Sunday

eveni ng, 14t h of Januar y' ' , 1753, as he was si t t i ng

sur r ounded wi t h hi s f ami l y, l i st eni ng t o a ser mon

of Dr . Sher l ock' s r ead by hi s l ady, he was sei zed

wi t h pal sy i n t he hear t ; and so i nst ant aneousl y

Page 18 of 108

expi r ed, t hat hi s body was qui t e st i f f and col d

bef or e hi s deat h was di scover ed.

SECTI ON I X.

I di f f er gr eat l y f r om Ber kel ey i n t heol ogy,

pol i t i cs, and phi l osophy ; yet I wi sh t o do hi m f ul l

j ust i ce. My di f f er ence f r om hi m does not hi de

f r om r ay vi ew hi s hi gh qual i t i es and excel l enci es,

and my admi r at i on of hi s char act er and power s.

No one, t her ef or e, i t i s t o be hoped, can accuse

me of par t i al i t y on t he one hand, or i gnor ant pr e-

j udi ce on t he ot her . Hi s char act er was made up

of var i ed, r i ch, and hi gh qual i t i es. He was an

accompl i shed schol ar , al l hi s days a devest ed st u-

LI FE. 25

dent ; hi s power s of phi l osophi cal anal ysi s wer e

ver y acut e ; hi s power s of conver sat i on wer e

gr aphi c and var i ous ; and hi s r i ch st or e of know-

l edge, bot h anci ent and moder n, was al most

boundl ess. Hi s mor al char act er was ver y r i ch i n

cl ust er s of t he hi ghest excel l enci es ; hi s char i t y

t o ot her s who di f f er ed f r om hi m i n r el i gi ous vi ews,

was wi t nessed and t est i f i ed of by t he many

Roman Cat hol i cs who l i ved ar ound hi m ; hi s

benef i cence was exper i enced by t he poor , not onl y

i n t he t ar - wat er ' ' ^ syst em, but i n hi s car e f or t hem

and gi f t s unt o t hem. Hi s zeal f or t he spr ead of

Chr i st i ani t y was seen i n hi s sangui ne and sel f -

denyi ng mi ssi on t o Ber muda ; and hi s di si nt er est -

* Ber kel ey publ i shed a l ar ge t r eat i se, cal l ed Si r i s, on t he ef f i cacy

of Tar wat er . He t hus speaks of i t hi msel f : " Ever y st ep t hat I

advanced i n di scover i ng t he vi r t ues of t ar wat er , my own wonder

and sur pr i se i ncr eased as much as t hei r s t o whom I ment i oned

t hem : nor coul d I , wi t hout gr eat var i et y and evi dence of f act s, ever

have been i nduced t o suspect , t hat , i n al l sor t s of ai l ment s what so-

ever , i t mi ght r el i eve or cur e, whi ch at f i r st si ght - may seem i ncr edi -

bl e and unaccount abl e ; but , on mat ur er t hought , wi l l per haps appear

t o agr ee wi t h, and f ol l ow f r om, t he nat ur e of t hi ngs. For i t i s t o be

not ed t hat t he gener al not i on of a di sease seems t o consi st i n t hi s,

t hat what i s t aken i n, i s not dul y assi mi l at ed by t he f or ce of t he

ani mal economy ; t her ef or e, i t shoul d seem, what ever assi st s t he

vi s vi t a may be of gener al use i n al l di seases, enabl i ng Nat ur e ei t her

t o assi mi l at e or di schar ge al l unsubdued humour s and par t i cl es what -

soever . But t he l i ght or et her det ai ned on t he vol at i l e oi l whi ch

i mpr egnat es t ar wat er bei ng of t he same nat ur e wi t h t he ani mal

spi r i t , i s an accessi on of so much st r engt h t o t he const i t ut i on, whi ch

i t assi st s t o assi mi l at e or expel what ever i s al i en or noxi ous. "

—Wor ks, vol . i i . , p. 432. Edi t . , 1843.

26 PART I .

edness was evi nced r epeat edl y, as i n t he gi vi ng up

of t he deaner y of Der r y, r ef usi ng t he bi shopr i c of

Cl ogher , and hi s wi sh t o r esi gn hi s pr ef er ment

when he r emoved t o Oxf or d. Af t er al l owi ng

much t o t he f r i endshi p and war mt h of Pope,

Page 19 of 108

t her e i s enough st i l l i n hi s poet i cal pr ai se

of Ber kel ey t o sust ai n hi m on t he gr ound of

vi r t ue : —

" To I kr l xcl ey ever y vi r t ae under heaven. "

We do not t ake and r ecommend hi m as an

absol ut e pat t er n i n al l t hi ngs, because no f i ni t e

dependent nat ur e can be an absol ut e model i n

al l mat t er s ; and i n common wi t h t he best i n

t hi s l i f e, he had some t hi ngs whi ch i t woul d

have been bet t er t o be wi t hout , and ot her t hi ngs

whi ch i t woul d have been bet t er t o have possessed.

SECTI ON X.

The l i f e of Ber kel ey wi l l be est i mat ed di f f er -

ent l y by di f f er ent mi nds. By a smal l cl ass i n t he

di f f er ent depar t ment s of sci ence he wi l l be al ways

honour ed and est i mat ed t o hi s f ul l wor t h, but t he

l ar ger cl ass by f ar wi l l r ef use hi m t he meed of

honour and pr ai se he i s wor t hy of . Hi s sympa-

t hi es and appl i cat i on of hi s power s wer e uni ver sal .

He vi ewed man i n al l t he capabi l i t y and suscept i -

bi l i t y of hi s nat ur e ; he vi ewed hi m as havi ng

LI FE. 27

r ai nd and hear t ; as suscept i bl e t o mi ser y and

happi ness ; as a cr eat ur e of t i me and et er ni t y : so he

di r ect ed hi s ski l l and ener gy t o t hese var i ed f or ms

of hi s r el at i ons and want s. By some he wi l l be

t r eat ed as an ent husi ast i c i gnor amus i n physi cs^ by

ot her s as a danger ous empi r i c i n pol i t i cs ; by many,

as a del usi ve, sof t - br ai ned phi l osopher , and not a

f ew wi l l consi der hi m an unsaf e and an unsound

t heol ogi an. The wi der t he r ami f i cat i on any man

t akes, and i n pr opor t i on t o hi s geni us and or i gi n-

al i t y, t he mor e he comes i n col l i si on wi t h ot her

t heor i es and vi ews ; and i n pr opor t i on t o t hese

t hi ngs wi l l be t he di ver si t y of vi ews concer ni ng

hi m ; and f or a t i me, at l east , t he number of hi s

opponent s. Whi l st t he t ame and t he common-

pl ace man passes t hr ough t hi s l i f e i n qui et ude and

happi ness wi t hout al most any opposi ng f or ces; t he

super i or man who t r i es t o benef i t hi s f el l ows has

di f f i cul t i es and opposi ng power s wi t hout number .

Such i s t he r ewar d of geni us and gr eat ness i n t hi s

l i f e.

SECTI ON XI .

One accusat i on agai nst Ber kel ey i s, t hat he

went so much beyond t he boundar y of hi s own

pr of essi on. I n t he pr emi ss i t sel f t her e i s much

t r ut h, but we cannot gr ant t he concl usi on whi ch

i s dr awn f r om i t . We cannot al l ow al l t hi s t o be

28 PART I .

Page 20 of 108

wr ong. " We see no r eason t hat a man shoul d

never gi ve advi ce and exer t hi s i nf l uence i n ot her

mat t er s besi des what di r ect l y bel ongs t o hi s pr o-

f essi on. Thi s woul d be t ant amount t o a pr ohi bi -

t i on not t o t hi nk of ot her t hi ngs ; f or t o know i s

of l i t t l e use, i f i t i s never put i n pr act i ce when

t hat i s conveni ent and needf ul . Accor di ng t o t hi s

nar r ow t heor y, i gnor ance i n al l mat t er s except t he

di r ect pr of essi on of a man i s an advant age. Ac-

cor di ng t o t hi s, no one but a svi r geon must t r y t o

save l i f e ; no one but an at t or ney must gi ve any

advi ce i n l egal mat t er s ; no one but a st at esman

must t al k about t he st at e of t he count r y; and

no one but t he t heol ogi an must say anyt hi ng

of t he Bi bl e.

SECTI ON XI I .

Ther e i s not hi ng i n t he economy of Chr i st i an-

i t y whi ch pr ohi bi t s a mi ni st er of r el i gi on f r om

doi ng al l t he good he can i n al l ways, and exer t -

i ng hi s i nf l uence and power s i n ever y di r ect i on,

agai nst ever y f or m of evi l and er r or . He cannot

do al l hi s wor k i n t he pul pi t and by t he si ck bed ;

f or al l wr ong, mi ser y, and dar kness ar e not

ar ound t hem; mor eover , wi sdom and di scr et i on

woul d t each not t o br i ng al l t her e. Chr i st i ani t y

l eaves al l t he l egi t i mat e r el at i ons, dut i es, and

l i ber t i es of man i nt act i n t hi s r espect , onl y i t

LI FE. 29

enf or ces upon Li m mot i ves and condi t i ons.

Ever y body, ever y day of hi s l i f e, goes beyond t he

di r ect spher e of hi s cal l i ng. Ther e i s not an i ndi -

vi dual t o be f ound who never t hi nks, speaks, or

act s about anyt hi ng but what bel ongs t o hi s

act ual spher e of act i on. I t cannot be ; f or i t

woul d be cont r ar y t o t he i nt ui t i on of man' s

nat ur e, and at war i n number l ess i nst ances wi t h

t he best and nobl est f eel i ngs of hi s bei ng. I t

woul d at once er ase f r om exi st ence geni us, and

ever y super i or t al ent and pr of undi t y. A man of

hi gh geni us must not be conf i ned t o a common-

pl ace r out e, or hi s nat ur e wi l l be degr aded, hi s

spi r i t i mpr i soned, hi s hear t br oken, and t he wor l d

r obbed. Whi l st t he nar r ow common- pl ace pat h

wi l l sat i sf y and be wi de enough t o t he common-

pl ace spi r i t , not so wi t h one of t he super i or cl ass of

spi r i t s. He must have hi s meander i ng t ur ns i n

al l di r ect i ons, and have f ul l l i ber t y of t ur ni ng i n

and out , accor di ng t o t he eccent r i ci t i es of hi s

nat ur e ; t o obser ve and r ef l ect ; t o make new di s -

cover i es and exper i ment s ; and, per haps, he wi l l

f i nd a new, near er , and bet t er pat h ; at l east t he

wor l d wi l l be benef i t t ed i n havi ng new f act s and

exper i ment s.

SECTI ON Xl l l .

Let us not be mi si nt er pr et ed. We do not

r ecommend a negl ect of one' s pr of essi on, t o

Page 21 of 108

30 PART I .

at t end t o ot her mat t er s wl i i cl i do not bel ong

i mmedi at el y t o one' s chosen spher e of act i on.

On t he cont r ar y, we t hi nk t hat t he dut i es whi ch

bel ong di r ect l y t o ever y one' s cal l , shoul d have t he

pr eponder at e wei ght and i nf l uence Avi t h al l . No

one shoul d negl ect t he f unct i ons of hi s own pr o-

f essi on t o at t end t o ot her s of l ess i mpor t ance.

Al l shoul d ai m at r ai si ng t hei r own pr of essi on i n

ef l Fect i veness and usef ul ness, by ai mi ng t o excel

t hemsel ves i n i t . Ever y man, on mor al and

r at i onal gr ound, i s r esponsi bl e t o do t hi s. What

we mai nt ai n i s, t hat t her e i s no r i ght eous r eason

t o pr ohi bi t f r om man of any pr of essi on t o do al l

he can t o benef i t man i n al l ways, pr ovi ded he

does i t on enl i ght ened gr ound and si ncer e mot i ve,

accor di ng t o t he condi t i ons of t r ut h. We cannot ,

t her ef or e, condemn Ber kel ey i n t he abst r act , f or

hi s var i ed r ami f i cat i ons i nt o t he di f f er ent pat hs of

sci ence, i n pol i t i cs, i n mat hemat i cs. At one t i me

he wr i t es about t he l aws of nat ur e ; at anot her

t i me, about t he t heor y of vi si on ; now on ment al

phi l osophy, and not t he l east i n pol i t i cal and phi l o-

sophi cal t heol ogy. I n al l t hi s he benef i t t ed man;

and, so f ar as human r eason can see, he vi ol at ed

no l aw of r el i gi on or r eason. But vi ewi ng

t hi ngs r el at i vel y, i t i s possi bl e, never t hel ess, t hat

many of hi s f r i ends may say t hat t he bi shop was

not ent i r el y f aul t l ess so f ar as hi s l abour s and

LI FE. 31

wor ks ar e known. I t must be conf essed t hat t he

t ast e f or sci ence, phi l osophy, and pol i t i cs, appa-

r ent l y, pr eponder at ed i n i nf l uence over t he di r ect

i mpor t ant dut i es of hi s pr of essi on. I t must be

conf essed, al so, t hat t he pur el y t heol ogi cal por -

t i on of hi s wor ks, compar ed wi t h ot her depar t -

ment s, i s bot h meagr e and smal l . The absence of

t heol ogi cal l i t er at ur e we do not commend and

admi r e; but t hi s i s not an ar gument agai nst hi s

ot her wr i t i ngs. ^ I t may be t hat he had suf f i ci ent

r easons i n hi s own mi nd, not t o wr i t e mor e ext en-

si vel y i n t heol ogy. We shoul d not l i ke t o say t o

a bi shop or a mi ni st er , " Now you must not st udy

sci ence and phi l osophy; nei t her pol i t i cs nor

cl assi cs must be t hought of by you ; and sur el y

you must wr i t e not hi ng upon any of t hese

t hi ngs. " Thi s we shoul d r ebel agai nst ; but on

* Al l t he wor ks of Ber kel ey, i f not what i s cal l ed di r ect l y r el i -

gi ous, wer e wr i t t en f or t he good of men, and f r om r el i gi ous

sympat hy and mot i ve. I f he di d not al ways t r eat of t he human

hear t and consci ence and t he f i r st gr eat dut i es of r el i gi on, he f ed t he

mi nds and t r i ed t o cur e t he bodi es and amel i or at e t he condi t i ons of

men ; and unl ess t hese ar e done, r el i gi on i t sel f cannot be enj oyed,

pr act i sed, nor be devel oped. He who does t hese t hi ngs f r om a r el i -

gi ous mot i ve, i s a Di vi ne messenger t o men, and a gr eat benef act or

Page 22 of 108

t o hi s r ace. He went f ur t her t han t he st r ai t t heol ogi an and ner vous

r el i gi oni st , but was as r el i gi ous i n ai m and convi ct i on as any of

t hem ; and f ar gr ander i n concept i on and f eel i ng of human want and

dut y, consecr at i ng hi msel f and al l hi s power s t o t he honoui ' of hi s

God, t he advancement of Hi s t r ut h and goodness, and t he happi ness

of manki nd.

32 PART I .

t he ot her hand, i t may be sai d, f or a bi shop t o

wr i t e mor e on ever y t hi ng t han on t he subj ect -

mat t er of hi s own pr of essi on, i s, per haps, bot h

unwi se and out of pl ace. I t must be ment i oned

as a pal Hat i on of Ber kel ey' s case, t hat he wr ot e

most of hi s phi l osophi cal wor ks dur i ng t he t i me

t hat he had no r esponsi bl e mi ni st er i al char ge;

and nei t her af t er , nor bef or e he was made a

bi shop, has i t ever been br ought t o hi s char ge

t hat he negl ect ed any of t he dut i es of hi s hi gh

vocat i on.

33

PAET I I .

BERKELEY' S PHI LOSOPHY:

SECTI ON XI V.

Bi shop Ber kel ey i s best kr i owi i by t he syst em

of i deal i sm devel oped by l i i m. Thi s t heor y i s

unf ol ded i n t wo wor ks, cal l ed ' ' The Pr i nci pl es of

Human Knowl edge, " " ^ and " Thr ee Di al ogues be-

t ween Hyl as and Phi l onous/ ' f I f i t wer e not

f or t hi s syst em, t he name and wor ks of Ber kel ey,

l i ke many mor e good and gr eat men, woul d have

f al l en i nt o a st at e of ent i r e obscur i t y. But so

l ong as t he var i ous syst ems of ment al sci ence wi l l

be st udi ed, t he name of Ber kel ey wi l l be men-

t i oned and hi s wor ks st udi ed. As yet hi s t heor y

of i deal i sm, and wor ks i n gener al , have not been

so gener al l y r ead and di gest ed, as t hey have been

* The book cal l ed. The Pr i nci pl es of Human Knowl edcj e, was

publ i shed i n 1710, by Aar on I l honi es, f or Jer emy Pepyat , booksel l er

i n Ski nner Row, Dubl i n ; and was t he onl y edi t i on publ i shed i n Dr .

Ber kel ey' s l i f e.

t Hi s Thr ee Di al ogues l et ween Hi / l as and Phi l onous was pub-

l i shed i n London i n 1713. I t shows much acut eness, gr er . t pr e-

ci si on and el egance of expr essi on, bat consi der abl e r epet i t i on, and

of t en appear s as one t ur ni ng i n a ci r cl e.

D

34 PART I I .

Page 23 of 108

i gnor ant l y r ef er r ed t o and f l i ppant l y. t r eat ed wi t h

a smi l e. The demonst r at i on of t he gr eat l exi -

cogr apher , Dr . Johnson, agai nst t he i deal i sm of

Ber kel ey, ki cki ng a st one, i s as f ai t hf ul l y and

gener al l y copi ed as i t i s f ami l i ar l y known. ^ Hi s

syst em of i deal i sm i s consi der ed, gener al l y, so

absur d, and cont r ar y t o common sense and

uni ver sal exper i ence, t hat t he best answer i t i s

wor t hy of i s t o t r eat i t l i ght l y and i ndi f f er ent l y, as

t he pr oduct i on of one whose br ai n was not sound .

at t he t i me i n al l i t s or gans and power s. f On t hi s

gr ound t he phi l osopher has j ust r eason t o com-

pl ai n, and appeal agai nst hi s cr i t i cs and j udges.

We t hi nk t hat t he vi ews and si ncer e convi ct i ons

of al l men shoul d be t r eat ed r espect f ul l y and cha-

* " Af t er we came out of t he chur ch, " says Boswcl l , " we st ood

t al ki ng f or some t i me t oget her of Bi shop Ber kel ey' s i ngeui ous

sophi st r y t o pr ove t he non- exi st euce of mat t er , and t hat ever yt hi ng

i n t he uni ver se i s mer el y i deal . I obser ved, t hat t hough we ar e

sat i sf i ed hi s doct r i ne i s not t r ue, i t i s i mpossi bl e t o r ef ut e i t . I

never shal l f or get t he al acr i t y wi t h whi ch Johnson answer ed,

st r i ki ng hi s f oot wi t h mi ght y f or ce agai nst a l ar ge st one t i l l he

r ebounded f r om i t , — ' / r ef ut e i t t hus. ' " — Boswel l ' s Li f e of

Johnson, vol . i . , pp. 303, 304.

t Ther e i s anot her i nst ance i n t he Li f e of Johnson by Boswel l ,

wher e t he f i ; r cat cr i t i c t r eat s Ber kel ey' s i deal i sm l i gl i t l y. Bei ng i a

company wi t h a gent l eman who t hought t i t t o mai nt ai n Dr . Ber ke-

l ey' s i ngeni ous phi l osophy, — t hat not hi ng exi st s but as per cei ved by

some mi nd ; when t he gent l eman was goi ng away, Johnson sai d t o

hi m, " Pr ay, Si r , don' t l eave us ; f or we may, per haps, f or get t o

t hi nk of you, and t hen you wi l l cease t o exi st ! " — Boswel l ' s Li f e of

Johi son, vol . i v. , p. 20.

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 35

r i t abl y, and t hat however novel and pecul i ar t hey

may be, pr ovi ded t l i ey ar e bel i eved and st at ed

upr i ght l y and f ai r l y. And t hi s i s pecul i ar l y

r at i onal and r i ght eous on t he gr ound of phi l o-

sophy. Thi s concessi on shoul d be made t o

Ber kel ey ; and we ar e pr epar ed t o gi ve hi m a f ul l ,

f ai r , and j ust hear i ng. Thi s we st at e, not f r om

any par t i al i t y t o t he i deal i sm of Ber kel ey, but on

t he gr ound of r at i onal , i mpar t i al j ust i ce.

SECTI ON XV.

On ever y si de i t i s conf essed t hat he has pr o-

pounded hi s syst em wi t hout a met hod, and of t en

i s ver y ambi guous ; so much so somet i mes, t hat

hi s vi ews and t heor y ar e so obscur e, t hat bot h t he

Heal i st and t he I deal i st may r ef er t o i t f or suppor t

and pr oof . " ^ He appear s as one under a sudden

* The Real i st s and t he I deal i st s ar e t he t wo gr eat common cl asses

of bel i ever s aud unbel i ever s i n mat er i al subst ance, whi ch may be snb-

di vi ded accor di ng t o t he var i ous gr ades of t hei r bel i ef . The Real i st s

ar e cal l ed somet i mes t he Subst ant i al i st s : t hey ar e commonl y di vi ded

i nt o nat ur al Real i st s, and hypot het i cal Rf cal i st s. They ar e agai n

di vi ded i nt o Dual i st s, and Uni t ar i ans or Moni st s, accor di ng as t hey

Page 24 of 108

vi ew t he t est i mony of coasci ousness as t o subj ect and obj ect t o our

ul t i mat e per cept i on. The I deal i st s ar e cl assed i nt o t wo gr eat

and common cl asses ; t he cosmot ket i c and t he absol ut e I deal i st s.

The Ck) smot het i c ar e di vi ded i nt o t wo : t hose who vi ew t he i deal or

r epr esent at i ve obj ect t o be a t er t i um qui d di f f er ent f r om t he per ci pi -

ent mi nd as f r om t he r epr esent ed obj ect ; aud ot her s who r egar d t he

et her eal wor l d as onl y a modi f i cat i on of t he mi nd i t sel f . And t he

f or mer of t hese vi ews, agai n, i s di vi ded i nt o var i ous subdi vi si ons ; —

as t heor i es may di f f er as t o t he nat ur e and or i gi n of t he vi car i ous

D 2

36

PART i r .

i mpnl se of di scover y and convi ct i on ; he r uns

hast i l y t o make hi s phi l osophi cal panacea known

t o t he wor l d, and t hat wi t hout st udyi ng met hod

or per spi cui t y. He opened hi s bag, and t hr ew hi s

var i ed mat er i al s down at t he f oot of men, wi t hout

any f or m or cl assi f i cat i on. He appear s f r equent l y

as one anxi ous t o make some concessi on, especi -

al l y t o t he " vul gar , " as i f he wer e af r ai d of

l aunchi ng t oo f ar , or bei ng t hought of doi ng so at

l east , or t hat he mi ght gai n f or hi s t heor y mor e

di sci pl es and f avour . He wal ks as one wi t hout a

t r ack. He had onl y t wo poi nt s bef or e hi m, — t he

st ar t i ng gr ound and t he concl udi ng spot ; but he

had no st r ai ght l i ne bet ween t hese ext r em. e poi nt s,

— he must make t hat hi msel f . Hi s st ar t i ng- poi nt

obj ect , as. I s i t mat er i al or i mmat er i al ? Does i t come f r om wi t hout ,

or r i se f r om wi t hi n ? Does i t emanat e f r om ext er nal r eal i t y, or f r om

a hi gher sour ce? I s i t pr oduced by God, or by some hi gher i nt el l i -

gence, or a r epr esent at i on i n t he Dei t y Hi msel f ? I s i t i nnat e, or

pr oduced by t he mi nd on t he occasi on of t he pr esence of mat t er ?

Such ar e some of t l i ese subt l e aud puzzl i ng t heor i es. Absol ut e

I deal i sm i s agai n di vi ded i nt o t wo pr i nci pal speci es; — t he t hei st i c,

and t he egoi st i c. The f i r st supposes t hat t he Dei t y r epr esent s t o

t he mi nd what we mi st ake f or an ext er nal wor l d ; t he second sup-

poses t hat t hese appear ances ar e mani f est ed t o consci ousness, i n con-

f or mi t y wi t h some unknown l aws, by t he mi nd i t sel f . The Thei st i c

i s agai n subdi vi ded i nt o t hr ee t heor i es : accor di ng as God i s sup-

posed t o exhi bi t t he phenomena i n quest i on i n Hi s own nat ur e, or

t o i nf use i nt o t he per ci pi ent mi nd r epr esent at i ve ent i t i es di f f er ent

f r om i t s own modi f i cat i on, or t o det er mi ne t he ef f o i t sel f t o an al l u-

si ve r epr esent at i on of t he non- ego. See Si r \ V. Hami l t on' s Di s-

cour ses on Phi l osophy and Li t er at ur e, pp. 54- 00, l ' J3- 200. Al so

hi s Lect ur es on Met aphysi cs, vol . i . , pp. 2' J 1- 297.

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 37

was a convi ct i on of t he non- exi st ence of mat t er

wi t hout t he per cei vi ng bei ng ; hi s ul t i mat e obj ect

was t he maki ng of t hi s t heor y known unt o ot her s,

Page 25 of 108

and convi nci ng t hem of i t s t r ut h and advant age.

I n bot h he was ear nest and si ncer e. Al l hi s ski l l ,

l ear ni ng, and acut eness, ar e summoned si mul t a-

neousl y t o pr epar e t hei r var i ed l ogi cal ar r ows

agai nst a mat er i al wor l d, and compl et el y anni hi -

l at e i t f r om exi st ence, or t o pr ove t hat i t never

di d exi st , whi ch, t o t he common sense of shor t -

si ght ed mor t al s, woul d be t he same t hi ng.

Ever yt hi ng exi st s i n t he mi nd t hat per cei ves i t ;

and apar t f r om t he per cei vi ng mi nd not hi ng

exi st s. The r eal pl ace and f or m of exi st ence i s i n

t he i dea. The desk I wr i t e upon, t he paper I f eel

— t hey exi st i n my i deas, and nowher e el se ; and

t hey may exi st i n t he i deas of al l ot her s, i f t hey

onl y saw and f el t t hem, at t he same t i me. I f t he

per cei vi ng ego di d not exi st , t he desk and t he

paper bef or e me coul d not have exi st ed. I deas

ar e obj ect s of per cept i on, and t hei r exi st ence i s i n

t he f act t hat t hey ar e per cei ved. I deas ar e di f t er -

ent f r om t he mi nd, and yet t hey exi st i n t he

mi nd. He t el l s us t hat al l t he mat er i al t hi ngs

ar ound us, and al l t he obj ect s of our senses, ar e

not hi ng mor e t han i deas ; and al l t hese exi st i n

t he mi nd, and nowher e el se. Hence, usi ng t he

t hought of Dr . Br own, t hi s syst em r at her mat er i -

38 PART I I .

al i zes mi nd, t han spi r i t ual i zes mat t er . * Though

i t deni es t he mat er i al out si de, yet i t cr eat es some-

t hi ng t hat i s not pur el y ment al i nsi de ; i t deni es

t he ol d wor l d, t hat has been al ways i nt ui t i vel y

bel i eved i n, yet i t cal l s i nt o bei ng anot her wor l d

of i deas. Thi s may be smal l or l ar ge, j ust as i t i s

per cei ved ; i f i t i s not per cei ved by anybody, i t

dees not exi st ; f or i t s r eal exi st ence i s i n t he f act

t hat i t i s per cei ved by some i nt el l i gent mi nd. I t

may exi st t o one wi t hout exi st i ng t o t he ot her ;

f or one may per cei ve i t whi l st t he ot her does not

per cei ve i t . A t hi ng exi st i ng and not exi st i ng at

t he same t i me, accor di ng t o t he l ogi c of common

r easoni ng, i s a cont r adi ct i on. f

* Dt . Thomas Br ovr u, an el egant phi l osopher . Never any wor ks

on met aphysi cs have been so popul ar and capt i vat i ng as hi s Leet ur es

wer e, when t hey wer e f ust publ i shed. I t may be sai d, however ,

not wi t hst andi ng l i i s gr eat phi l osophi cal geni ns, t hat i t i s ver y doubt -

f ul Avhet her bi s st yl e i s not t oo f l ower y t o sui t ser i ous and deep

met aphysi cal t hought . The phi l osopher was bor n at Ki r kmabr eck,

Ki r kcudbr i ght shi r e, i n 1778 ; and, af t er an i l l ust r i ous car eer as a

medi cal pr act i t i oner , l ect ur er on met aphysi cs, and an aut hor , di ed at

Er ompt ou, Loudon, whi t her he had gone f or hi s heal t h, m 1826.

t The l ogi cal " l aw of i dent i t y or cont r adi ct i on" i s t he gener al

expr essi on and cr i t er i on of al l necessar y t r ut h. The l aw i s t hat a

t hi ng must be what i t i s. A i s A. Thi s l aw vi ndi cat es i t sel f ; and

shows at l east one necessar y t r ut h or l aw of r eason. I n i t sel f i t i s

of l i t t l e val ue ; but as an abbr evi at ed expr essi on f or t he cr i t er i on of

t r ut h, i t i s of hi gh i mpor t ance and of gr eat val ue. The pr i mar y l aws

of t hought , or t he condi t i ons of t he t hi nkabl e, ar e f our : — 1. The l aw

Page 26 of 108

of i dent i t y. 2. The l aw of cont r adi ct i on. 3. The l aw of excl usi on;

or excl uded mi ddl e. 4. The l aw of suf f i ci ent r eason.

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 39

sect i on xvi .

I Sow, accor di ng t o t hi s i deal i sm, i deas ar e not

par t of t he t hi nki ng ego, nei t her ar e t hey mat er i al

subst ance; t her ef or e, t hey must be somet hi ng

di f f er ent f r om bot h, or possess t he qual i t i es of

bot h. Accor di ng t o t hi s, t hi s t heor y cal l s i nt o

exi st ence a new cl ass of ent i t i es, or i deas must be

ei t her spi r i t ual or mat er i al . I f i deas ar e mat er i al ,

Ber kel ey wi l l be no f ur t her on hi s way, t han he

was bef or e t he t hought of hi s t heor y ; t he name

i s t he onl y di f f er ence, — mat t er st i l l exi st s under

t he name i dea. I f i deas ar e spi r i t ual , t hi s woul d

be di r ect l y agai nst hi s t heor y. I f i deas wer e

made up of mi nd and mat t er , t hi s woul d be

agai nst hi m ; f or t hen mat t er and mi nd woul d be

t he synt hesi s. I f di f f er ent f r om bot h, t hi s woul d

not hel p hi m ; but i nvol ve hi m and al l i n gr eat er

per pl exi t y. We cannot see how Ber kel ey can

avoi d t he di l emma of t he pr ecedi ng concl usi ons,

wi t hout gi vi ng up hi s t heor y of i deal i sm. Let

t he i ngeni ous phi l osopher be hear d i n hi s own

wor ds : " Thi s per cei vi ng, act i ve bei ng i s what I

cal l mi nd, spi r i t , soul , or mysel f : by whi ch wor ds

I do not denot e any one of my i deas, but a t hi ng

ent i r el y di st i nct f r om t hem, wher ei n t hey exi st ,

or , whi ch i s t he same t hi ng, wher eby t hey ar e

per cei ved ; f or t he exi st ence of an i dea consi st s i n

40 PAl l T I I .

bei ng per cei ved/ ^ * He unf ol ds Li s vi ews f ur t her

i n t he f ol l owi ng wor ds : " The t abl e I wr i t e on, I

say exi st s, t hat i s, I see and f eel i t ; and i f I wer e

out of my st udy I shoul d say i t exi st ed, meani ng

t her eby t hat i f I was i n my st udy I mi ght per -

cei ve i t , or t hat some ot her spi r i t act ual l y does

per cei ve i t . Ther e was an odour , t hat i s, i t was

smel l ed ; t her e was a sound, t hat i s t o say, i t was

hear d ; a col our or f i gur e, and i t was per cei ved by

si ght or t ouch. Thi s i s al l I can under st and by

t hese and t he l i ke expr essi ons ; f or as t o what i s

sai d of t he absol ut e exi st ence of unt hi nki ng t hi ngs

>v i t hout any r el at i on t o t hei r bei ng per c ei v ed, t hat

seems per f ec t l y uni nt el l i gi bl e. Thei r es »e i s per -

ci pi , nor i s i t pos s i bl e t hey s houl d hav e any

ex i s t enc e out of t he mi nds or t hi nk i ng t hi ngs

whi c h per c ei v e t hem. " " The v ul gar opi ni on

i nv ol v es a c ont r adi c t i on. I t i s , i ndeed, an opi ni on

st r angel y pr ev ai l i ng amongs t men, t hat hous es ,

mount ai ns , r i v er s , and i n a wor d al l s ens i bl e

obj ec t s , hav e an ex i s t enc e nat ur al or r eal di s t i nc t

f r om t hei r bei ng per c ei v ed by t he under s t andi ng.

But wi t h how gr eat an as s ur anc e and ac qui es c enc e

souv er t hi s pr i nc i pl e may be ent er t ai ned i n t he

Page 27 of 108

wor l d, y et whoev er s hal l f i nd i t i n hi s hear t t o c al l

i t i n ques t i on, may , i f I mi s t ak e not , per c ei v e i t

t o i nv ol v e a mani f es t c ont r adi c t i on ; f or what ar e

* Pr l nc i i j h' s of I I i nn an KnuwI eJ y e, j ) . 87, s ec t . i i .

Ber k el ey ' s phi l os ophy . 41

t he f or er aent i oned obj ec t s but t he t hi ngs we per -

cei v e by s ens e ? and i s i t not pl ai nl y r epugnant

t hat * any one of t hem, or any c ombi nat i on of

t hem, ex i s t unper c ei v ed ? "

To mak e i t mor e c l ear and ex pl i c i t , we s hal l

quot e onc e mor e : " Fr om what has been s ai d/ '

say s t he aut hor , " i t f ol l ows t her e i s not any ot her

subs t anc e t han s pi r i t , or t hat whi c h per c ei v es .

But f or t he f ul l er pr oof of t hi s poi nt , l et i t be c on-

si der ed t he s ens i bl e qual i t i es ar e c ol our , f i gur e,

mot i on, s mel l , t as t e, and s uc h l i k e ; t hat i s , t he

i deas per c ei v ed by s ens e. Now, f or any i dea t o

ex i s t i n an unper c ei v i ng t hi ng, i s a mani f es t c on-

t r adi c t i on ; f or , t o hav e an i dea i s al l one as t o

per c ei v e ; t hat , t her ef or e, wher ei n c ol our , f i gur e,

and t he l i k e qual i t i es ex i s t , mus t per c ei v e t hem ;

henc e i t i s c l ear t her e c an be no unt hi nk i ng

subs t anc e or s ubs t r at um of t hos e i deas . " *

SECTI ON XVI I .

I t i s c l ear , f r om t he quot at i ons made, t hat

Ber k el ey deni es , v i r t ual l y and ac t ual l y , t he ex i s t -

enc e of t he ex t er nal wor l d. The ex t er nal wor l d

i s not hi ng but s ubj ec t i v e i deas . What ev er hi s

di s c i pl es and apol ogi z er s i ngeni ous l y s ay t o s c r een

or modi f y hi s t heor y , hi s l anguage i s c l ear , and

hi s meani ng c annot be mi s t ak en. I n f ac t , he i s

* Pr i nc i pl es of Human Ki t owl edi / e, pp. 88, 89, s ec t s . 3, 4, 7.

42 PART 11.

cl ear er , and not s o di s i ngenuous , as hi s apol o-

gi z er s and ex pounder s . I t mak es no di f f er enc e

as t o t he way he pr oc eeds , and t he i ngenui t y he

di s pl ay s ; t he end ai med at i s , t he t ot al deni al of

mat t er . Thi s i s t he onl y i nt er pr et at i on whi c h t he

l et t er and s pi r i t of hi s phi l os ophy wi l l f ur ni s h us

wi t h. To put anot her c ons t r uc t i on upon hi s phi -

l os ophy woul d be t o do i nj us t i c e t o t he aut hor ,

and v i ol at i on t o hi s s y s t em. The mat er i al uni -

ver s e, i n i t s t en t hous and c l as s es of bei ngs , and

number l es s t angi bl e obj ec t s , i s r educ ed t o i deas or

sens at i ons . I f s uc h a t heor y c oul d be pr ov ed

t r ue, we s houl d t hi nk i t a mos t mar v el l ous t hi ng,

t hat uni v er s al humani t y has been dec ei v ed s o

l ong. I t woul d hav e been t he mos t amaz i ng di s -

cov er y t hat human r eas on ev er made ; and t he

geni us whi c h made i t woul d be t he mos t ex t r aor -

di nar y . The ex t er nal wor l d, ac c or di ng t o t hi s

Page 28 of 108

amaz i ng di s c ov er y , has no t r ue ex i s t enc e but i n

t he c ompas s of man' s i deas . Not onl y t he c at a-

l ogue of mat er i al obj ec t s ar e i deal i n c onc ept i on,

but t he r eal t hi ngs t hems el v es ; he c ar r i es t hem

al l wi t h hi m i n hi s i deas . The s un he s ees i s not

abov e hi m, but i n hi s i dea ; t he moon he behol ds

by ni ght i s not many mi l es di s t ant , but i n hi s

sens at i ou ; t he t en t hous and s t ar s he s ees

t hr ough hi s magni f y i ng t el es c ope, ar e not ac t ual l y

i n t he di f f er ent c ons t el l at i ons of heav en, but i n

Ber k el ey ' s phi l os ophy . 43

hi ni j i n hi s i deas ; f or t he r eal ex i s t enc e of t hi ngs

i s i n per c ei v i ng t hem ; t he mi nd per c ei v es

not hi ng but i deas , and i deas ex i s t i n t he mi nd.

He mai nt ai ns t hat t he r i v er s , t he t r ees , t he f i el ds ,

t he hous es , beas t s , and men, hav e no r eal ex i s t -

enc e, but i n t he mer e s ens at i ons of man. And,

sur e enough, i f t hey ex i s t ed wi t hi n man, t hey

coul d not be r eal ; f or no f i ni t e s pac e and power

coul d f i nd pl ac e f or t hem al l .

SECTI ON XVI I I .

I t i s t r ue, t hat he does not deny ex t er nal phe-

nomena, as pr es ent i ng t hems el v es t o t he s ens es .

Mr . Lewes t el l s us , i n hi s " Bi ogr aphi c al Hi s t or y

of Phi l os ophy , " ^ t hat t hi s i s an unf or t unat e af f ai r

f or hi s c r i t i c s . Ber k el ey c oul d not deny t he

cogni z anc e of c er t ai n obj ec t s by t he s ens es , wi t h-

out bei ng c ons i der ed a mani ac ; y et , he deni es

t he ex t er nal r eal i t y of al l mat er i al s ubs t anc e, i nde-

* " Uuf or t unat el y f or t he c r i t i c s , " wr i t es ] Mr . Lewes , " Ber k el ey

di d not c ont r adi c t t he ev i denc e of t he s ens es ; di d not pr opound a

t heor y at v ar i anc e i n t hi s poi nt wi t h t he or di nar y bel i ef of mank i nd.

Hi s pec ul i ar i t y i s , t hat he c onf i ned hi ms el f ex c l us i v el y t o t he ev i -

denc e of t he s ens es . What t he s ens es i nf or med hi m of , t hat , and

t / i at onl i j , woul d he ac c ept . He hel d f as t t o t he f ac t s of c ons c i ous -

nes s ; he pl ac ed hi ms el f r es ol ut el y i n t he c ent r e of t he i ns t i nc t i v e

bel i ef of mank i nd ; t her e he t ook up hi s s t and, l eav i ng t o phi l os o-

pher s t he r egi on of s uppos i t i on, i nf er enc e, and of oc c ul t s ubs t anc es . "

— Lei oes s Bi of f r aj i hi c al Hi s t or y of Pk i l os ophi / , v ol . i v . , p. 9.

Kni ght ' s Edi t i on.

44 PART T. I .

pendent of t he per c ei v i ng bei ng ; and t hi s l eads t o

t he s ame c onc l us i on as t he deni al of t he pheno-

mena of mat t er , and l es s c ons i s t ent . He deni es

t he f i nal and s i mpl e c r edenc e t o t he t es t i mony of

hi s s ens es . Hi s s ens es i nf or med hi m of c er t ai n

mat er i al obj ec t s , ex t er nal and i ndependent of

hi ms el f ; but he c omes f or war d and c or r ec t s t hei r

t es t i mony , and s ay s , " O dear ! y ou mi s i nf or m

me; al l t hos e t hi ngs whi c h y ou i nf or m me t o

be wi t hout me, mat er i al i n nat ur e and i ndepend-

ent of me i n ex i s t enc e and r el at i on, ar e wi t hi n

me ; t hey ar e as es s ent i al par t s of me as my

Page 29 of 108

i deas ; t hey ar e as s pi r i t ual as my i deas ; t hey

ar e not hi ng but my i deas or s ens at i ons . "

SECTI ON XI X.

I s ee an ex t er nal obj ec t , a t r ee, a f i el d, or

some ot her mat er i al t hi ng, and i n t hes e as qual i -

t i es t her e ar e ex t ens i on and f i gur e. My s ens e

woul d i nt ui t i v el y i nf or m me t hat t hes e obj ec t s

ar e ex t er nal and di f f er ent f r om my s el f ; but Ber k e-

l ey s ay s . No; t hey ar e i n my mi nd; t hey ar e

not hi ng but i nwar d s ens at i ons . Ther e i s br ead on

t he t abl e; I f eel , s ee, and t as t e i t . Her e we hav e

t he t es t i mony of t hr ee s ens es t hat t hi s br ead i s

somet hi ng ex t er nal and i ndependent of t he ey es

t hat s ee i t , t he mout hs t hat eat i t , and t he hands

Ber k el ey ' s phi l os ophy . 45

whi c h handl e i t : i t i s c l ear t hat i t has ex t ens i on,

f i gur e, c ol oui % wei ght , and c er t ai n t as t e. But

ac c or di ng t o t hi s i deal phi l os ophy , t hi s br ead i s

not hi ng but an i dea i n t he mi nd. Pi t y t hat s uc h

i deas c annot be pr oduc ed i n t he mi nd of many

hungr y ones ; i t woul d be a c onv eni ent and c heap

way t o s uppl y t hei r want s . I c ar r y a heav y bur -

den ; mj ^ f eel i ngs i nf or m me of t he t i me I t ook i t

up and put i t down ; but her e, as wel l as i n ot her

mat t er s of whi c h t he s ens es i nf or m us , t he good

bi s hop s t eps f or war d and s t out l y mai nt ai ns t hat

f eel i ng i s i nher ent i n t he mi nd, and t hat al l i s

not hi ng but an i nwar d s ens at i on. We bel i ev e

t hat i n s uc h c i r c ums t anc es v er y f ew woul d bel i ev e

t he good Doc t or . Thi s i s t he pl ai n l ogi c of hi s

phi l os ophy . I t i s amaz i ng i f ev er he hi ms el f was

a s at i s f i ed c onv er t t o i t s r eas oni ng and c onc l us i on.

SECTI ON XX.

My s ens es i nf or m me of s omet hi ng t angi bl e;

t hey i nf or m me al s o t hat t hi s t angi bl e t hi ng i s

wi t hout me and qui t e i ndependent of me. They

i nf or m me, mor eov er , t hat t hi s t angi bl e t hi ng,

ex t er nal and i ndependent of me, has c er t ai n qual i -

t i es , as l engt h and br eadt h, c ol our , and c al or i c .

But t hi s phi l os ophy wi l l not ac c ept of s uc h ev i -

denc e, but at onc e r ef us es i t whol es al e, and s ay s ^

46 PART I I .

al l i s a mi s t ak e ; al l t hes e ar e not hi ng but per -

cept i ons of t he mi nd, and t he mi nd per c ei v es

not hi ng but i deas , and t hes e i deas ar e i n t he mi nd.

Thi s i deal i s m ac c us es t he s ens es of dec ei v i ng us ;

i t di s bel i ev es and deni es t hei r pr i mor di al and f i nal

t es t i mony . The v er y r oot of t he t heor y mus t be

t r ac ed t o t he want of c onf i denc e i n t he s i mpl e

t es t i mony of t he s ens es . I t v r oul d hav e been,

t her ef or e, mor e c andi d and unambi guous , as wel l

as bet t er f or t he t heor y i t s el f , t o hav e dec l ar ed an

Page 30 of 108

open war agai ns t t he t es t i mony of t he s ens es .

That Ber k el ey t hus ac c ept s i n t he f i r s t i ns t anc e

t he t es t i mony of t he s ens es , and y et deni es t hem

f i nal c r edenc e, we t hi nk i t an unf or t unat e t hi ng

f or hi m and hi s phi l os ophy ; and not , as Mr .

Lewes t hi nk s , f or hi s c r i t i c s . I f t he t es t i mony of

t he s ens es i s t o be ac c ept ed as t o t he phenomenon

of mat t er , what c ons i s t enc y i s t her e i n deny i ng

t hei r t es t i mony t hat mat t er i s what i t appear s t o

be, a r eal ex t er nal s ubs t anc e i ndependent of i deas ?

I f t hi s ev i denc e i s t o be ac c ept ed i n one, why

r ef us e i t i n t he ot her ? Thi s i s ac c ept i ng and

r ef us i ng t he t es t i mony of t he s ame wi t nes s , and

t hat r el at i v e t o t he s ame t hi ng. I t appear s t o us

t hat t hi s i nv ol v es bot h i nc ons i s t enc y and c ont r a-

di c t i on.

BERKELEY S PHI LOSOPHY. 47

SECTI ON XXI .

And y et t hi s phi l os ophy c l ai ms a s y mpat hy

and c oi nc i denc e wi t h t he v i ew of t he v ul gar . Mr .

LeweSj i n t he wor k we hav e al r eady ment i oned,

say s , " He t hought wi t h t he v ul gar t hat mat t er

was t hat of whj c h hi s s ens es i nf or med hi m, not an

oc c ul t s omet hi ng of whi c h he c oul d hav e no

i nf or mat i on, " I n our humbl e opi ni on Mr . Lewes

di d not r i ght l y i nf or m hi ms el f of t he v i ew of t he

vul gar , or has mi s t ak en Ber k el ey , or was not s i n-

cer e i n t hi s as s er t i on. We ar e r eady t o as k i n

r ef er enc e t o hi m, as he di d i n r ef er enc e t o Rei d' s ^

and Beat t i e' s , t " Wher e was ] \ I r . Lewes ^ us ual

ac ut enes s ?" I f we wer e t o as k Mr . Lewes i n a

st r ai ght f or war d manner . Di d Dr . Ber k el ey deny

t he ex t er nal ex i s t enc e of mat t er , as i t i s c onc ei v ed

and bel i ev ed i n by t he gener al i t y of men, or di d he

not ? we mus t hav e a s t r ai ght f or war d ans wer t o

* Dr . Thomas Rei d was a di v i ne, and one of t he gr eat es t phi l o-

sopher s t hat Sc ot l and ev er pr oduc ed. Hi s c hi ef wor k s ar e, " An

I nqui r y i nt o t he Human i \ I i nd, " and " Es s ay s on t he I nt el l ec t ual and

Ac t i v e Power s of Man. " He was bor n at St r ac han, Ki nc ar di nes hi r e,

i n t he y ear 1710 ; and di ed i n 1790.

t Dr . J ames Beat t i e was bot h a poet and a phi l os opher . He was

t he aut hor of many wor k s of c ons i der abl e popul ar i t y i n hi s day ; but

hi s " Mi ns t r el , " and " Es s ay on Tr ut h, " ar e t l i e wor k s by whi c h he

i s mos t gener al l y and l as t i ngl y k nown. He was t he Pr of es s or of

Mor al Phi l os ophy f or many y ear s i n t he Mar i s c hal Col l ege of Aber -

deen, an of f i c e whi c h he r et ai ned t i l l near l y t he c l os e of l i f e. He

was bor n at Lawr euc ek i r k , Sc ot l and, i n 1735 ; and di ed, 1803.

48 PART I I .

t hi s s i mpl e and pl ai n ques t i on. We s hal l ac c ept

of no met aphy s i c al qui bbl i ng. Mr . Lewes wi U

not obj ec t t o t hi s , bei ng s uc h a f ai t hf ul di s c i pl e

and adv oc at e of Comt e' s pos i t i v e phi l os ophy . *

Page 31 of 108

* Aua; ust e Comt e, a l at e Fr ench pl i i l osopl i cr . He commenced

hi ? publ i c l i f e as a f ol l ower of Sai nt Si mon, and, i n 1820, pr epar ed

a wor k expl anat or y of ( he sy- Nt em of t hat ext r aor di nar y man. He

subsequent l y became a Mat hemat i cal Pr of essor at t he Pol yt echni c

School ; but on t he accessi on of l ; 0ui s Napol eon t o t he Empi r e, he

was depr i ved of t hat posi t i on. Bet ween 1830 and 1842, he j mb-

l i shed, i n si x l ar ge vol umes, hi s " Cour se of Posi t i ve Phi l osophy, "

t he pur pose of whi ch i s ( o pr ove t hat t he human mi nd passes

t hr ough t hr ee di f f er ent st ages i n i t s medi t at i ons upon al l subj ect s.

The l i r st i s t he t heol ogi cal ; t he second, t he met aphysi cal ; and t he

t hi r d, t he posi t i ve ; i n whi ch, i t i s supposed, t he mi nd has acqui r ed

a posi t i ve knowl edge of t hi ngs, accor di ng t o t hei r compr ehensi on,

r el at i on, and har mony wi t h t he l aws of t he uni ver se, l u 1843, he

publ i shed a mat hemat i cal wor k ; and, i n t he f ol l owi ng year , a " Di s -

cour se " i nt ended t o enf or ce and make cl ear er hi s l ar ger wor k. Hi s

t heor i es at t r act ed a l ar ge number of ar dcut di sci pl es and admi r er s;

especi al l y among t he di sci pl es of Sai ut Si mon and Four i er . Not onl y

he f ound many f ol l ower s i n Fr ance, but i n Engl and and Eur ope he has

many di sci pl es and admi r er s: and Mr . Lewes appear s t o be one

of t hem. At Par i s, an I nst i t ut i on was est abl i shed, of whi ch

Comt e hi msel f was a ki nd of hi gh pr i est ; and al l i t s member s used

al l means and t he gr eat est act i vi t y t o pr omul gat e t he vi ews of t hei r

admi r ed and gr eat mast er . Ther e ar e sever al causes whi ch have

gr eat l y enhanced t he i nf l uence and popul ar i t y of hi s syst em. The

' ' Cour se of Posi t i ve Phi l osophy " i s undeni abl y a ver y gr eat wor k ; and

no one but t he ver y f i r st i nt el l ect and geni us coul d have pr oduced i t ;

and ever y gr eat wor k by a mast er spi r i t i s sur e t o make many di s -

ci pl es. But t her e ar e ot her r easons, wl i i ch ar e t o be f ound i n t he

st at e of men' s vi ews and sympat hi es, whi ch hel ped gr eat l y i t s

popul ar i t y.

The aut hor had a hi gh name and posi t i on ; t he wor k has an

l uazi ng amount of sci ence i n i t ; t her e i s a t endency i n t he Eur opean

mi nd t o mat er i al i sm, especi al l y i n t he Engl i sh mi nd ; and, above al l ,

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. • 49

We t hi nk t hat Mr . Lewes must answer i n t he

posi t i ve. Let us quot e a f ew sent ences f r om

Ber kel ey hi msel f . " I t wi l l be ur ged/ ' says t he

aut hor ^ " t hat t hi s much at l east i s t r ue ; t o wi t ,

t hat we t ake away al l cor por eal subst ances. To

t hi s my answer i s, t hat i f t he wor d subst ance be

t aken i n t he vul gar sense f or a convi ct i on of

sensi bl e qual i t i es, such as ext ensi on, sol i di t y,

wei ght , and t he l i ke; t hi s we cannot be advi sed

of t aki ng away. But i f i t be t aken i n a phi l o-

sophi cal sense f or t he suppor t of acci dent s or

qual i t i es wi t hout t he mi nd, t hen i ndeed I acknow-

l edge t hat we t ake i t away, i f one may be sai d t o

t ake away t hat whi ch never had any exi st ence, not

even i n t he i magi nat i on/ ' * Thi s passage mi ght

mi sl ead any one who i s not f ami l i ar wi t h hi s sys-

t em. He does not deny " sensi bl e qual i t i es, as

i n t he mat t er - of - f act st udent s of mat er i al sci ence. Ther e i s a com-

mon di sl i ke among many f or mal sci ent i f i c men t o met aphysi cs ;

and, above al l , i t i s ver y accept abl e t o t he wi sh and f eel i ng of men,

t o bel i eve t hemsel ves i n possessi on of posi t i ve and i nf al l i bl e know-

l edge about al l obj ect s of anxi ous i nqui r y. I t i s t he dogma of

i nf al l i bi l i t y i nt r oduced i nt o phi l osophy ; and t he l of t y quest i ons of

met aphysi cs r educed t o t he l i mi t of human mechani sm, and posi t i ve

Page 32 of 108

knowl edge. I t l i mi t s human t hought , and par al yses i nt el l ect ual

ener gy ; and no doubt i t s t endency i s mat er i al and scept i cal . Comt e' s

" Posi t i ve Phi l osophy " has been t r ansl at ed i nt o Engl i sh by Mi ss

Mar t i neau. He was bor n at Mont pel i er , 1795, and, af t er an i l l us -

t r i ous, act i ve, and ear nest l i f e, di ed i n Par i s, i n t he year 1857, l oved

and r egr et t ed by a l ar ge ni mi ber i n Pr ance, Eur ope, and Amer i ca.

* Pr i ndi j l es of Human Knowl edge, p. I GO.

E

50 PART 11.

ext ensi on, sol i di t y, " and so on. But what does he

mean by t hese qual i t i es? Not l i i ng mor e t han

qual i t i es i n t he f or m of i deas exi st i ng i n t he mi nd.

Let t hi s be known once mor e i n t he wor ds of

Ber kel ey hi msel f , on t he same page as t he above :

— " The har dness or sof t ness, t he col our , t ast e,

war mt h, f r j ur e, or such l i ke qual i t i es, whi ch, com-

bi ned t oget her , const i t ut e t he sever al sor t s of vi c -

t ual s and appar el , have been known t o exi st onl y

i n t he mi nd t hat per cei ves t hem; and t hi s i s al l

t hat i s meant by cal l i ng t hem i deas, whi ch wor d,

i f i t was or di nar i l y used as t hi ng, woul d sound no

har sher nor mor e r i di cul ous t han i t . I am not

f or di sput i ng about t he pr opr i et y, but t he t r ut h

of t he expr essi on. " I f t he r eader wi l l compar e

t hese quot at i ons wi t h t hose we have made i n

f or mer pages f r om Ber kel ey, i t wi l l show t hat we

i nt er pr et hi m f ai r l y.

SECTI ON XXI I .

But t hi s t heor y does not coi nci de wi t h t he vi ew

of t he vul gar , r el at i ve t o mat er i al subst ance.

Ber kel ey appear s t o cont r adi ct hi msel f on t hi s

gr ound. I n one of t he quot at i ons we have gi ven,

he asser t s t hat t he vul gar vi ew of mat t er i s wr ong;

i n anot her pl ace he st at es t hat he coi nci ded wi t h

t he vul gar . " We cannot account f or t hi s as wel l as

Ber kel ey' s r i i i T. osoni Y. 51

f or ot her t hi ngs i n hi s i deal i sm; except t he aut l i or

was i n a di l emma, and knew not how t o ext r i cat e

hi msel f . Pr i ma f aci e, i t mi ght be t honght t hat

Ber kel ey coi nci des wi t h t he vul gar ; but a shor t

consi der at i on and f ew i nt er r ogat i ons wi l l soon

convi nce t hat he docs not . Hi s mat er i al subj i f a7i ct ' ,

&c. , r esol ves i t sel f i nt o i deas ; t hese i deas ar e i u

t he mi nd, and i n t he per cept i on of t hem consi st s

t hei r exi st ence. Thi s i s al l Ber kel ey under st ands

t o be mat t er . Ber kel ey and t he vul gar woul d go

onl y a shor t di st ance t oget her . They woul d agr ee

as t o t he phenomena whi ch pr esent t hemsel ves t o

t he senses; but t he moment he woul d say, " These

mat er i al obj ect s whi ch pr esent t hemsel ves t o our

senses, ar e not hi ng but i deas per cei ved b^ ' ^ t he

mi nd, " t hey woul d par t company Avi t h hi m i mme-

di at el y. The vul gar woul d ask hi m, " Do you see

t hat spl endi d f i el d cover ed wi t h beaut i f ul dai si es,

Page 33 of 108

f i ne hor ses, sheep, and cat t l e? We t hi nk t hem t o

be r eal t hi ngs wi t hout us, i ndependent of us, and

i f we never saw t hem, t hey woul d exi st j ust t he

same; what do you mean by t hi s?" l i e woul d

answer , " They ar e i deas i n my mi nd. " I deas of

dai si es, hor ses, sheep, and cat t l e ! Ti i i s vi ew i s

di amet r i cal l y opposed t o t he common sense of t he

vul gar . Such i s our conf i dence i n t hi s, t hat avc

shoul d wi l l i ngl y vent ur e i t upon t he exami nat i on

of t he vi ew of t he vul var . Such i deal i sm never

53 PART I I .

ent er ed t he vi ew of or di nar y men. They t ake

mat er i al subst ance t o be what i t pr esent s i t sel f t o

t he senses, i nt ui t i on, and consci ousness ; and never

dr eam of sol vi ng i t t o a mer e i nwar d i deal i sm.

I t never has been^ nor can i t be, t he concl usi on of

common sense; and t he vul gar ar e gover ned by

common sense and i nt ui t i on. I t i s t he t heor y of

aben' ant geni us, t i r ed wi t h t he common r out e, and

anxi ous f or a mor e novel pat h, mor e congeni al wi t h

t hei r pr edi sposed f eel i ngs, desi r es, and pur poses.

Onl y a f ew r est l ess spi r i t s have l anded on t hi s

naked shor e of i deal phi l osophy. The i nt ui t i on

and consci ousness of men have pr eser ved t hem

f r om i t , and ever wi l l .

SECTI ON XXI I I .

Nei t her i s t her e t hat di f f er ence bet ween t he

vul gar and phi l osopher s, as t o t he nat ur e and l aws

of mat t er . Phi l osopher s, and t he vul gar , bel i eve

cor di al l y t hat mat t er has cer t ai n pr oper t i es ; as,

' ext ensi on, i mpenet r abi l i t y, di vi si bi l i t y, por osi t y,

compr essi bi l i t y, el ast i ci t y, mobi l i t y, and i ner t i a.

They bot h bel i eve i n ot her pr oper t i es, whi ch ar e

not f ound i nvar i abl y i n uni ver sal mat t er ; as har d-

ness, sof t ness, heavy, l i ght , r ough, smoot h, bi t t er ,

sweet , r ed, br own, gr een, l ar ge, smal l , and many

mor e of such ki nds. They bot h bel i eve t hat

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 53

mat t er i s f ound i n di f f er ent f or ms, as sol i d, l i qui d,

or gaseous. They bot h bel i eve t hat mat t er i s a

t angi bl e subst ance, appr ehended by i t s cont act

wi t h t he senses. Thei r bel i ef i n al l t he pr oper t i es

and l aws of mat t er , i n t he mai n, i s t he samej

onl y t he vul gar ar e not capabl e of goi ng so f ar ,

and of def i ni ng so accur at el y, i t s l aws and qual i -

t i es, schol ast i cal l y and pr eci sel y, as phi l osopher s.

The vul gar di d bel i eve t hat t he sun, moon, and al l

t he sol ar pl anet s, t ur ned ar ound t hi s gl obe ; but

now t hey bel i eve wi t h phi l osopher s. The vul gar

at l engt h f ol l ow and adopt t he t est ed vi ews of

phi l osopher s ; as one advances, t he ot her f ol l ows.

I n many poi nt s of nat ur al sci ence, t he vul gar ar e

now hi gher t han phi l osopher s wer e i n t i mes past .

Page 34 of 108

SECTI ON XXI V.

I f i t wer e gr ant ed t o t he i deal i st , t hat t he vul -

gar have no concept i on of a subst r at um i n whi ch

t he qual i t i es of mat t er i nher e, i t woul d not f ol l ow

t hat t hey di sbel i eve i n t he exi st ence of an ext er nal

wor l d on t hat account . Whet her t he f i r st i s

r i ght l y under st ood or not , t he l at t er wi l l be al ways

bel i eved i n, because i t i s a mat t er of consci ous i n-

t ui t i on. Nei t her does i t f ol l ow, as a necessar y

concl usi on, i f such a t hi ng as a subst r at um, as a

met aphenomenal under l yi ng mat t er , cannot be

54 PART I I .

cl ear l y def i ned and pr oved, t hat t he non- exi st ence

of mat t er i s demonst r abl e, and t o bel i eve i n i t s

r eal i t y i nconsi st ent . The deni al of uni ver sal

mat er i al subst ances woul d be a ver y r ash and un-

vr ar r ant abl e concl usi on t o ar r i ve at , because such

a t hi ng as a subst r at um of mat t er cannot be de-

f i ned and pr oved. The want of pr oof and deni al

of one, can never dest r oy t he ot her . I n t hi s we

t hi nk Bei ' kel ey ver y i naccur at e i n hi s r easoni ng

and concl usi on. He deni es t he exi st ence of mat -

t er , whi ch pr esent s i t sel f as an i ndubi t abl e pheno-

menon t o hi s senses, because t he subst r at um of i t

cannot be cl ear l y def i ned and pr oved. He sacr i -

f i ces a t hi ng t hat has cl ear evi dence, because

anot her t hi ng cannot be cl ear l y poi nt ed out ; and

t he pr oof of t he exi st ence of mat t er does not de-

pend upon and r equi r e t he pr oof of t hat t hi ng.

He i s gui l t y of dr awi ng a posi t i ve concl usi on f r om

an uncer t ai n pr emi ss, and f r om a post ul at e t hat

t he concl usi on does not necessar i l y depend upon.

SECTI ON XXV.

The i deal i st i s not abl e t o pr ove t hat a sub-

st r at um does not exi st , and yet dr aws a concl usi on

of af f i r mat i on, t hat mat t er cannot be what i t ap-

pear s t o be t o al l t he mi nds of men. Woul d i t be

saf e and r i ght t o use t hi s l ogi c i n al l depar t ment s

BERKELEY' S PHI LOSOPHY. 55

of knowl edge ? I s i t needf ul t o be abl e t o def i ne

al l t hi ngs about t he obj ect s of our cr edence, bef or e

we bel i eve i n t hei r exi st ence ? Does i t not

happen f r equent l y, t hat t her e i s somet hi ng per -

t ai ni ng t o t he most si mpl e obj ect s of f ai t h, beyond

our def i ni t i on ? Do not t he i deal i st s t hemsel ves

bel i eve i n i nnumer abl e t hi ngs t hat t hey cannot

expl ai n al l about ? Thi s i s a hi ghway t o uni -

ver sal scept i ci sm : man i s consci ous of a spi -

r i t ual i nf l uence, and yet , accor di ng t o t hi s, he

must not bel i eve i n i t , because he cannot def i ne

t he cour se and t he agent of i t . Ther e ar e evi -

dences of i nt el l i gence i n men, and yet , because

mi nd cannot i nf al l i bl y be def i ned, we must not

Page 35 of 108

bel i eve i n i t . Many t hi nk t hat t hey have evi -

dence of t he Di vi ni t y of t he Messi ah ; yet , because

t he hypost at i c uni on cannot be def i ned, we must

deny Hi s Di vi ni t y ! I f t hi s i s t he r ul e of cer t i -

t ude and cr edence, we have not suf f i ci ent evi -

dence t o bel i eve anyt hi ng; st ubbor n unbel i ef

must uni ver sal l y r ei gn ; and, t he mor e i gnor ant

man i s, t he mor e r at i onal hi s unbel i ef . These

concl usi ons woul d have been depr ecat ed by Ber ke-

l ey, yet we t hi nk t hat t hey f ol l ow nat ur al l y f r om

hi s posi t i on.

SECTI ON XXVI .

Though we may not be abl e t o def i ne a sub-

st r at um, or mat er i al subst ance, i n whi ch i nher e

56 PART I I .

sensi bl e qual i t i es, yet one i nvol ves t he ot her .

Mat er i al subst ance must have some qual i t i es ; so

cogni zabl e sensi bl e qual i t i es must i nher e i n t he

same subst ance. A cl ear pr oof , t her ef or e, agai nst

t he exi st ence of one, woul d end i n t he negat i on of

t he ot her . I f Ber kel ey coul d have pr oved t he

non- exi st ence of mat er i al subst ance, or of t he sub-

st r at um of mat t er , whi ch i s t he same t hi ng, t hen,

as a mat t er of si mpl e sequence, not hi ng woul d

r emai n but ai r y and empt y i deas ; but , as he coul d

not pr ove ei t her of t hese, hi s r easoni ng, i n our

opi ni on, i s i l l ogi cal and most i nconcl usi ve. I t

f ol l ows t hat whoever has a per cept i on of one,

must have a bel i ef i n t he ot her , f or one i s a cor r e-

l at i ve of t he ot her ; and t he mi nd, by nat ur al

l ogi cal or der , and i nt ui t i ve convi ct i on, l eads us

f r om one t o t he ot her .

SECTI ON XXVI I .

That i t cannot i be def i ned, i s not t he l east evi -

dence agai nst i t s exi st ence, must be cl ear , f r om

t he f act t hat an exact knowl edge of t hi ngs i s

never i n t hi s wor l d of i mper f ect i on t o be ei t her

t he t est of t r ut h, t he evi dence of convi ct i on, t he

gr ound of bel i ef , t he r ul e of act i on, or t he f i nal

t est of t hi ngs. I f t hi s i s concl usi ve, t he vul gar ,

as wel l as t he phi l osopher , bel i eves i n t he sub-

BERKELEY S PHI LOSOPHY. 5/

st r at um of mat t er . Woul d any one bel i eve i n

col our , f i gur e, wei ght , ext ensi on, cal or i c, sweet ,

bi t t er , and al l ot her sensi bl e qual i t i es, wi t hout a

subst ance i n whi ch t hey i nher e ? Can a mot i on

exi st wi t hout some movi ng body? One i s t he

acci dent or t he pr oper t y of t he ot her . I t coul d

not have exi st ed wi t hout . We coul d not , or der l y

and l ogi cal l y, concei ve of one wi t hout t he ot her .

Her e i s a book. Thi s book has f i gur e, ext ensi on,

wei ght , and col our . These qual i t i es ar e not t he

Page 36 of 108

book, and yet we cannot concei ve of a book wi t h-

out t hem. The book i s not f i gur e, nor i s i t ext en-

si on, nor wei ght , nei t her i s i t col our , nor al l t hese

put t oget her ; i t i s somet hi ng t hat has al l t hese as

i t s pr oper t i es, yet i n i t sel f i t i s none of t hem.

SECTI ON XXVI I I .

The l egi t i mat e f or ce of t hi s i s appl i cabl e t o t he

mi nd as wel l as mat t er . Mi nd i s a uni t y ; so

mat t er i s a uni t y ; yet bot h have t hei r power s or

pr oper t i es. I f t he subst r at um of one i s deni ed, i s

i t consi st ent t o bel i eve i n t hat of t he ot her ? We

cannot t hi nk i t i s. I f i t wi l l be sai d t hat we ar e

consci ous of one, so ar e we of t he ot her . Per -

cept i on, concept i on, r ef l ect i on, r emembr ance, ab-

st r act i on, and cal cul at i on; l ove, hat e, f ear , gr i ef , j oy,

conf i dence, and hope, and many mor e, ar e power s

58 PART I I .

and act s of t he mi nd. Though t he mi nd cannot

be what i t i s wi t hout t hcse^ yet t he mi nd i t sel f i s

not one or sever al of t hese ; i t i s somet hi ng i n

whi ch t hese exi st , and ar e t he expr essi ve power s of

i t . On t he same gr ound, as t hi s i deal phi l osophy -

deni es t he subst r at um of mat t er , i t does away

wi t h t hat of t he mi nd, t oo. I n t hi s, al so, we

consi der t he t heor y i nconsi st ent and sel f - cont r a-

di ct or y.

SECTI ON XXI X.

The i mmedi at e quest i on at i ssue i s, — Ar e t he

t hi ngs whi ch come i n cont act wi t h our senses,

mat er i al qual i t i es? Thi s i s t he gi st of t he whol e

quest i on. I f t hi s wer e set t l ed, as a mat t er of sur e

consequence, t he whol e mat t er woul d r est . I f

t hey ar e mat er i al pr oper t i es, mat t er must exi st ,

and t hey i nher e i n t hat mat er i al r eal i t y ; but , i f

t hey ar e not mat er i al pr oper t i es, so f ar as we know,

mat t er does not exi st . Thi s i s t he goal wher e

bot h si des must uni t e or separ at e ; i n t hi s pl ace

must t he f i r st pr emi ss of negat i on or af f i r mat i on

be pr ocl ai med ; wi t hout t hi s under st andi ng al l

wi l l be f i ght i ng wi t hout ar ms and or der , and com-

pl et el y i n t he dar k. I n t hi s, we t hi nk t hat Ber ke-

l ey and t he i deal i st s appear as i f t hey wi shed t o

evade t he quest i on. I nst ead of decl ar i ng at once

t hat ext ensi on, har dness, sof t ness, and ot her pr o-

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 59

per t i es pr esent i ng t l i er asel ves t o t he senses, ar e

not hi ng but i deal i t y, t hey say, — " We bel i eve our

senses, t hat al l t hese ar e r eal l y what t hey appear

t o be. " Yet , accor di ng t o t he syst em of Ber ke-

l ey, t hey ar e not hi ng but i deas i n t he br ai n. Thi s

appear s l i ke qui bbl i ng and evadi ng, r at her t han

f ai r l y def i ni ng and r easoni ng. Tr ut h f ar es al ways

Page 37 of 108

best when i t i s st at ed f ai r l y and f ul l y; and, i f

i deal i sm i s t r ue, i t needs f ear not hi ng as t o i t s

ai m and consequences. The mi sf or t une of t r ut h

i s, t hat i t i s conceal ed, mi sunder st ood, and deni ed ;

whi l st i t i s t he f or t une of er r or t o be mi sconst r ued,

and cl ot hed and mi xed Avi t h t r ut h.

SECTI ON XXX.

Ber kel ey r est s hi s i deal i sm upon t he gr ound of

consci ousness, and Mr . Lewes says t hat he i s i n-

cont r over t i bl y saf e her e. On t hi s gr ound Hume

used t o say of hi s phi l osophy, t hat i t i s uncont r o-

ver t ed, but convi nces nobody. ^ The or i gi nal

dat um, and pr i mor di al t r ut h and t est i mony of

consci ousness, ar e t he same ever ywher e, and i n

ever ybody. I t cannot be a pr edi cat e of t he nega-

t i ve and of t he af f i r mat i ve, r el at i ve t o t he same

t hi ng, and i n t he same sense ; t her ef or e, i t cannot

* Hume, Davi d, a hi st or i an, and a phi l osopher of gr eat power

and acut eness. Bor a at Edi nbur gh, I 7I I ; di ed i n t he same ci t y,

1776.

60 PART I I .

deny and af f i r m t he exi st ence of mat t er . The

t est i mony of consci ousness i s not cont r adi ct or y

and changeabl e. I t i s t he same i n ever y age and

br east . The onl y di f f i cul t y i s t o sol ve and under -

st and i t r i ght l y. Bot h t he r eal i st and t he i deal i st

appeal f or pr oof t o t he gr ound of consci ousness.

The t wo i t cannot suppor t ^ or i t s evi dence i s con-

t r adi ct or y ; i f so, i t s wor t h and ver aci t y ar e gone.

The ver aci t y and t he ef f i ci ency of t he f act of con-

sci ousness must be pr eser ved i n t hei r i nt egr i t y. I f

t he ver aci t y and uni f or mi t y of i t s evi dence ar e not

accept ed, i t cannot be t he cour t of f i nal appeal ;

but t hi s must al ways be t he f i nal and absol ut e

cour t r el at i ve t o al l t hat bel ong t o t he i ndi vi dual

€f f O, because i t i s t he onl y power of t est i n t he

possessi on of al l . I t i s an i nst i nct i n t he nat ur e

of man t o f al l back upon hi s own consci ousness ;

and what ever cont r adi ct s i t s t est i mony i s not be-

l i eved. Her e, wher e l anded Descar t es, " ^ af t er al l

hi s doubt s and anxi et i es, Cogi t o, er go sum, was hi s

r est i ng- pl ace; and her e wher e al l phi l osopher s

f i nal l y seek a saf e l andi ng. " What ever i s not i m-

* Descar t es, a cel ebr at ed Fr ench mat hemat i ci au and i ) l i i l osopher .

He was t l i e f i r st t o r educe t he sci ence of opt i cs t o t he command of

mat hemat i cs. He was an ext ensi ve aut hor . The f ol l owi ng ar e

some of t he pr i nci pal wor ks whi ch per pet uat e t he phi l osophi cal

power of t he emi nent phi l osopher : — Pr i nci pi a Phi l osophi a ; Bi sser -

t at i o deMet hodor eder eyendaPai i oms ; I ) i oj pt r i ca ; Medi t at i ones;

Geomet r y ; Let t er s. He was bor n at La Haye, i n Tour ai ne, 1596,

and di ed at St ockhol m, 1650.

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 61

Page 38 of 108

medi at el y t he f act of consci ousness, must be a

mat t er of r evel at i on or t est i mony ; but t he cogni -

t i on of t he senses, t he emot i ons, and t he st at e and

act s of t he mi nd, ar e di r ect l y under t he j ur i spr u-

dence of consci ousness, whi ch Ber kel ey f al l s back

upon as a t est i ng- gr ound of hi s t heor y.

SECTI ON XXXI .

To a cer t ai n poi nt t he i deal i st and t he r eal i st

agr ee, and wal k t oget her i n uni t y. The t wo ac-

knowl edge t he t est i mony of consci ousness, par a-

mount as t o t he ego, or t he mi nd i t sel f ; so f ar

goes t he i deal i sm of Fi cht e, " ^ whi ch r esol ves al l

t he ext er nal obj ect i ves i nt o pur e t hought ; so f ar

goes t he i deal i sm of Ber kel ey, whi ch r esol ves al l

i nt o i deas ; and so f ar goes t he bel i ef i n t he ex -

t er nal wor l d t oget her . At t hi s poi nt Ber kel ey,

and hi s f r i end t he r eal i st , ( not Hyl as, ) di f f er , and

f i nal l y separ at e company. Ber kel ey asser t s t he

f act of consci ousness f ur t her t han t hi s : he says

t hat he i s consci ous of cer t ai n i deas as obj ect s of

per cept i on, but t hese wer e not ext er nal and i nde-

* Johann Got t l i eb Kcht e, a subt l e met aphysi ci an, and a l of t y

pur e char act er . One of t he abl est expounder s of Kaut ' s phi l osophy ;

and f at her of J. Her mann Fi cht e, who has caught t he met aphysi cal

t endency, vi ews, and abi l i t y of hi s f at her . The st or y of hi s l i f e and

deat h i s most t ouchi ng ; and, whet her hi s syst em of phi l osophy i s

r ecei ved or not , al l wi l l admi r e t he f el i ci t ous pur i t y of hi s l i f e.

He was bom at Eammenon, i n Upper Lusat i a, 1762 ; and di ed, 1814.

62 PAUT I T.

pendent obj ect s. Fi cl i t e asser t ed t hat he was

consci ous of not hi ng but of hi s own t hought s;

Ber kel ey says t hat he was consci ous of hi s own

per cept i on, or t he per cei vi ng bei ng, and al so t he

i dea per cei ved, but t hi s i dea i s not hi ng. The

i deal i sm of Fi cht e i s mor e si mpl e and consi st ent

t han t hat of Ber kel ey. " ^ The r eal i st di f f er s

f r om t he t wo as t o t he cogni t i on of t he non

ego, and i t s r eal i dent i cal exi st ence, apar t f r om

t he per cei vi ng ego. Thi s phi l osophy i s bot h

mor e si mpl e and mor e consi st ent t han t hat of

i deal i sm.

SECTI ON XXXI I .

The f act of consci ousness i n i t s pr esent vi ew

and r el at i on, r esol ves i t sel f i nt o di f f er ent i nqui r i es.

Fi r st , how f ar does consci ousness t ake cogni zance

of t hi ngs? Does i t i ncl ude somet hi ng ext er nal

wi t h t he per cei vi ng ego ? Thi s we answer i n t he

* Fi cht e' s was a mor e spi r i t ual and pur e i deal i sm t han Ber ke-

l ey' s ; t hough t hey possess much i n common, yet t hey have

t hei r f eat ur es of di i f er euce. Ber kel ey cl ai ms i dent i t y of bel i ef wi t h

t he vul gar ; Fi cht e bol dl y decl ar es t hat t he vul gar ar e del uded.

Ber kel ey says t hat he per cei ves i deas and not hi ng el se ; Fi cht e

knows not hi ng beyond hi s i mmedi at e and absol ut e consci ousness.

Ber kel ey woul d say, " The wor l d i s as i f i t wer e r eal t o me, i t pr esent s

Page 39 of 108

i t sel f t o my senses ; " Fi cht e woul d say, " I know not hi ng about i t , I

know of not hi ng but of my own consci ousness. " Ber kel ey qui bbl es

mor e t han Fi cht e ; but bot h end i n t he same concl usi on, — a compl et e

negat i on of our ext er nal wor l d.

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 63

af f i r mat i ve. I t t akes cogni t i on of t he subj ect i ve

and of t he obj ect i ve; consci ousness t est i f i es t o t he

ego and t he non ego, as a nat ur al and necessar y

synt hesi s. I t i s i mpossi bl e t o t hi nk of sel f , wi t h-

out t hi nki ng of somet hi ng t hat i s not sel f . The

ego i s consci ous of t he per cei vi ng bei ng ; i t i s al so

at t he same t i me consci ous of t he ext er nal r eal i t y

per cei ved ; and, i n t he concept , t hese ar e con-

t r ast ed and separ at ed f r om each ot her . Thi s

al most al l phi l osopher s bel i eve t o be t he i ncon-

t est abl e del i ver ance of consci ousness. Many of

t he anci ent phi l osopher s bel i eved i n cer t ai n i mages

or r epr esent at i ons made t o t he mi nd. Eei d was

t he f i r st , i n t hi s count r y at l east , t o exal t con-

sci ousness t o i t s pr oper pl ace and f unct i on ; and

yet Eei d i s not ver y expl i ci t and compr ehensi ve i n

al l hi s st at ement s ; but Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on,

wi t h consummat e l ear ni ng, and l avi sh cr i t i ci sm,

and most acut e and exact def i ni t i ons and anal ysi s,

has est abl i shed t he f act beyond t he power at pr e-

sent of an at t ack, or per haps i mpr ovement . *

* Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on was one of t he gr eat est phi l osopl i er s, i f not

t he ver y gr eat est , of hi s age ; and t he f i r st even Scot l and ever pr o-

duced. He was educat ed at Bal l i ol Col l ege, Oxf or d, and was br ought

up t o t he bar ; but , hi s phi l osophi cal t endency bei ng t oo st r ong, he

never cour t ed much pr act i ce. I n 1836, he became t he Pr of essor of

Logi c and Met aphysi cs i n t he Uni ver si t y of Edi nbur gh, whi ch he

r et ai ned t i l l hi s deat h. He gr eat l y advanced t he l i t er at ur e of phi l o-

sophy, l ogi c, and met aphysi cs. Hi s power s, bot h of gener al i zat i on

and anal ysi s, wer e ext r aor di nar i l y gr eat . Ther e have been as gr eat

64 PART I I .

That t he non ego i s di f f er ent and ext er nal t o t he

ego t hat per cei ves i t , i s, and has been, t he con-

t hi nker s, and per haps gr eat er t han he ; hut f ew, i f any, ever uni t ed

such ext ensi ve and var i ous l ear ni ng, wondr ous r eadi ng, and wonder -

f ul i nt el l ect ual r esour ces, wi t h gr eat t hi nki ng, as t he l at e Si r W.

Hami l t on. ] \ I . Cousi n cal l s hi m, " l e pl us gr and cr i t i que de not r e

St eel e; " and M. Br audi s, " l e gr and mai t r e du Per i pat ct i sme. "

Hi s chi ef wor ks ar e, hi s " Di scussi on on Phi l osophy, " &c. , f i i ' st

chi ei l y publ i shed i n t he " Edi nbur gh Revi ew, " af t er war ds col l ect ed

i nt o a l ar ge vol ume ; hi s edi t i on of Rei d' s Wor ks, wi t h many not es,

and l ong suppl ement ar y di sser t at i ons ; and he was engaged upon t he

Wor ks of Dugal d St ewar t , when t he message of deat h came. Hi s

Lect ur es on Met aphysi cs and Logi c, whi ch he del i ver ed t o hi s Uni -

ver si t y cl ass, have been publ i shed i n f our vol umes, edi t ed, and gi vea

t o t he publ i c, and at once ar e wor t hy of t he i l l ust r i ous Pr of essor , and

of t he di st i ngui shed edi t or s, so t hat hi s most t enaci ous di sci pl e can-

not wi sh anyt hi ng mor e.

Wi t hout a doubt . Si r W. Hami l t on was a di sci pl e of Kant , and

Page 40 of 108

t he f undament al pr i nci pl es of hi s phi l osophy ar e of t he Kant i an

school ; and hi s accept ance and def ence of t he common- sense phi l o-

sophy accor ded f ul l y wi t h t hese pr i nci pl es. I t has been sai d of

hi m, t hat he was dest r uct i ve and not const r uct i ve. Phi l osophy i n

i t s ver y nat ur e i s cont r over si al , t est i ng, and dest r uct i ve ; i t s busi ness

and ai m i s, t o cor r ect t he i nadver t enci es of t hought , bel i ef , and l i f e.

Bef or e a phi l osopher can become const r uct i ve, he must dest r oy t he

syst ems of dogmas, and mouut ai us of opi ni ons and pr ej udi ces, whi ch

st and i n hi s way. Af t er t hi s i s done, and a cl ear way opened, t he

wor k of const r uct i on begi ns ; and he who can dest r oy r i ght wel l , has

al so t he power t o const r uct r i ght wel l . Si r W. Hami l t on was not

onl y a power f ul dest r uct i ve cr i t i c, he was al so a di scover er bot h i n

l ogi c and met aj i hysi cs ; t hough he has done mor e t han any one man

f or a l ong per i od, i t i s possi bl e, but f or t he l ament abl e st r oke of

deat h, t hat he woul d have done mor e, i n const r uct i ng a syst em of

phi l osophy, whi ch he was not per mi t t ed t o do. He devot ed

al l hi s power s and r esour ces t o t each, el uci dat e, and est abl i sh

t he f undament al pr i nci pl es i n t he common- sense phi l osophy of

Kei d ; and has put i t on a gr ound not easi l y at t acked. These

j ust and hi gh eul ogi ums do not necessi t at e our accept ance

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 65

sci ousuess of uni ver sal man. Thi s cannot be

doubt ed, Ar i t hout comi ng i nt o col l i si on wi t h t he

uni ver sal conduct and act i ons of men. 1. The

emot i ons of t he mi nd ar e di f f er ent t o t hese ent i -

t i es : l ove, hat r ed, hope, j oy, wi t h ot her s of t he

same nat ur e. These emot i ons have t hi nr r eal

subj ect i ves and obj ect i ves, and al l ar e consci ous of

t hei r di f f er ent modi f i cat i ons t owar ds t hei r di f f er ent

obj ect s. 2. The act ual habi t s and act i ons of al l

men show t hi s uni ver sal consci ousness ; al l men

avoi d f al l i ng i nt o t he wat er , goi ng i nt o t he f i r e,

pr eci pi t at i ng over a r ock, t aki ng poi son ; al l men

f ear t he l i on, t he mad dog, f i r e i nst r ument s, t he

t er r i f i c t hunder bol t , and number l ess t hi ngs besi de.

The f act of consci ousness al one account s f or t hese

uni ver sal conduct s. Ber kel ey hi msel f , i n per -

pet ual and number l ess i nst ances, obeyed t hi s l aw

of hi s nat ur e, whi l st he t r i ed t o r eason i t away i n

hi s t heor y of i deal i sm. Thi s i s not t he pr oduct i on

of al l i n hi s vi ews; f or t hei - e ar e some mat t er s as t o wl i i ch we

cannot as: r ee al l i n al l wi t l i Si r W. Hami l t on.

I n pur gi ng and est abl i shi ng t he phi l osophy of common sense, he

l ays down t he f ol l owi ng canons as hi s t ouch- st one, whi ch r egul at ed

al l hi s phi l osophi cal i nqui r i es: — " 1. That we admi t not hi ng, not

ei t her au or i gi nal dat um of consci ousness, or t he l egi t i mat e con-

sequence of such a dat um. 2. That we embr ace al l t he or i gi nal

dat a of consci ousness, and al l t hei r l egi t i mat e consequences : and, 3.

That we exhi bi t each of t hese i n i t s i ndi vi dual i nt egr i t y, nei t her di s -

t or t ed nor mut i l at ed, aud i n i t s r el at i ve pl ace, - whet her of pr e-

emi nence or subor di nat i on. " — Hami l t on' s Eei d, Not e A. , p. 747.

Si r \ \ . Hami l t on was bor n at Gl asgow, 1788 : and, af t er a l abor i ous,

i l l ust r i ous, and gl or i ous l i f e, di ed at Edi nbur gh, 1856.

F

66 PART I I .

Page 41 of 108

of a mer e pl i cuor aenal phant om, but of t he r eal

consci ousness of t he mi nd, of an ext er nal r eal i t y.

Thi s i s seen i n chi l dr en i n ever y cl ass and condi -

t i on, and t hat wi t hout di st i nct i on of t i me and

pl ace, whi ch shows i t t o be or i gi nal and uni f or m.

SECTI ON XXXI I I .

The ver aci t y of consci ousness cannot be doubt ed.

I f t i l l s wer e doubt ed, and cal l ed i n quest i on on

one gr ound, i t must be doubt ed on ever y gr ound,

and i n ever y f or m. Thi s woul d be sui ci dal

and dest r uct i ve, f or t he same consci ousness

t est i f i es ever ywher e. And i f i t s t est i mony i s not

bel i eved r el at i ve t o t he ext er nal , what gr ound have

we t o bel i eve i t s evi dence r el at i ve t o t he exi st ence

of t he ego hi msel f ? I f t he ver aci t y of t he t est i -

mony ot consci ousness wer e deni ed, uni ver sal

scept i ci sm, as a mat t er of necessi t y, woul d f ol l ow.

The/ acr of consci ousness cannot be doubt ed, wi t h-

out doubt i ng doubt i t sel f ; whi ch woul d be a con-

t r adi ct i on and anni hi l at i on. Ever y man must be

consci ous of hi s own doubt ; and yet , i f t he f act of

consci ousness i s deni ed, i t i s a si mpl e i mpossi -

bi l i t y. The f act of consci ousness must ever st and

as f i r m as t he exi st ence of man.

SECTI ON XXXI T.

Secondl y, Dees consci ousness become f ami l i ar

wi t h ext er nal r eal i t y medi at el y, or i mmedi at el y ?

BERKELEY S PHI LOSOPHY. C7

These t wo t heor i es have been hel d, and yet ar e

hel d, by many. They xvho hol d t hat t he mi nd

becomes f ami l i ar wi t h t he ext er nal wor l d, t hr ough

t he medi um of an i deal medi um, ar e cal l ed r epr e-

sent at i oni st s ; and t he bel i ever s i n t he t heor y t hat

t he mi nd becomes f ami l i ar wi t h t he ext er nal

r eal i t y, wi t hout any t er i i um qui d, or i mmedi at el y,

ar e cal l ed pr esent at i oni st s. Anci ent phi l osopher s,

down t o Locke, " ^ and, i ndeed, Locke hi msel f , be-

* John Lucke i s a f ami l i ar name t o t he ver i est t yr o i n ment al

sci ence, and exci t es f eel i ngs of l ove and admi r at i on i n t he pr of ound-

est t hi nker s of ever y l and, nat i onal i t y, and age. He i s cue of t he

f i r st t hat t aught me t o t hi nk, and l ead my boyi sh sympat hi es and r e-

f l ect i ons i nt o t he l of t y and del i ght f ul r egi ons of hi gher t hought . I

r ever e hi m as a mast er ; I r espect hi m as an i ndependent and un-

af f ect ed t hi nker ; and never wi l l cease t o admi r e hi s l of t y, upr i ght ,

and nol j l e demeanour as a man; and I l ove hi m as a f at her of t he

nobl est her i t age, whi ch a man can l eave t o hi s r ace. I t woul d be

one of t he most gl oomy and di st r essi ng t hought s and f eel i ngs of my

soul , i f such char act er s wer e gone f or ever , wi t hout a hope t o meet

and hol d commuui on wi l h t hem i u a happi er and br i ght er wor l d.

Hence, i t i s a par t of t he br i ght est t hought s, and happi est hopes and

f eel i ngs my mi nd i s capabl e of , t hat such l i ght s ar e not ext i ngui shed

f r om t l i e uni ver se of God ; and t hat i t wi l l be i n my power and

pr i vi l ege t o l i ol d i nt er cour se and associ at e wi t h t hem i n anot her l i f e.

Page 42 of 108

Thi nker s di f i er as t o t he qual i t y of hi s phi l osophy, but al l agr ee

i n acknowl edgi ng bot h hi s gr eat ness and power . No one has

wi el ded, si nce t he t i me of Ar i st ot l e, such gr eat and uni ver sal sway

over t he t hi nki ng por t i on of Eur ope, as John Locke. He pr oduced

an epoch i n t he i nt el l ect ual i sm of Engl and and Eur ope. Never a

mor e unaf f ect ed and nat ur al t hi nker ; never a mor e homel y and

f ami l i ar t hi nker ; but never a mor e honest and ear nest t hi nker .

I t i s t he por t i on of a gr eat man of t en t o be opposed and per secut ed,

becpuse he r emoves vener abl e and f ashi onabl e l andmar ks i n t hought

and habi t s, and set t l es t he f ut ur e dest i ny of men and nat i ons. No

P 2

68 PART I I .

l i cved t l i at t he mi nd per cei ved t he ext er nal medi -

ci t ehj : - ^ They bcheved t hat t he mi nd was t oo

mai l was mor e per sc( ! ut cd i u hi s t i me and per soOj t han John Locke;

and no one has been mor e opposed, and mor e sever el y handl ed and

t est ed i n hi s phi l osophy, t han he. But i t i s t he por t i on of t he

gr eat and good, t o ba gr eat l y l oved and admi r ed as men. No one

has had a l ar ger meed of j i r ai se and admi r at i on t han John Locke ;

and at t hi s ver y t i me he has r eader s and admi r er s t hr oughout

Eur ope and Amer i ca, and al l par t s of t he gl obe wher e phi l osophy i s

l oved and st udi ed. He was bor n at Wr i ngt on, Somer set shi r e, on t he

29t h of August , 1632, and di ed i n t he ar ms of hi s f r i end, Lady

Masham, on t he 28t h of Oct ober , 1704.

* Thi s i s a mat t er of gr eat debat e and di sagr eement among t he

cr i t i cs of Locke. Rei d br ought upon hi msel f t he sever e cr i t i ci sm of

Dr . Pr i est l ey, Dr . Br own, and ot her s, f or hi s cr i t i ci sm upon Locke,

t hat he hel d i deas as medi a bet ween t he ext er nal wor l d and t he per -

cei vi ng mi nd. Si r W. Hami l t on deci des i n f avour of Dr . Rei d, and

sever el y handl es t he opponent s of Rei d. See Hami l t on' s " Di s -

cussi ons, " p. 77, &c. ; " Lect ur es, " vol . i i . , p. 53, &c. ; Dr . Br own' s

" Lect ur es, " p. 170, &c. ; " Dr . Rei d, " by Hami l t on, p. 256, &c.

Fr om t he want of gr eat er pr eci scncss and uni t y i n di ct i on, and hi s

ext ensi ve, f ami l i ar , and l i vel y pi ct or i al f i gur es, t her e i s a di l i i cul t y t o

get at t he r eal vi ew of Locke on t hi s cont r over si al poi nt . Yet , any

one i n st udyi ng t he wor ks of Locke unpr ej udi ced, wi t hout t he know-

l edge of t he comment s and cr i t i ci sm of hi s admi r er s and depr ecat or s,

wi l l ar r i ve l i ke mysel f at t he concl usi on, t hat he hol ds i deas as r epr e-

sent at i ons t o t he mi nd, of ext er nal obj ect s. The mi nd, accor di ng t o

hi m, per cei ves i deas ; t he ext er nal meet s t he mi nd i u i t s i deas ; i deas

ar e t he pl ace of meet i ng and i mi t y bet ween t he mi nd and al l i t s per -

cei vi ng obj ect s. " To ask, at what t i me a man has f i r st any i deas ? "

says Locke, " i s t o ask when he begi ns t o per cei ve? havi ng i deas,

and per cept i ons, bei ng t he same t hi ng. 1 know i t i s an opi ni on t hat

t he soul al ways t hi nks, and t hat i t has t he act ual per cept i on of i deas

i n i t sel f const ant l y, as l ong as i t exi st s; and t hat act ual t hi nki ng i s

as i nsepar abl e f r om t he soul , as act ual ext ensi on i s f r om t he body ;

whi ch, i f t r ue, t o i nqui r e af t er t he begi nni ng of man' s i deas i s t he

same, ns t o i ncpi i r e af t er t i i e begi nni ng of hi s soul . For , by t hi s

account , soul and i t s i Ji as, as body and i t s ext ensi on, wi l l begi n t o

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. G9

Page 43 of 108

r ef i ned t o come i mmedi at el y i nt o cont act wi t h

mat t er . Accor di ng t o t hi s t heor y of r epr esent a-

t i on, t he mat er i al r eal i t y was somet hi ng beyond

t he t hi ng per cei ved ; and so, not hi ng but a mat t er

of i nf er ence. Thi s vi ew t hr ows t he mat er i al

r eal i t y, f r om t he gr ound of absol ut e cer t ai nt y, t o

t he gr ound of l ogi cal pr obabi l i t y. On t hi s gr ound

mat er i al and ext er nal subst ance cannot be pr oved,

di r ect l y by t he f act and ver aci t y of consci ousness ;

f or t he si mpl e r eason, t hat t he mi nd i s not con-

sci ous of anyt hi ng di r ect l y but t he ego, and t he

r epr esent at i on made t o i t . I t woul d be a har d

mat t er , on t hi s gr ound, t o pr ove ext er nal r eal i t y.

But t he common - sense phi l osophy of Scot l and

has del i ver ed t he f act of consci ousness i n t hi s

exi st bot h at t l i e same t i me. " — Human Under st andi ng, Tegg' s Edi -

t i on, sect . 9, p. 53. l a anot her pl ace he says : — " Fi r e may bui ' n

our bodi es wi t h no ot her ef f ect t han i t does a bi l l et , unl ess t he mo-

t i on be cont i nued t o t he br ai n ; and t hen t he sense of heat , or i dea

of pai n, be pr oduced i n t he mi nd, wher ei n consi st s act ual per cept i on. "

— I bi d. , sect , i i i . , p. 81.

I shal l quot e once mor e: — " I dea i s t he obj ect of t hi nki ng.

Ever y man bei ng consci ous t o hi msel f t hat he t hi nks, and t hat whi ch

hi s mi nd i s appl i ed about whi l st t hi nki ng, bei ng t he i deas t hat ar e

t her e, i t i s past doubt t hat men have i n t hei r mi nds sever al i deas,

such as ar e t l i ose expr essed by t he wor ds, whi t eness, har dness, sweet -

ness, t hi nki ng, mot i on, man, el ephant , ar my, dr unkenness, and

ot her s : i t i s i n t he f i r st pl ace t hen t o be i nqui r ed, how he coni es by

t hem ? " — I bi d. , sect , i . , p. 50.

These quot at i ons mi ght be easi l y i ncr eased t o a gr eat ext ent ; f r om

t hese and ot her s i t appear s, t hat Locke consi der ed a knowl edge of

ext er nal obj ect s possi bl e t hr ough t he medi um of i deas.

70 PART I I .

r espect . Thi s phi l osophy of r cpr esent at i oni sr n

was t he i i j ni s f at mi s t hat f i r st mi sl ed, and at l ast

conf i r med, Ber kel ey i n hi s i deal mat er i al i sm.

I deal i sm i s a di r ect and nat ur al concl usi on of t he

r epr esent at i on phi l osophy.

SECTI ON XXXV.

The wonder i s not t hat any have f al l en i nt o

i deal i sm, but t hat any who have bel i eved i n t hi s

t er t i um qui d, have been pr eser ved f r om i t . I f i t

wer e not t hat t he i ut vi i t i ve convi ct i on of men i s

st r onger t han t he t eachi ng and t endency of t hi s

t heor y and i t s deduct i ons, al l woul d have l anded

i n i deal i sm t hat bel i eved t he r epr esent at i ve phi l o-

sophy. I t r equi r ed onl y a si mpl e concl usi on, and a

bol d spi r i t t o have made i t , and t hi s r epr esent at i on

woul d l and i n i deal i sm. Thi s st ep Ber kel ey was

bol d enough t o make. Real i t y i s conver t ed i nt o

r epr esent at i on ; he i s consci ous of t hi s, and of

not hi ng beyond t hi s. I f al l t hi s wer e t r ue, t he

si mpl e concl usi on woul d be, so f ar as consci ous-

ness goes, not hi ng but a mer e r epr esent at i on

exi st s. Thi s Ber kel ey cal l ed i deas; and he mai n-

Page 44 of 108

t ai ned he was consci ous of t hi s, and not hi ng mor e.

Thi s concl usi on was nat ur al and r i ght , but hi s

pr emi ss was a wr ong assumpt i on. Hi s r adi cal

er r or was t hat t he mi nd ] ) er cci ves medi at el y, and

beukel ey' s phi l osophy. 71

not i mmedi at el y. I f l i e coul d have est abl i shed t he

t er t i um qui d of t he r epr esent at i on made t o t he

mi nd, t hen, so f ar as consci ousness goes, hi s gr ound

woul d have been i nvul ner abl e. But t hi s he never

coul d ; i n f act he never t r i ed, f or t he r eason, i t

coul d not be done. I ndeed, Ber kel ey appear s as

i f t he t hought never st r uck hi m, t hat t he mi nd

was capabl e of conver si ng wi t h t he ext er nal r eal i t y

wi t hout a medi um.

SECTI ON XXXVI .

Thi s i s t he onl y gr ound upon whi ch dual i sm

and i deal i sm must f i ght out t hei r quar r el about

t he r eal i t y or non- r eal i t y of an ext er nal wor l d.

The vi ct or y must be gai ned her e. I f t he mi nd

per cei ves i mmedi at el y ext er nal r eal i t y, t hen we ar e

consci ous of i t , consequent l y must bel i eve t hat

mat er i al i t y exi st s. Once t hi s i s al l owed, t he ext er -

nal wor l d cannot be deni ed mor e t han t he f act of

consci ousness. On t he ot her hand, i f t he mi i i d

per cei ves, t hr ough i mages or r epr esent at i ons, t he

mat er i al wor l d cannot be pr oved f r om consci ous-

ness t o exi st , i t i s t hr own t o t he gr ound of i nf e-

r ent i al concl usi on. Ber kel ey t hought he answer ed

t hi s t r i umphant l y when he sai d, " An i dea can be

l i ke not hi ng but an i dea. ^ ^ Thi s i s t o say, — bl ue

cannot be gr een, r ed cannot be scar l et , whi t e can-

t ' i PART I I .

not be bl acky r ound cannot be squar e, smal l cannot

be l ar ge, ext ensi on caunot be l i ke sol i di t y, moun-

t ai ns cannot be l i ke r i ver s, t r ees ar e not l i ke

f l ower s, hor ses ar e not l i ke cat t l e and sheep. I n

t hi s ever y t yr o wi l l agr ee wi t h t he phi l osopher .

The i dea of an ef f ect i s l i ke not hi ng but

ef f ect . I s t her e no l i keness of t he cause i n t he

ef f ect ? I s t he i dea not l i ke i t s ar chet ype ? I s

t he i dea sel f - cr eat ed ? I s t her e no pr ecedi ng

cause t o i t , and t hat accor di ng t o t he r epr esent a-

t i oni st s t hemsel ves ? For aught t hi s cont ai ns, i t

i s an ar gument on t he si de of t he r eal i t y of mat t er ,

and t he i mmedi at e per cept i on of i t by t he mi nd,

as much as i t ser ves t he i deal i st . J\ I y hand whi ch

I hol d bef or e my eyes i s l i ke not hi ng but my

hand ; t he book upon t he t abl e bef or e me i s l i ke

not hi ng but a book. These obj ect s, I am con-

sci ous, ar e ext er nal t o t he per cei vi ng bei ng, and

at t he same t i me am not consci ous of any medi at e

r epr esent at i on bet ween me and t he non ego. The

Page 45 of 108

mi nd sees t hi ngs as t hey ar e i mmedi at el y, and, i n

appear ance and r eal i t y, t hey ar e not l i ke ot her

t hi ngs. I t woul d be i mpossi bl e t o per suade and

convi nce t he consci ousness of men cont r ar y t o t he

way t hi ngs ar e per cei ved ; f or man i s not consci ous

of any t er i i um qui d t hat mi ght decei ve hi m. No

power coul d per suade t he mi nd t hat r ed i s bl ue, or

a f l ower i s a st one ; and t he same wi t h al l ot her

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 73

obj ect s, because t he mi nd i s i nf al l i bl y conf i dent

and consci ous of t he i mmedi at e obj ect s of i t s

per cept i on.

SECTI ON XXXVI I .

We t hi nk, t her ef or e, t hat t he gr ound of con-

sci ousness not onl y f ai l s Ber kel ey, but , so f ar as

i t s evi dence can be canvassed, i s compl et el y agai nst

hi s posi t i on. Any one can t est i t i f he wi l l but

f al l back upon hi s own consci ousness, and exami ne

i t s si mpl e and deci ded t est i mony. I have a st one

i n my hand ; I am consci ous t hat t hi s st one i s col d,

r ound, of cer t ai n wei ght , and of a br owni sh col our .

Some of t hese deduct i ons ar e f act s of i nt ui t i ve con-

sci ousness r el at i ve t o t hi s st one. As t o i t s mi ner al

qual i t i es, t hey ar e as yet , per haps, not det er mi ned

t o my under st andi ng, consequent l y my bel i ef i s

suspended r el at i ve t o t hem ; t her ef or e t hey ar e not

wi t hi n t he r each of t he f act of consci ousness.

Now, am I consci ous of any r epr esent at i on made

t o my mi nd of t hi s st one? i s i t by somet hi ng be-

t ween i t and my mi nd I know i t ? i s i t an i mage

of a st one, or i s i t t he st one i t sel f , my mi nd per -

cei ves ? My own consci ousness i nf or ms me t hat

I per cei ve t he st one i mmedi at el y, and not hi ng

el se. Anot her quest i on r i ses, — I s i t possi bl e f or my

consci ousness t o i nf or m me of ot her qual i t i es be-

l ongi ng t o t hi s st one besi des t hose I act ual l y per -

74 PART I I .

cei ve, and so decei ve me i n t he mat t er ? I s i t

possi bl e f or me t o be consci ous of a squar e whi l st I

per cei ve a r ound obj ect ? and so wi t h al l t he r est .

I f t hi s wer e possi bl e, i t woul d make t he t est i mony

of consci ousness a medl ey of cont r adi ct i ons. Thi s

woul d be t he same as t o be consci ous and not t o

be consci ous at t he same t i me, r el at i ve t o t he same

t hi ng; t he same as t o be and not t o be, whi ch

woul d be sel f - dest r uct i ve : consci ousness, t her e-

f or e, i nf or ms me of t he i mmedi at e per cei ^ dng of

t he obj ect , and i ndubi t abl y t est i f i es of t he t hi ng

as i t i s per cei ved.

SECTI ON XXXVI I I .

The edi t or of t he pr esent edi t i on of Ber kel ey' s

^Yor ks says, i n hi s pr ef at or y r emar ks, " I t wi l l not ,

Page 46 of 108

however , be mi spl aced t o obser ve t hat Dr . Rci d,

t he onl y adver sar y who has assai l ed ' The Pr i n-

ci pl es of Human Knowl edge' wi t h any degr ee of

pl ausi bi l i t y, has not gone deep enough i n t he

i nvest i gat i on. He i magi ned t hat when he shoul d

have over t hr own t he phi l osophi c scheme of i deas,

Ber kel ey' s t heor y woul d necessar i l y become i n-

vol ved i n t he gener al r ui n. But Ber kel ey' s t heor y

does not depend on t he t r ut h or f al sehood of t hat

anci ent hypot hesi s, but ou t hi s f act , t hat ' t her e i s

no necessai y connexi on i n r eason and l anguage

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 75

bet ween our per cept i ons and t he exi st ence of ex-

t er nal obj ect s, si nce we know i t not unf r equent l y

happens t hat obj ect s appear t o be pr esent t o t he

senses when di sor der ed, al t l i ough we know t hey

ar e not pr esent . ' Rei d has not r ef ut ed Ber kel ey, "

cont i nues t he edi t or , " not even st r uck at t he

l eadi ng r oot of hi s syst em. No ot her ant agoni st

has assai l ed hi s doct r i nes wi t h equal abi l i t y or

success. Ber kel ey, t her ef or e, r emai ns unanswer ed. "

SECTI ON XXXI X.

We t hi nk t hat t her e i s an absol ut e r el at i on

bet ween ext er nal obj ect s and per cept i on. As f or

t hi ngs appear i ng t o di sor der ed senses, t hi s i s beg-

gi ng t he quest i on. The t hi ngs whi ch so appear t o

t he i magi nat i on of such per sons ar e f ai nt r ecol l ec -

t i ons or deduct i ons f r om somet hi ng i n t he memor y

or i n t hei r f or mer knowl edge. I t i s possi bl e t o

i magi ne of t hi ngs t hat have no r eal exi st ence ; but

even t hat has a r ef er ence t o somet hi ng i n exi st -

ence Avhi ch we saw, hear d of , or ar e f ami l i ar wi t h

i n some way or ot her . Al l our i magi nat i ons ar e

r el at i ve, not t o t he mi nd onl y, but t o somet hi ng

wi t hout i t . Al l dr eams, spect r es, and i magi na-

t i ons ar e not hi ng but modi f i cat i ons or r epr oduc-

t i ons i n a meaner or i n a nobl er f or m of t he

t hi ngs whi ch have been made known unt o us,

76 PART I I .

ei t her t l i r ougl i our senses^ r ef l ect i ons^ or r evel a-

t i on. Accor di ng t o t i ns hypot hesi s t he mi nd coul d

per cei ve t hi ngs as t hey ar e, i f t hey never exi st ed,

nor wer e hear d of , nor made known i n any way. So

t he obj ect s t hemsel ves ar e of no use ; equal l y usel ess

ar e t he senses, f or one i s made f or t he ot her . Thus

i t i s possi bl e t o per cei ve i n col d t hat wc get war m

wi t hout f i r e, quench our t hi r st wi t hout l i qui d,

sat i sf y our hunger wi t hout br ead, cl ot he our naked-

ness wi t hout gar ment s : our common exper i ence,

and t hat of al l men, show most i ncont est abl y t he

ut t er i mpossi bi l i t y of per cei vi ng t hi ngs wi t hout

t hei r exi st ence.

SECTI ON XL.

Page 47 of 108

We have shown t hat t he mi nd per cei ves mat er i al

obj ect s i mmedi at el y and not medi at el y. Thi s vi ew

of t he case i s an absol ut e dest r uct i on t o t he i deal -

i sm of Ber kel ey. I f Dr . Kei d l ost i t anywher e, i t

was her e. Hi s at t ack upon t he hypot hesi s of i deas

was t he openi ng of t he gat e t o t hi s r out e and con-

cl usi on. He shoul d have est abl i shed hi s bat t er y

of at t ack f i r ml y on t hi s gr ound, t hat t he mi nd per -

cei ves t hi ugs i mmedi at el y. Thi s gr ound shut s

i deal i sm up ; i t i s l ef t wi t hout power and ar gu-

ment . The pr ecedi ng quot at i ons of t he edi t or and

Ber kel ey assume t he gr ound, t hat t he mi nd per -

cei ves t hi ngs medi at el y : dest r oy t hi s assumpt i on —

BERKELEY S PHI LOSOPHY. 77

t hey ar e l ef t gr oundl ess ; or i t must be shown t l i at

our posi t i on i s wr ong, whi ch cannot be done upon

t he gr ound of consci ousness ; and t hi s i s t he onl y

di r ect wi t ness i n t he mat t er .

SECTI ON XLI .

I f ext er nal obj ect s ar e not necessar y t o t he per -

cept i on of t her a^ how ar e i deas pr oduced ? what

pr oduces t hem ? I f i deas ar e r epr esent at i ons^ t he

r eal t hi ngs must exi st . Thus r easoned t he r epr e-

sent at i oni st s and dual i st s. But Ber kel ey says

t hese r epr esent at i ons ar e t he r eal t hi ngs t hem-

sel ves. I f i t wi l l be answer ed, " The mi nd pr o-

duces or cr eat es t hem, " we ar e none t he mor e

enl i ght ened. The mi nd cannot cr eat e i deas out of

not hi ng. The mi nd cr eat es not hi ng; i t onl y

per cei ves t hi ngs as t hey ar e, and moul ds t hem i nt o

cl assi f i cat i on and or der . Thi s appear s t o us as

ef f ect wi t hout a cause— a somet hi ng wi t hout any-

t hi ng. The mi nd, accor di ng t o t hi s, cr eat es and

dest r oys al l , and t hat wi t hout any r eal el ement s

wi t hout i t sel f . Ther e i s a phenomenon t o t he

sense, but i t i s not hi ng but an i dea per cei ved by

t he mi ud. "

* We ar e r oLbcd of t he mat er i al uni ver se wi t l i out a compensat i on.

Our f ai t h i s di st ur bed wi t hout anot her el ement of sat i sf act i oa. We

ar e unset t l ed wi t hout a r eason and a pr omi se. I t i s har d t o choose

bet ween t hi s hypot hesi s and t hat of Per e i l al ebr ancbe. The hypo-

78 PART I I .

SECTI ON XLi r .

Thi s i deal i sm i s onl y a nat ur al and mat ur er

devel opment of ot her syst ems whi ch pr eceded i t .

Ber kel ey made onl y one st ep of advance-

ment . Ever yt hi ng has i t s nat ur al t endency, and

Page 48 of 108

r eaches i t s ul t i mat um sooner or l at er . Ber kel ey

t hesi s of Mal ebr anche hol ds t hat we see al l i n Rod. I t i s cal l ed t he

phi l osophy of occasi onal causes. Bot h Ber kel ey and i l al ebr anche

t r eat t he t est i mony of t he senses as f al se : t he t wo decl ar e t he expe-

r i ence and t est i mony of manki nd as f al se : t he t wo end i n t he same

concl usi on, namel y, t he deni al of t he mat er i al wor l d; bot h ar c sup-

por t ed by pi ous mot i ves, and expect ed t hei r syst ems t o r esul t gr eat l y

t o t he advant age of r el i gi on. The aut hor s had much i n common, as

t o t hei r super i or r el i gi ous char act er and mot i ves. Thei r phi l oso-

phi cal char act er , cl ever ness, and st yl e, have a l i keness. The chi ef

di f Tcr ences i n t hei r hypot heses ar e mor e of acci deut s and ci r cum-

st ances, t han r eal and f undament al . Most l i kel y, i f i l al ebr anche

wer e a Pr ot est ant , hi s i deal i sm woul d be t hat of Ber kel ey ; and i f

Ber kel ey wer e a Cat hol i c, hi s . =yst em woul d be l i ke t hat of Mal e-

br anche. The syst em of Mal ebr anche needed but t o be pur ged of i t s

Cat hol i c ext er nal excr escences, t o become an absol ut e i deal i sm ; and

al most al l t he r easons f or such a syst em ar e f ound i n hi s " I nqui r y

af t er Tr ut h. " " Whet her B( r kel ey avai l ed hi msel f of t hi s syst em and

t he r easons used by Mal ebr anche i n i t s suppor t , or not , t hi s i s cer -

t ai n, — he had ever yt hi ng f or hi s i deal i sm made r eady t o hi s hand.

The conver sat i on whi ch t hey had bef or e Mal ebr anche' s deat h, makes i t

pr obabl e t hat Ber kel ey was i ndebt ed t o hi m f or hi s syst em. The

syst em of Mal ebr anche, i n i t s pecul i ar f eat ur es, was a t r i umph of

Cat l i ol i c dogma t o phi l osophy, i n account i ng how di sembodi ed sai nt s can

beacquai i i t ed wi t h l uui i an i nvocat i on, and t he af f ai r s of ear t h gener al l y.

They ' per cei vr , t hey say, al l t hi nr / s i n God ; and Mal ebr anche t r ans -

f er r ed t hi s Cat hol i c t heol ogy, r el at i ve t o sai nt s i n heaven, t o men i n

t he i l esh on ear t h ; and Ber kel ey st r i pped i t of i t s Cat hol i c f eat ur es,

and gave i t a Pr ot est ant col our , and t hus gai ned f or hi msel f t he

f ame of bei ng t he aut hor of a pr of ound or i gi nal syst em.

I

BERKELEY S PI I i r OSOPI I Y. 79

accept ed cer t ai n pr emi ses, and dr ew cer t ai n nat ur al

concl usi ons f r om t hem ; and he was l anded on t he

qui cksands of i deal i sm. The f i r st t hi ng he accept ed

was, t hat i deas wer e r epr esent at i ons of t hi ngs.

On t hi s gr ound one of t hese concl usi ons was l ef t

hi r a^ — ei t her t her e ar e t hr ee ki nds of r eal ent i t i es,

t he mi nd, i deas, and ext er nal obj ect s ; or t he mi nd

per cei ves t hi ngs i mmedi at el y, or al l ext er nal phe-

nomena ar e i deas. He chose t he l ast . He made

al l t hi ngs i deas; t hese ar e t he absol ut e obj ect s of

per cept i on ; and af t er per suadi ng hi msel f of t hi s,

i t was easy t o t hr ow hi msel f back upon t he gr ound

of consci ousness f or a ki nd of def ence and shel t er .

We have shown t hat t hi s was a del usi ve pr emi ss.

The second t hi ng he accept ed was t he pr i mar y and

secondar y qual i t i es, and t hat t he secondar y qual i -

t i es of t hi ngs ar e sensi bi l i t i es i n t he mi nd r at her

t han r eal qual i t i es i n t he obj ect s t hemsel ves. Thi s

he accept ed f r om t he hand of Locke, t hough he was

not t he f i r st t o advance t hi s cr eed. " ^ When once

* " These I cal l or i gi nal or pr i mar y qual i t i es of body, " says Locke ;

" whi ch, I t hi nk, we may obser ve t o pr oduce si mpl e i deas i n us;

namel y, sol i di t y, ext ensi on, f i gur e, mot i on or r est , and number . "

Page 49 of 108

Speaki ng agai n of secondar y qual i t i es, — " Secondl y, such qual i t i es,

whi ch, i n t r ut h, ar e not hi ng i n t he obj ect s t hemsel ves, bat power s t o

pr oduce var i ous sensat i ons i n us by t hei r pr i mar y qual i t i es, i . e. , by

t he bul k, f i gur e, t ext ur e, and mot i on of I hei r i hsensi bl e par t s, as

col our s, sounds, t ast es, &c. , — t hese I cal l secondar y qual i t i es. " —

" Human Under st andi ng, " book i i . , el i ap. vi i i . , p. 7o. The cl assi f i -

cat i on was i n Descar t es' phi l osophy and ot her s bef or e Locke; but t he

nomencl at ur e i nt o pr i mar y and secondar y qual i t i es bel ongs t o Locke.

80 PART I I .

he bel i eved t hat col our , heat , and ot her seeondar y

qual i t i es, wer e not hi ng but sensat i ons i n t he mi nd ;

i t was onl y a smal l st ep f ur t her t o conel ude t hat

t he pr i mar y qual i t i es wer e onl y sensat i ons t oo.

Thi s was a di r ect nat ur al and easy deduct i on.

Upon t hese t wo pi l l ar s Ber kel ey bui l t hi s hypo-

t hesi s of i deal i sm. I f t he f oundat i on wer e r i ght ,

t her e woul d be a chance f or t he upper st r uct ur e.

He shoul d have exami ned t he pr emi ses wel l bef or e

dr awi ng hi s concl usi ons, and not accept ed t hem as

saf e post ul at a.

SECTI ON XLI I I .

Ber kel ey consi der ed t he t heor y of abst r act i on

det r i ment al t o hi s hypot hesi s of i deal i sm ; so he

di r ect ed al l hi s ener gy agai nst i t . Locke mai n-

t ai ned t hat abst r act i on was t he chi ef di f l ' er ence

bet ween man and t he i nf er i or br ut e cr eat i on ; al so,

t o t hi s sour ce he at t r i but ed gener al i deas, and most

of our pr esent knowl edge. Hume t ook up t he

si de of Ber kel ey, and appl auded hi m hi ghl y, and

made good use of t hi s t heor y t o suppor t hi s uni -

ver sal scept i ci sm. We t hi nk t hat t he doct r i ne of

abst r act i on has been over st at ed, as t o i t s i mpor t -

ance and ut i l i t y, by bot h t he dual i st s and t he

i deal i st s. Our l i mi t s wi l l not al l ow us t o st at e

our anal ysi s and vi ew of t hi s t heor y of abst r act i on ;

and t hi s we t hi nk t he l ess needf ul , 1. Because wc

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 81

cannot see t hat i t det er mi nes t he exi st ence or non-

exi st ence of mat t er at al l . I f Ber kel ey coul d have

est abl i shed hi s posi t i on, he woul d have been none

t he neai ' er t o pr ove t he non- exi st ence of mat t er .

I f he coul d not abst r act mot i on f r om a bodj ^ mov -

i ng, — a squar e body f r om a r ound one, — t hi s was

no r eason t hat mat t er di d not possess an i ndepend-

ent r eal i t y, and t hese qual i t i es i nher ed i n i t . 2.

Ber kel ey conf esses hi msel f al most al l t hat i s want -

i ng t o est abl i sh t he doct r i ne of abst r act i on. He

br i ngs al l hi s power s t o bear agai nst t he doct r i ne,

and yet i t appear s t o us t hat he abst r act ed hi msel f

al l al ong. " I own mysel f abl e t o abst r act i n one

sense, " says he, " as when I consi der some par -

t i cul ar par t s or qual i t i es separ at ed f r om ot her s,

wi t h whi ch, t hough t hey ar e uni t ed i n some

obj ect , yet i t i s possi bl e t hey may r eal l y exi st

Page 50 of 108

Avi i hout t hem. ' ^ We shal l gi ve i n hi s own wor ds

an i nst ance mor e : " And her e i t must be acknow-

l edged t hat a man may consi der a f i gur e mer el y as

t r i angul ar , wi t hout at t endi ng t o t he par t i cul ar

qual i ci es of t he angl es, or r el at i ons of t he si des.

So f ar he may abst r act ; but t hi s wi i l never [ ) r ove

t hat he can f r ame an abst r act gener al i nconsi st ent

i dea of a t r i angl e. ' " I f any one wi l l t ake t he

t r oubl e t o anal yse t he quot at i ons j ust made, i t wi l l

be seen t hat Ber kel ey has gr ant ed t he possi bi l i t y

of abst r act i on. ( Yol . i . , pp. 77, 81. )

G

82 PART i r .

SECTI ON XLW.

Ber kel ey, l i ke ot her ki nd, i ndul gent par ent s,

l oved and t hought hi ghl y of t hi s chi l d of i deal i sm,

whi ch he had begot t en. He t hought t hat i t was

a ki nd of uni ver sal panacea t o pur i f y phi l osophy

and t heol ogy f r om al l possi bl e er r or and unbel i ef .

I t woul d put an end t o Dei sm, At hei sm, Mat er i al -

i sm, and f i nal l y set t l e t he i mmor t al i t y of t he soul ,

and put an end t o al l doubt f ul t heor i es about

mat t er f or ever , f or i t i s t aken out of t he Avay.

So near a r el at i on as a par ent i s not al ways t he

best and most i mpar t i al j udge r el at i ve t o hi s own

chi l d. Somet i mes, al so, a par ent i s much di sap-

poi nt ed i n t he f ut ur e hi st or y and r esul t s of hi s

own dar l i ng chi l d. We t hi nk t hat somet hi ng l i ke

t hi s was t he condi t i on of Ber kel ey. Af t er so much

pr omi se and ant i ci pat i on, he was much di sap-

poi nt ed t hat hi s phi l osophy was so much negl ect ed

and despi sed, and br ought so l i t t l e of t hat f r ui t

whi ch he so abundant l y pr omi sed t o hi msel f and

hi s di sci pl es.

SECTI ON XLV.

Yet , Ber kel ey was a gr eat geni us, and a no bl e

char act er . He has made an i mpr essi on of hi s

* " " What I her e make publ i c has, af t er a l ong and scr upul ous

i r i ( [ ui r y, seemed t o me evi dent l y t r ue, and not unusef ul t o be known,

j ) ar t i cul ar l y t o t hose who ar e t ai nt ed wi t h scept i ci sm, or want a

demonst r at i on of t he exi st ence and i mmat er i al i t y of God, or t he

nat ur al i nnuur L. i l i t y of t he soul . " — Pr cl ace t o t he " Pr i nci pl es of

I f umun Kuowl edge. "

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 83

name, i n t he uui ver sal f i el d of pl i i l osophy, t l i r ougl i -

out t l i e wor l d of enl i ght ened l et t er s. Si nce hi s

syst em made i t s appear ance, he has been t hought

of , spoken of , wr i t t en of ; and, i n hi s t ur n, pr ai sed,

scol ded, and puzzl ed many a smat t er er i n ment al

sci ence. Such a char act er must have been, i n

power and geni us, above t he or di nar y cl ass of

Page 51 of 108

hi s f el l ows. But even t l i i s i s no ar gument f or t he

t r ut h of hi s t heor y. Tr ut h and geni us ar e not

al ways synonymous t hi ngs : t hey ar e not conver -

t i bl e t er ms. Many wr ong t heor i es of t en have

much geni us and gr eat ness, as t o t hei r aut hor s

aud def ender s; and t r ut h may f r equent l y have

onl y f eebl e and dul l advocat es. Thi s i s not t he

gr ound f or t est i ng ei t her t r ut h or f al sehood. Thi s

i deal phi l o . ' phy has f ai l ed t o est abl i sh i t s cl ai ms

on our cr edence f or any good r esul t s f or manki nd :

a desi der at um so much wi shed and want ed. I t

has f ai l ed, not f or Avant of geni us and power i n t he

pr opounder of i t , but f r om i t s own r adi cal i ncon-

gr ui t y wi t h t he f undament al l aws of man' s nat ur e.

The mass of human bei ngs who f ol l ow t he i nt ui t i ve

and pr i mor di al l aws of t hei r nat ur e, wi l l f or ever

r ef use al l egi ance t o t hi s i deal phi l osophy. I t s

chi ef pl ace wi l l be on t he shel ves, and i n t he sel ect

soci et y of phi l osopher s. I t wi l l be used by t he

cl ever and t he scept i c, mor e t o puzzl e and conf use,

t han t o convi nce and edi f y.

G 2

84 PART I I .

SECTI ON' XLVl .

Ber kel ey ant i ci pat ed and answer ed many of t l i e

most common obj ect i ons whi ch woul d be made t o

hi s syst em. Most of t hese answer s ar e not equal

t o hi s ot her depar t ment s i n t hought , power , or

geni us. ] Most of t hem ar e meagr e and unsat i s-

f act or y. We t hi nk al so, t hat t o t est any cont r o-

ver si al t hi ng i n a conver sat i onal way, as he di d i n

hi s " I l yl as and Phi l onous, ^ ' i s not t he best and

f ai r est way. I n t hi s mode t her e ar e sever al ad-

vant ages, v. l i i ch ar e gener al l y gr eat l y abused. I t

put s t he opponent i n a ver y i nsi gni f i cant l i ght ;

whi l st t he wr i t er hi msel f i s i n a v. - r cng posi t i on,

f or he hi msel f i s t he opponent . — I t i s r adi cal l y a

f al se r epr esent at i on. The aut hor put s t he obj ect i ons

of hi s ant agoni st i n t he f or m he pl eases, i n or der t o

shoot hi m dead, and t hen smi l e at hi s own cl ever -

ness : no one can pl ay t he t wo si des f ai r l y. Ever y

one shoul d est abl i sh hi s own vi ews as wel l as he

can, but shoul d l eave t he t est of t l i em t o ot her s ;

and not make t hei r bul l et s and di r ect t hei r hands t o

shoot as t hey pl ease. We t hi nk t hat Ber kel ey was

as f ai r and candi d as anybody woul d be; but we

cannot t hi nk t he mode unobj ect i onabl e. Thi s i s

a Pl at oni c and Ci cer oni an mode, and Ber kel ey

excel l ed much i n i t . Thi s mode of t r eat ment i s so

BERKELEY S PHI LOSOPHY. 85

suscept i bl e of abuse, t hat i t i s a di f f i cul t mat t er t o

avoi d i t , and har dl y any body who adopt s t hat

st yl e r uns cl ear of i t .

Page 52 of 108

SECTI ON XLVI I .

Now, " we must say a f ew wor ds cat egor i cal l y upon

t hose poi nt s, i n our vi ew, i n whi ch Ber kel ey' s sys -

t em f ai l s. We have shown t hat i t i s a devel opment

of an ant ecedent phi l osophy. I t i s not i ndependent

and compl et e i n i t sel f ; i t i s a par t of anot her

phi l osophy, whi ch pr eceded i t . I t i s a nat ur al

concl usi on, f r om pr emi ses whi ch he accept ed f r om

t he hands of ot her s. We vi ew t hi s syst em as t oo

shor t t o sol ve t he pr obl em of human nat ur e ; i t

goes t oo f ar i n ot her di r ect i ons, — i n i t s at t ack upon

i nnocent mat t er ; so i t i s not t r ue and sui t abl e i n

ei t her .

I . I t f ai l s t o account f or t he cor r espondence

wi t h, and appl i cat i on of , t he power s of t he human

mi nd. Ther e i s an exact cor r espondence bet ween

t he obj ect i ve and t he subj ect i ve t hr oughout t he

uni ver se. Bot h ar e t he wor kmanshi p of i nf i -

ni t e and i nf al l i bl e Wi sdom ; and al l i n t he wor k of

i nf i ni t e Wi sdom ar e equal . The one i s made f or

t he ot her . The phi l osophy t hat does not cor r e-

spond wi t h t hi s, cannot be t r ue and f ai t hf ul . Thi s

i s t he chi ef end of al l phi l osophy. JMat t er i t sel f i s

not t he ul t i mat e poi nt , — i t i s t he human mi nd.

8G PART I I .

The mat er i al wor l d i s a pheuomeuoi i t o t est , de-

vel ope, and expl ai n t l i e pr obl ems of t he human

r ai nd. We consi der t hi s i deal syst em of Ber ke-

l ey t o have f ai l ed compl et el y on t hi s gr ound. I n-

st ead of gi vi ng f ul l pl ay t o t he human mi nd, i t

cont r act s i t ; i nst ead of ext r i cat i ng f r om di f f i -

cul t i es, i t cr eat es mor e ; i nst ead of cl ear i ng and

si mpl i f yi ng t he pr obl ems of t he mi nd, i t myst i f i es

t he whol e.

SECTI ON XLVI I I .

I I . I t i s cont r ar y t o t he gener al convi ct i on of

manki nd. Human depr avi t y has not hi ng t o do

wi t h t he quest i on. I t i s a quest i on of sense and

consci ousness. I t i s wi t hi n t he j ur i sdi ct i on of al l

men ; yet , t he common ver di ct i s agai nst Ber kel ey.

I t cannot be t hat f al sehood i s t he r oot of our na-

t ur e. I t cannot be t hat our senses and consci ous -

ness ar e unf i t t o j udge i n mat t er s of common and

di r ect cogni t i on ; i t cannot be t hat our Cr eat or has

a desi gn t o decei ve us, by pl ayi ng some myst er i ous

sl ei ght - of - hand wi t h us. Ther e must be some

pr i mor di al pr i nci pl es of t r ut h i n t he nat ur e of man

somewher e. The Aut hor of our nat ur e has not

l ef t us wi t hout some cr i t er i a of t r ut h. I t mat t er s

not whet her t hi s i s cal l ed " i nt ui t i on, " " nat ur al

r eason, " " common sense, " or " pur e r eason, " —

t hi s does exi st . Si r Wi l l i am Hami l t on, wi t h hi s

Page 53 of 108

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 87

usual l ear ni ng and penet r at i on, has shown, i n one

hundr ed and si x exampl es f r om ever y age and

count r y, t hat al l acknowl edge t hi s pr i nci pl e of

common sense, and ul t i mat el y f al l back upon i t f or

pr oof and r ef uge. Such i s t he case now i n Ger -

many ; af t er a wi de and l ong t ossi ng by t he

bi l l ows of specul at i on, t hey r et ur n t o t hi s r ock, —

t he pr i mor di al convi ct i on of humani t y. These

pr i nci pl es must not be vi ol at ed ; t hey must be t he

basi s of al l t r ue phi l osophy. No phi l osophy whi ch

vi ol at es t hese t hi ngs at i t s ver y base can be ac -

cept ed, wi t hout f al si f yi ng t hi s gener al condi t i on.

And t hi s, we bel i eve, i s anot her of t he def i ci enci es

of Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy.

SECTI ON XLI X.

I I I . Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy i s scept i cal i n i t s

t endency. I t begi ns on t he gr ound of di scr edi t -

i ng t he t est i mony of sense, manki nd, and con-

sci ousness. Hume, wi t h hi s usual subt l et y and

apt ness, t ook hol d on t hi s hypot hesi s, and made

good use of i t t o suppor t hi s consummat e syst em

of scept i ci sm, and wound hi s ant agoni st s. I f con-

sci ousness i s di scr edi t ed on one si de, what r eason

have we f or t r ust i ng i t on t he ot her ? Men must

be as consci ous of mat er i al subst ance wi t hout

t hemsel ves, as t hey ar e of t he t hi nki ng bei ng i n

88 PART I I .

t hemsel ves. I f one i s bel i eved, t he ot her must he

accept ed t oo ; i f one i s r ej ect ed, t he ot her i s di scr e-

di t ed. I f a man coul d be per suaded t hat obj ect s

of sense ar e not ext er nal and r eal , as t hey appear

t o be, he mi ght bel i eve t hat hi s body i s not what

he i s consci ous of i t t o be what i t i s ; and when

once a man r eaches t hi s gr ound, he di scr edi t s con-

sci ousness, and wi l l ul t i mat el y r ef use i t s t est i mony

al t oget her . Thi s woul d be uni ver sal scept i ci sm.

Men gener al l y t hi nk t hey have cl ear er evi dences

of t he r eal i t y of t hi ngs mat er i al and ext er nal , t han

of t hi ngs ment al and spi r i t ual ; and, i f t hey wer e

per suaded t o di scr edi t t he r eal i t y of t hese, woul d

t hey bel i eve t he r eal i t y of any t hi ng t hat woul d be

t o t hem l ess cl ear " ^ I f t hey bel i eved t hat f i el ds,

t r ees, r i ver s, and al l beast s, cl ouds, st ar s, t hough

appar ent l y so many r eal obj ect s, yet ar e not hi ng

but i deas i n t he mi nd ; t l i ey woul d easi l y bel i eve

t hat t he f i r st cause, and t hemsel ves, ar e i deas t oo.

I n t hi s, Ber kel ey sacr i f i ced cer t ai nt y, t o est abl i sh

an uncer t ai n hypot hesi s. Ther e was but a smal l

st ep f r om t he pr i mar y and secondar y qual i t i es of

Locke t o i deal i sm : t hi s i deal i sm has t he same r el a-

t i on t o uni ver sal scept i ci sm. I t i s onl y a st ep

f ur t her t o di scr edi t t he whol e evi dence of consci -

ousness, and t hat ver y easi l y made. I t wi l l be

seen t hat t hi s i deal i sm i s r esponsi bl e f or openi ng

t he door t o much scept i ci sm.

Page 54 of 108

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 89

SECTI ON L.

I V. Auot l i er def i ci ency i n t hi s i deal pl i i l osophy

i s, i t f ai l s t o cor r espond wi t h t he evi dence of con-

sci ousness. ' Thi s phi l osophy does not r i ght l y can-

vass t he nat ur al and t he si mpl e t est i mony of

consci ousness. I t i s vi ol at ed, and made t o ut t er

a l anguage t hat i s not nat ur al . Whi l st t he l an-

guage of my nat ur al consci ousness woul d assur e

ni e t hat t he t i l i ng I f eel and see i s t angi bl e, mat e-

r i al , and out si de me ; t hi s i deal i sm says. No, t hey

ar e not hi ng but i deas per cei ved by t he mi nd, and

you ar e consci ous of not hi ng but of i deas. The

nat ur al consci ousness of man, i n t he f i r st pl ace,

does not say t hey ar e i deas ; t he phi l osopher must

come f or war d wi t h hi s t heor y of i deal i sm, t o

change t hi ngs i nt o i deas, bef or e consci ousness

r ecogni ses t hem as i deas : so t he evi dence of con-

sci ousness i s br i bed or decei ved i nt o t he mat t er .

I t i s not t he unadul t er at ed l anguage of consci ous -

ness : t he gr ound of consci ousness i s t he same ;

but t he obj ect s ar e conver t ed f r om r eal t hi ngs i nt o

i deal t hi ngs. I t i s a decept i on, and a vi ol at i on of

consci ousness. I n t hi s, i t vi ol at es t he f i r st t r ut l i

i n phi l osophy ; f or i f t he f act and evi dence of con-

sci ousness ar e vi ol at ed, t her e r emai net h no l onger

a t est and a f oundat i on f or phi l osophy.

90 PAl l T I I .

SECTI ON LI .

V. I t vi ol at es uni ver sal l anguage, bot h nat ur al

and convent i onal . Accor di ng t o t hi s phi l osophy,

t he wor ds mat t er , ext er nal subst ance, body, t an-

gi bl e, and many si mi l ar t er ms, whi ch ar e f ound i n

ever y l anguage known, must be expunged. Ter ms

f or mat t er and mi nd ar e f ound i n ever y l anguage,

and mor e f or t he f i r st t han f or t he l ast . These

ar e not mer e convent i onal wor ds, but most of

t hem nat ur al . I t shows t hat t he bel i ef i n mat t er

i s as nat ur al as i t i s uni ver sal . I deal i sm obl i t er -

at es al l t hese wor ds ; i t has no meani ng f or t hem ;

i t cannot r ecei ve t hem t o her vocabul ar y ; t hey

ar e i n her way. I t comes i n col l i si on, al so, wi t h

t he t er ms and f act s of t he Scr i pt ur es. The f act

of cr eat i on, t he del uge, t he f i r e of t he pl ai ns, and

t he conver si on of Lot ' s wi f e i nt o a pi l l ar of sal t , —

cr eat i on of i deas, — del uge of i deas, — i deal bur ni ng

of Sodom and Gomor r ah, — and i deal pi l l ar of sal t .

Har ml ess t hi ngs enough ! The mi r acul ous gene-

r at i on of Chr i st ^ s human nat ur e, and Hi s body,

wer e i deas i n t he mi nd. Thi s i s t he gr ound, t he

Bi shop t hought , of anni hi l at i ng Soci ni ani sm. We

Page 55 of 108

t hi nk i t woul d be al so a mor t al bl ow t o Chr i st i an-

i t y. Gnost i ci sm i t sel f woul d be gr at ef ul f or t hi s

i deal i sm. * I f t hi s phi l osophy coul d be pr oved t o

* Gnost i ci sm was t hat syst em of pl i i l osopl i y t aught by t he Gnost i cs ;

yvoxTTi Kos, f r om yi vui aKw, " t o know. " The Gnost i cs wer e a sect of

Ber kel ey' s phi l osophy. 91

be t r ue, i t woul d be a good ar gument agai nst

Tr ansubst ant i at i on. Does i t not equal l y deny us

t he f act and possi bi l i t y of t he r esur r ect i on of t he

mat er i al body? I f body i s mat t er , and mat t er a

mer e i dea i n t he mi nd, a r esur r ect i on i s i mpossi bl e

i n t he sense i n whi ch i t i s scr i pt ur al l y under st ood.

Ther e i s not hi ng l ef t but i deas; i t cannot be a

r esur r ect i on of i deas. Such, ver y br i ef l y, i s our

exami nat i on of t he r esul t of t hi s i deal i sm.

phi l osopher s whi ch ar ose a shor t t i me bef or e t he Chr i st i an er a, and

i n t he f i r st ages of Cl i r i st i ani t y accept ed some of t he t r ut hs of Chr i s -

t i ani t y, expl ai ned t hem by t he spi r i t and l i ght of t hei r phi l osophy,

and made t hem subser vi ent t o t he suppor t and ai d of t hei r syst em.

Thei r syst em of t heol ogy was agr eeabl e t o t he Pyt hagor ean and t he

Pl at oni c phi l osophy, t o whi ch t hey accommodat ed ver y much t he

i nt er pr et at i on of Scr i pt ur e. They hel d t hat al l nat ur e, i nt el l i gi bl e, i n-

t el l ect ual , and mat er i al , i s der i ved by successi ve emanat i ons f r om

t he i nf i ni t e f ount ai n of Dei t y. These emanat i ons t hey cal l ed seons,

auDves. Tl i ey hel d mat t er t o be i nt r i nsi cal l y evi l , of whi ch t he

Supr eme God coul d not be t he Aut hor . Hence ar ose t hei r f unda-

ment al t enet , t hat t he Cr eat or of t he wor l d, or t he Demi ur gus, was

not t he same wi t h t he Supr eme God, t he Soi u' cc and Aut hor of al l

good, and t he Fat her of Cl i r i st . I t was a ki nd of an ecl ect i c syst em

of absol ut e myst er y, whose pur pose and ai m was t o pur i f y manki nd

f r om t he cor r upt i on and deat h of t he evi l of mat t er .

92

PAET I I I .

METAPHYSI CS.

CHAPTER I .

MI STAKF, N VI EWS CONCERNI NG METAPHYSI CS.

Di f f er ent mi nds vi ew t he same t hi ngs wi del y

at var i ance f r om one anot her . They st and on

di f f er ent st and- poi nt s of spect at i on, t hey vi ew

t hi ngs t hr ough di f f er ent medi ums, t hey br i ng wi t h

t hem di f f er ent sympat hi es, pr edi l ect i ons, mot i ves,

and desi r es : — wi t h al l t hese t hi ngs, i t woul d be a

mar vel i f al l t hought t he same. The di f f er ent

st at es and r el at i ons of t he mi nd t o t he obj ect s pr e-

sent ed t o i t , change t hei r col our , f or m, and val ue.

Thus, of t en t he t r ue i s made f al se, and t he f al se

t r ue, i n human opi ni on and pr act i ce ; t he i nf er i or

i s put i n t he pl ace of t he super i or , and t he supe-

Page 56 of 108

r i or r educed t o t he wor t hl ess and t he mean.

The common f or t une of ot her obj ect s of t hought ,

i s t hat of met aphysi cs; onl y, per haps i t i s j udged

mor e har dl y and unf ai r l y t han most t hi ngs. JNI et a-

physi cs ar e f ur t her f r om t he common t hought s

of men, t han most obj ect s of t hought ; hence, men

j udge of t hem i n i gnor ance, whi ch, upon t he

METAPHYSI CS. 93

whol e, i s f al sCj and can never be f ai r , saf e, and

vi r t uous. To j udge of t hi ngs i gnor ant l y, i s unsaf e

and ber aeani ng t o t he j udge hi msel f , and wr ong

and capr i ci ous r el at i ve t o t he obj ect of j udgment .

And yet t hi s i s t he case whh. t hose who j udge and

condemn met aphysi cs gener al I 3' ; t hey speak i n

t he dar k, t hey have never made t hem t hei r st udy ;

t hey f ol l ow t he common cust om, or some acqui r ed

and super f i ci al f eel i ngs and vi ews i n t hei r mi nds.

The st udent of met aphysi cs, t he mor e he st udi es

t hem, t he mor e i nt er est ed he becomes i n t hem ;

and scar cel y, i f ever , i s t her e f ound am. oug her

di sci pl es a r ecr e^ i nt . The sci ence has a bewi t ch-

i ng t endency; i t dr aws t o i t sel f , i t st r engt l i ens

and aspi r es t he soul of her di sci pl es t o f ol l ow af t er

her deep and l of t y obj ect s, wi t h i ncr easi ng avi di t y

and pl easur e. Hence, i n most cases, i t i s t he

st r anger , t he super f i ci al , and t he woul d- be- i nf al l i -

bl e, t hat speak di spar agi ngl y of her ; and not her

di sci pl e, t he pr of ound and t he ear nest i nqui r er .

Met aphysi cs ar e mi sconcei ved and j udged of

wr ongl y and har shl y, by cer t ai n cl asses and t em-

per ament s of mi nd. I t i s easj - t o t el l , f r om t he

common pur sui t , sympat hi es, and associ at i ons of

men, whet her t hey ar e f avour abl e or unf avour abl e

t o met aphysi cs. I t i s t oo br oad and l i ber al i n i t s

i nqui r i es f or t he nar r ow and i l l i ber al ; i t i s t oo

pr of ound i n i t s spi r i t and pr obl ems f or t he l i ght

94 PART I I I .

and super f i ci al ; i t i s t oo car ef ul i n i t s anal ysi s,

and uncer t ai n i n i t s concl usi ons, f or t he mat t er - of -

f act men ; i t i s t oo f r ee, cat hol i c, and ant agoni st i c

t o si mpl e human opi ni on, f or t he nar r ow dog-

mat i st ; i t i s t oo el ast i c and uni ver sal i n i t s

r easoni ngs and ai ms, f or t he st i f f and t he f or mal .

A sci ence t hat r ef uses t o be gover ned and t est ed

by common opi ni on, and opposes t he common

vi ews and f eel i ngs of manki nd, wi l l be al ways mi s-

j udged and opposed.

For obvi ous r easons, t he sci ence of met aphysi cs

wi l l al ways be mi sr epr esent ed by di f f er ent t ast es

and cl asses of mi nd. Some wi l l af f ect t o despi se

i t , because t hey have no cour age and per sever ance

t o under st and i t , or no power s and means t o do

so. Ot her s mi sunder st and and mi si nt er pr et i t ,

Page 57 of 108

because t hei r habi t s of t hought , and sympat hi es,

ar e i n di f f er ent di r ect i ons ; hence, t hey have con-

t r act ed a deep ant i pat hy t o i t s t eachi ng, and even

t o i t s hi gh ai m and obj ect mat t er . The spi r i t ual -

i t y of i t s sympat hi es and obj ect s, makes i t unpal a-

t abl e t o t he mat er i al i st ; because i t s r esul t s ar e i n

t he spi r i t ual and t he ment al , i t i s mi sunder st ood

and condemned by t he physi ci st and t he wor l dl i ng

as usel ess, and consi der ed even pr et ent i ous and

danger ous. I t demands t he gr eat est ef f or t s and

per sever ance of t he human mi nd, and t he super -

f i ci al and t hose who expect t o have al l i n t he ol d

METAPHYSI CS. 95

and easy common- beat en pat h, di sl i ke i t and t ur n

asi de f r om i t . So var i ed and di f f er ent ar e t he

r easons and f eel i ngs agai nst met aphysi cs, t hat i t i s

not easy t o f i nd and ment i on t hem al l . Ther e ar e

many who obj ect t o and oppose met aphysi cs, yet

never put t hei r opposi t i on i n t angi bl e f or ms, be-

cause t he r eal cause of i t i s beyond t hei r under -

st andi ng ; and t he r eason i s as much a mat t er of

i ndi f f er ence t o t hem, as i t i s beyond t hei r concep-

t i on. I t i s not unf r equent l y t he case, many t hi nk,

t hat by opposi ng a super i or t hi ng, t hey become

cl ever and gr eat ; and t hat , however i gnor ant t he

opposi t i on, and bl i nd t he cause. Whi l st i t i s easy

t o f i nd f aul t s and oppose, i t i s not al ways so easy

t o f i nd r easons t o j ust i f y an opposi t i on, and def end

t he same bef or e t he bar of t r ut h, and enl i ght ened

wi t nesses.

Even mi sconcept i on and wr ong accusat i on have

t he ef f ect of l eadi ng t o a hi gher cour t of j ust i ce, and

mor e t est ed exami nat i on ; and of t en t he wr ongl y-

condemned comes out br i ght er and mor e

at t r act i ve. As gol d comes out of ever y f ur nace of

t est br i ght er , so t r ut h comes out of ever y cour t

of i mpar t i al j ust i ce wi t h advant age and t r i umph.

Thi s i s a ki nd of bal ance compensat i on, f or t he

t r eat ment whi ch t r ut h and r i ght have f r equent l y

at t he hands of men i n t hi s v. or l d. The t r ue car -

r i es an i ncompar abl e advant age over t he f al se i n

96 PART I I I .

t he super i or i t y of i t s nat ux' e ; f i nd t he Di vi ne or der

» i s such, t hat i t al ways si des wi t h and def ends t he

t r ue, t hat i t has al ways a f ai r chance, even i n a

wor l d of wr ong, t o get t he t r ue ver di ct , and pr ove

vi ct or i ous, i f r i ght l y pr esent ed and def ended.

The st udy of met aphysi cs i s vi ewed by some as

l abour l ost , because i t cannot count upon any r eal

r esul t s. Per haps not hi ng i s l ess under st ood, t han

t he r el at i on bet ween causes and r esul t s ; and about

whi ch so much of i gnor ant t al k and cant i s hear d,

and especi al l y r el at i ve t o met aphysi cs and r el i gi on.

Not hi ng i s mor e common t han t he mi sappr ehen-

Page 58 of 108

si on of t he char act er and degr ee of r esul t s. Many

expect t o have di f i er ent r esul t s f r om t he char act er

of t he causes, and di f f er ent i n degr ee f r om t he

f or ces or power s whi ch cause t hem.

I t i s an uni ver sal l av/ , r unni ng t hr ough t he

whol e const i t ut i on of t he uni ver se, t hat r esul t s

bear au exact pr opor t i on i n qual i t y and degr ee t o

t he causes whi ch pr oduce t hem. I t i s a cont r adi c -

t i on t o t he uni ver sal or der of nat ur e, t o say t hat

t hi ngs have no r esul t s : and i f met aphysi cs bor e

no r esul t s, t hey woul d be an anomal y i n t he uni -

ver se. Met aphysi cs, i n common wi t h ot her t hi ngs,

bear r esul t s, and t hat i n pr opor t i on wi t h t he power

t hey exer t , and t he same i n qual i t y wi t h t hei r

nat ur e.

Not hi ng i s l ess under st ood by t he mass of

METAPHYSI CS. 97

uni net apl i ysi cal mi nds, t han t he r esul t s of met a-

physi cs. The mechani st , t he ar t i st , and t he

l abour er i n t he f i el d of sci ence, have t he pl easur e

of behol di ng t he r esul t s of t hei r t oi l , pr esent ed t o

t hei r out war d senses. But he who l abour s i n t he

f i el d of mi nd must l abour on by f ai t h, encour aged

by t he i mpor t ance and super i or i t y of hi s wor k,

and conf i di ng i n t he f ai t hf ul ness and i mmut abl e-

ness of l aw and or der . And he i s as sur e of

r esul t s as t hose who l abour on t he ot her si de of

t he f i el d, and f ar super i or i n need and i mpor t ance.

The r esul t s of met aphysi cs ar e subt l e and deep

i n t hei r pl at f or m and i nf l uence ; t hey ar e sl ow and

unobt r usi ve i n t hei r appear ance. The r esul t s ar e

f el t on t he mi nds of t hose who become t r ue

st udent s, r nd, t hr ough t hem, on soci et y i n i t s

r ami f i ed f or ms and f eat ur es. The r esul t s ar e

var i ous and i mpor t ant , whi ch mi ght be shown at

a f ar gr eat er l engt h t han I can do her e. I NI et a-

physi cs i mpar t vi gour t o t he mi nd, super i or t o any

ot her educat i onal i nf l uence; t hey gi ve poi nt and

acut eness pecul i ar t o t hemsel ves ; t hey r evi ve t he

sympat hi es, by r ai si ng t hem f r om t he mat er i al t o

t he ment al , and l ead t hem f r om t he sensat i onal

t o t he spi r i t ual . They l i ber al i ze t he t hought s and

vi ews, by r ai si ng t he sympat hi es of t he soul above

t he l i mi t ed t o t he i l l i mi t abl e; and open i nf i ni t e

r esour ces bef or e t he mi nd i n ever y di r ect i on.

H

98 PART I I I .

Ther e i s not a depar t ment i n t he economy of

knoTi l ecl ge but what i s under obl i gat i on t o met a-

physi cs. Et hi cs, pol i t i cs, pai nt i ng, poet r y, scul p-

t i u' e, and t heol ogy, ar e under pecul i ar obl i gat i on

t o ment al sci ence , • and no one can be a mast er i n

t hese wi t hout bei ng educat ed i n t he school of

Page 59 of 108

met aphysi cs. I f t hose who af f ect t o despi se and

cr y down met aphysi cs, wer e r equi r ed t o poi nt out

t heol ogi ans or pol i t i ci ans who gr eat l y excel l ed,

who wer e not br ought up under t hei r di al ect i cs,

t hey woul d f i nd i t a har d t ask t o f i l l t hei r l i st wi t h

i l l ust r i ous names. Of t en t he met aphysi cal sways

much power , when deni ed i n wor d, and f r owned at

i n ext er nal expr essi on. I t s f r ui t s ar e seen of t en

when no conf essi ons ar e made ; and i t s r esul t s

ar e pal pabl e wher e condemned and pr ohi bi t ed.

Met aphysi cs ar e vi ewed by many as made up of

usel ess t heor i es, and i ni mi cal t o t he pr act i cal i n

l i f e. I t i s di f f i cul t t o know t he pr eci se meani ng

of t he wor d " pr act i cal , ^ ' as used i n t he common

par l ey of t he pr esent gener at i on. I t i s a f avour i t e

wor d wi t h or at or s i n t he pul pi t , on t he pl at f or m,

and on t he r ost r um ; wi t h commer ci al men i n al l

t r ansact i ons of busi ness; wi t h ut i l i t ar i ans i n al l

t hei r t al k of usef ul doi ngs, and benef i ci al r esul t s ;

and wi t h al l pur suer s of mat er i al sci ence i n al l t he

r ami f i cat i on of t hei r wal ks, and boast ed empt i ness

of t hei r advancement and di scover i es. I t i s one

METAPHYSI CS. 99

of t hose unf or t unat e vr or ds wl i i cb al most ever y-

body uses ; and on t hat account i s i n danger of

bei ng despi sed by t he t hought f ul , and i n t he l ong

r un wor n out by i t s t oo f r equent use, even wi t h

t hose who car r y on wi t h i t such an ext ensi ve

busi ness. I t i s one of t hose del usi ve wor ds whi ch

ever ybody who uses i t t hi nks he under st ands t he

meani ng of ; yet , when i t comes t o t he t est , i t i s

seen t hat wi t h t hose who use i t most f r equent l y i t

has no meani ng beyond a vague del usi ve f ancy.

I t i s a cant wor d, car r yi ng wi t h i t t o t he mi nds of

t hose who use i t an i nf al l i bl e evi dence, of t he

wr ong of t he t hi ng whi ch i s supposed t o be

i mpr act i cabl e, and t he absol ut e r i ght of t he t hi ng

whi ch i s t hought t o be pr act i cabl e. I t s meani ng

i s never exami ned ; i t s t r ut h i s never suspect ed.

I t i s an ol d f avour i t e wor d, and t aken f or gr ant ed

t o be under st ood, and i nf al l i bl e i n i t s t r ut h and

t est .

The t er m pr act i cal i s al most al ways par t i al and

one- si ded i n meani ng and appl i cat i on. The t hi ng

t hat i s pr act i cabl e t o t he one, i s i mpr act i cabl e t o

t he ot her . Wal ki ng, r unni ng, cl i mbi ng, l eapi ng,

swi mmi ng, ar e pr act i cabl e t o many, but not t o al l .

Speaki ng, r eadi ng, ci pher i ng, wr i t i ng, pai nt i ng,

ar e easy t hi ngs wi t h a l ar ge por t i on of manki nd,

but t her e ar e many who know not hi ng about t hem.

To make poet r y i s pr act i cabl e t o t he poet , but qui t e

H 2

100 PART I I I .

i mpr act i cabl e t o t he dul l pr ose soul . The musi ci an

Page 60 of 108

can pl aVj or si ng ; but t o a l ar ge number bot h

t hese exer ci ses ar e i mpr act i cabl e. One can r ead

t he cl assi cs^ and del i ght hi msel f i n t he weal t h of

t he poet . One can sol ve di f f i cul t mat hemat i cal

pr obl ems; t o t he ot her i t i s a dar k myst er y. The

ar t s of l i f e, sci ence i n i t s var i ous devel opment s,

phi l osophy i n i t s deep t r ut hs and l essons, ar e

pr act i cal bot h i n t hemsel ves, and t o many mi nds,

yet not t o al l . I t i s pr act i cabl e f or t he r i ch t o l i ve

i n mansi ons, buy est at es, enj oy t he l uxur i es of l i f e,

r i de i n f i r st - cl ass car r i ages, and do many ot her

t hi ngs whi ch t he poor cannot . Ar e t hi ngs t o be

despi sed, because al l cannot do, possess, or enj oy

t hem ? Ar e t hi ngs wr ong, or t o be bl amed,

because I cannot do t hem? Ther e may be a

t housand t hi ngs good and pr act i cal i n t hemsel ves,

whi ch ar e not known nor appr eci at ed by t he one

nor t he many. I t may of t en be f or want of

power s, or per sever ance, t hey ar e not pr act i cabl e.

I t woul d be a common l oss and cal ami t y t o soci et y

i f t hey wer e negl ect ed, and al l owed t o go i nt o di s -

use. When men speak of t he pr act i cal and t he

i mpr act i cal , r el at i ve t o super i or f or ms of r easoni ng

and knowl edge, t hese expr essi ons ar e used f r om mi s-

t aken not i ons, or of t en as excuses f or weakness,

sl ot hf ul ness, and want of t ast e and per sever ance.

Doubt l ess, t her e ar e some t hi ngs not pr act i cabl e

METAPHYSI CS. 101

f or al l men al i ke : t her e ar e al so t hi ngs not pr ac -

t i cabl e f or any human bei ngs. The l uxur i es of

l i f e ar e onl y pr act i cabl e f or t he af f l uent ; but i t i s

i mpr act i cabl e f or al l al i ke t o l i ve wi t hout eat i ng

and dr i nki ng t hose t hi ngs whi ch ar e essent i al f or

t he sust enance of l i f e. The i di ot cannot r eason

consecut i vel y, t he chi l d cannot anal yse and

gener al i ze ext ensi vel y, whi l st t he st r ong- mi nded

phi l osopher can do bot h : but t o f l y i s equal l y

i mpr act i cabl e f or t he phi l osopher ^ as i t i s f or t he

i di ot and t he chi l d. The t al l may do some t hi ngs

whi ch t he shor t i n st at ur e cannot ; t he st r ong can

accompl i sh many f eat s whi ch ar e i mpr act i cabl e f or

t he weak; t he weal t hy, t he l ear ned, t he success -

f ul , t he happy, and t he t r ue, can do t hi ngs whi ch

t he poor , t he i gnor ant , t he unsuccessf ul , t he

mi ser abl e, and t he f al se, cannot do : but i t i s

equal l y i mpr act i cabl e t o al l al i ke t o t r anscend

t hei r power s and r esour ces, and successf ul l y

oppose and dest r oy t he l aws of t hei r bei ng.

I f i t i s obj ect ed t o t he sci ence of abst r use r ea-

soni ng, on t he gr ound t hat cer t ai n gr ades of i nt el l ect

cannot mast er and under st and i t ; t he same obj ec-

t i on may be r ai sed agai nst poet r y, pai nt i ng,

scul pt ur e, pol i t i cs, and many of t he ar t s of

common l i f e. What i s i mpr act i cabl e t o one, i s

qui t e easy t o t he ot her ; what i s not possi bl e t o

one condi t i on, i s nat ur al t o ot her s. Ever y t hi ng

Page 61 of 108

102 PART I I I .

possi bl e t o one f i ni t e bei ng, i s possi bl e t o anot her

f i ni t e bei ng, t hough not i n t he same degr ee of

f aci l i t y and per f ect i on, because men di f f er gr eat l y

i n power , means, condi t i ons, and per sever ance.

Ever ybody of i nt el l i gence, wi t h per sever ance, coul d

make some ki nd of poet r y, t hough onl y f ew, of t he

hi ghest power s and ot her condi t i onal qual i t i es, can

car r y i t t o t he gr eat est possi bl e excel l ency. So i n

phi l osophy and ot her br anches of l of t y acqui si t i on,

al l may phi l osophi ze t o t he degr ee of t hei r power s

and means, t hough onl y f ew of t he f i r st spi r i t s can

r i se and l i ve i n t he hi ghest r egi ons of t hought as

t hei r nat ur al and t r ue el ement .

Ther e ar e t wo cl asses of t hi ngs i mpr act i cabl e f or

f i ni t e bei ngs as men. 1. Those t hi ngs whi ch ar e

i n t hemsel ves beyond t he l i mi t s of f i ni t e capa-

ci t i es, whi ch al l al i ke cannot do or know. 2.

Those t hi ngs whi ch i n t hemsel ves ar e wi t hi n t he

r each of human knowl edge, but , f or cer t ai n known

or unknown r easons, onl y some can accompl i sh or

know. The f i r st of t hese i s absol ut e, t he ot her i s

condi t i onal ; t he f i r st i s i mpossi bl e f r om t he l aw

and nat ur e of t hi ngs, t he ot her f r om some condi -

t i ons and ci r cumst ances i n t he r el at i ons and i nf l u-

enc es of human l i f e, as i t i s i n i t s ac c i dent al or

ci r c ums t ant i al r el at i ons .

Ev er y pr oduc t of i nt el l i genc e mus t hav e a pl an

or a t heor y i n t hought , at l eas t j and t hought

METAPHYSI CS. 103

ex pr es s ed i s a t heor y r ev eal ed t o t he not i c e and

t hi nk i ng of ot her s . Henc e, al l t hought s i n t hem-

sel v es and f i r s t ex pr es s i on ar e k i nds of t heor i es .

When t hought i s f ound t o be pos s i bl e i n ac t i on,

t hen i t l os es i t s t heor et i c al c l as s and c har ac t er ,

and bec omes a pr ac t i c al r eal i t y . Ev er y t r ue

t heor y i s pr ac t i c al ; i t i s not hi ng but a c or r ec t

conc ept i on of t hi ngs i n pl an as t hey ar e, or ought

t o be. I t may i ndeed be t hat t he t hought as wel l as

t he pr ac t i c e i s abov e t he power of t he mas s : but , i f

t r ue, pr ac t i c abl e wi t hal . As t he t hought of a t hi ng

i s pos s i bl e and t r ue, t he pr ac t i c e c annot be ot her -

wi s e t han pos s i bl e wi t hi n i t s l egi t i mat e l aws and

condi t i ons . I f our r i ght t hought s wer e i mpr ac t i -

cabl e, we s houl d al way s be dec ei v ed ev en by our

t r ue t hought s , whi c h woul d be a c ont r adi c t i on.

Our t r ue t hought s woul d be t he means t o del ude

and mi s l ead us : our t r ue c onc ept i ons woul d l ead

us as t r ay i n c onc ept i on. Al l t r ue t hi ngs ar e

equal ; and i f any pl an or t heor y i n t hought i s

i mpr ac t i c abl e i n ac t i on, t her e i s s omet hi ng wr ong

or unequal i n i t t o t he l aws and c ondi t i ons of

t hi ngs . Tr ut h i s c ons i s t ent i n al l i t s s t eps ; what

i s t r ue i n ac t i on i s f i r s t t r ue i n t hought ; aud what

i s t r ue i n t hought , i s pr ac t i c al i n ac t i on.

Page 62 of 108

To admi t t hat t her e ar e met aphy s i c al f al s e

t heor i es , i s onl y s ay i ng t hat man i s l i abl e t o er r i n

t hi s f i el d of pur s ui t as wel l as i n ot her s . Ther e i s

104 PART I I I .

no def enc e made of t he f al s e t heor i es i n met a-

phy s i c s , but of t he t r ue ; and t o s epar at e t he pr i mal

pr i nc i pl es and ends f r om t hos e of human er r or s

and mi s t ak es . The f al s e and t he f anc i f ul i n met a-

phy s i c s ar e i mpr ac t i c abl e as wel l as ev er y wher e el s e ;

but al l t r ue i n t hought ar e pr ac t i c abl e i n ac t i on

t her e as wel l as el s ewher e.

I def end not t he f anc i f ul t heor i es of many

met aphy s i c al wr i t er s , t hough many of t hes e ar e

i nnoc ent and ev en of adv ant age t o t he human

mi nd. My ai m i s hi gher and on a s af er f ounda-

t i on : i t i s t o def end met aphy s i c s i n t hei r nat ur al

and pr i mal pur pos e, and s hi el d t hem f r om t he

char ge of f ool i s h and us el es s t heor i es ; and t o s how

t hat t hey ac c or d wi t h t he l aw of t hought , of r eas on,

and of pr ac t i c e. Met aphy s i c al s c i enc e i s not

r es pons i bl e f or t he wi l d t heor i es of s ome of her

di s c i pl es , mor e t han many good par ent s ar e t o be

bl amed f or t he pr odi gal i t y of t hei r c hi l dr en. The

ar gument of abus e i s no l egi t i mat e ar gument at

al l agai ns t r i ght us e ; but r at her s uppos es s ome

pr ac t i c al good us e, bef or e t her e c oul d be any

abus e. I n or der t o j udge c or r ec t l y of any t hi ng,

i t s t r ue pr i nc i pl es and c har ac t er mus t be j udged of

apar t f r om t he opi ni ons and t he us e men mak e of

i t ; t he s ame c ommon l aw of j udgment i s c l ai med

f or met aphy s i c s .

The end and ai m of met aphy s i c s , as I under -

METAPHYSI CS. 105

st and t hem, may be s t at ed i n f ew s ent enc es .

1, I t i s t o t r ac e t hi ngs t o t he nat ur e and l aws of

t hei r f i nal c aus es . 2. To i nqui r e i nt o t he l aws ,

condi t i ons , and r el at i ons of mi nd. 3. To t es t t he

l i mi t of t he human t hought . 4. The s t r engt hen-

i ng and c ul t i v at i on of t he ment al power s t o t hei r

hi ghes t c apabi l i t y . 5. The r emov al of ev er y

human, f anc i f ul , and pr ej udi c i al obs t r uc t i on f r om

t he way of human adv anc ement . 6. The r es t or a-

t i on of t hought , henc e of human l i f e, i nt o i nde-

pendent , s ol i d, and t r ue c ondi t i on. 7. Phi l os ophy

ai ms al s o at t he c or r ec t i on of t he i nadv er t enc i es of

or di nar y t hi nk i ng. 8. I n a wor d t he ai m i s ,

t r ut h al l i n al l , s o f ar as i t i s t he pos s i bl e pos -

ses s i on of man i n t hi s wor l d. Al l human

opi ni ons and t es t i moni es i n t he hi gh pur s ui t af t er

t r ut h ar e di s c ar ded, and v i ewed r at her as an

i mpedi ment , t han hel p t o f i nd t he gr eat obj ec t .

Not hi ng i s t o be t ak en f or gr ant ed ; not hi ng t o be

r ef us ed wi t hout a s uf f i c i ent r eas on. Ev er y s t ep

i n adv anc e mus t be s c r ut i ni z ed ; ev er y t hi ng mus t

be ac c ompani ed wi t h a r eas on and a c aus e. The

Page 63 of 108

met aphy s i c i an, f r om t he nec es s i t y of hi s hi gh ai m

and as pi r at i on, and t he way i n whi c h t hes e ar e t o

r eac h t hei r obj ec t s , wi l l be c ont r ov er s i al ; he ac c ept s

t r ut h di r ec t l y at t he hand of no one ; i t mus t pas s

t hr ough t he c r uc i bl e of har d t hought and r eas on-

i ng bef or e he c an ac c ept of i t . On t hi s ac c ount ,

106 PART I I I .

l i e i s of t en i n danger of bei ng c ons i der ed by t l i e

super f i c i al , t he f eebl e pol i t e, and al l t he c r edul ous

ones , as unpl eas ant , and t o be av oi ded r at her

t han c our t ed. Yet he i s t he t r ue f r i end of

soc i et y ; he ai ms at t r ut h mor e t han pl eas i ng

ot her s , and s el f - gr at i f i c at i on ; he i s s ev er e wi t h

t he v i ews of ot her s , bec aus e he i s ear nes t i n hi s

pur s ui t , and a mas t er ov er hi ms el f .

Met aphy s i c s ar e of t en s us pec t ed and c har ged of

bei ng adv er s e t o r el i gi ous s pi r i t and adv anc ement ,

i n t hei r c har ac t er and r es ul t s . I t i s as har d t o

def i ne what many peopl e mean by r el i gi on, as i t

i s t o ex pl ai n t hei r c onc ept i on of met aphy s i c s . I t

happens of t en t hat t he t hi ngs whi c h ar e mos t

common t o men ar e wor s t under s t ood, and s pok en

of mos t l oos el y and unmeani ngl y . Fami l i ar and

common t hi ngs ar e not ex ami ned and t es t ed s o

sev er el y as t he nov el and t he unc ommon; t hei r

age and f ami l i ar i t y gi v e t hem an eas y r ec ept i on

and a wi l l i ng pl ac e i n t he mi nd wi t hout doubt or

sus pi c i on. Al l t ak e f or gr ant ed t hey under s t and

al l about t hem ; but when i t c omes t o a c l os e t es t ,

t hei r t hought s and ex pr es s i ons ar e al i k e l oos e,

meani ngl es s , and undef i ned. The f ac t of t he uni -

ver s al i t y of r el i gi on, mak es i t nec es s ar i l y , i n s ome

degr ee a l oos e obj ec t of t hought and r ef i ec t i on.

Al l c l ai m i t s bl es s i ngs , al l t al k about i t ; but wi l l

not , and, per haps , c annot , t hi nk c al ml y and i nt el -

METAPHYSI CS. 107

l i gent l y about i t , s o as t o gi v e t hem power t o

def i ne and ex pr es s i t r at i onal l y and i nt el l i gent l y .

I Men gener al l y ac c ept of r el i gi on f r om t he r el i -

gi ous t endenc y of t hei r c ouv i c t i on^ t hi nk i ng i t

ei t her t oo gr eat a t as k , or a needl es s wor k , or a

pr es umpt i on, t o ex ami ne i t s c l ai ms and r equi r e-

ment s . Al l f eel i t s need and r eas on i n s ome way

or ot her ; onl y f ew ac c ept of i t on t he gr ound

of l i ght , and c an pr es ent i t as a r eas onabl e

t hi ng.

Rel i gi on i s an i nf i ni t e my s t er y i n i t s s our c e,

obj ec t , i nf l uenc es , pr oc es s es , and bl es s i ngs ; whi c h

may be anot her r eas on why i t i s a t hi ng s o v ague

and undef i ned i n t he mi nds of men. Though pr e-

sent ed t o human r eas on f or t es t and ac c ept anc e,

yet i n al l poi nt s i t l eads t o t he i nf i ni t e and t he

my s t er i ous . I t i s a c i r c l e whi c h i s t ouc hed i n al l

poi nt s by awf ul my s t er y : but i t i s a my s t er y

Page 64 of 108

whi c h nev er c ont r adi c t s t he t r ue and t he r eal

i n t he f i ni t e. We t es t t he i nf i ni t e, not by

t he i nf i ni t e, t hat we hav e no means and power

of doi ng ; we t es t i t by t he l aws and means

of t he f i ni t e ; and i f we us e and r ead t hes e

ar i ght , our c onc l us i on i s al way s r i ght , bec aus e t he

i nf i ni t e, and t he f i ni t e al way s agr ee. Men s houl d

be abl e t o ex ami ne and r ead r i ght l y t hems el v es

and t hei r c ondi t i on and r el at i ons : t hi s i s what i s

r equi r ed and demanded at t hei r hands ; t hi s done

108 I ' ART I I I .

r i ght l y wi l l l and t hem s af el y and happi l y i nt o f ul l

har mony wi t h t he t hought s and l aws of God.

Some v i ew r el i gi on as a c hai n of i nf al l i bl e

dogmas , hol di ng i t s empi r e c hi ef l y ov er pas s i v e

human bel i ef ; ot her s l ook at i t as a mat t er of

f eel i ng mor e t han bel i ef , hol di ng i t s power ov er

t he s ent i ment al nat ur e of man ; ot her s c ons i der i t

as a f or mal l aw gov er ni ng, di r ec t i ng, and pol i s h-

i ng t he ac t i ons and r el at i ons of men' s out war d

l i f e. Ther e i s s omet hi ng t r ue i n al l t hes e v i ews ;

t hei r gr eat wr ong i s i n t hei r ex c l us i v enes s and t he

ex t r eme i nt o whi c h t hey ar e c ar r i ed.

The dogmat i s t i s oppos ed t o c al m i nqui r y and

adv anc ement ; t he s ent i ment al i s t has an av ei ' s i on

t o i nt el l ec t ual anal y s i s and s ear c hi ng l ogi c ; and

t he f or mal i s an ant agoni s t t o any el as t i c i t y and

t he l eas t dev i at i on f r om c onv ent i onal c us t om and

r ul e. Henc e met aphy s i c al s c i enc e i s of t en c on-

si der ed as an enemy t o r el i gi on. I f t he v i ews of

par t i es , c onv ent i onal l i f e and habi t s of men, and

cus t oms of t i mes and pl ac es , ar e t ak en f or r el i gi on,

doubt l es s t he t endenc i es and t he r es ul t s of met a-

phy s i c s wi l l be f ound t o be agai ns t t hem. But t he

r el i gi on of t r ut h, of har mony wi t h r i ght or der ,

and of God, i s a di f f er ent , and i nc ompar abl y l of t i er

and happi er t hi ng, t o t hat of par t i es and opi ni ons ;

and i t i s pos s i bl e t hat met aphy s i c s har moni z e wi t l i

t hat . Men t ak e par t y v i ews , s ec t ar i an nar r ow-

METAPHYSI CS. 109

nes s , and c onv ent i onal c us t oms f or r el i gi on ; and

mak e ev er y body and means i mpi ous and i nf i del

t hat oppos e t hem ; and al l t he whi l e r el i gi on i s

nei t her oppos ed nor def ended, but human opi ni ons

and gr oundl es s hy pot hes es . No wonder t hat t he

nar r ow, t he par t i s an, and t he s ec t ar i an c r y down

met aphy s i c s as danger ous , bec aus e t hei r t heor i es

ar e s andy and human i n t hei r f oundat i on, and

t hey ar e br ought t o a t es t , t hei r nak ednes s r e-

veal ed, and t hei r pr i nc i pl es ex ami ned, f ound

want i ng, and c ondemned.

But what has t hi s t o do wi t h r el i gi on? and i n

what way i s t he s c i enc e of c aus es , of f or c es , and

Page 65 of 108

of mi nd, i n any way pr ej udi c i al t o r el i gi on,

t hat i s bas ed i n t r ut h and r eas on? How t he

sc i enc e whi c h ai ms at t he i nv es t i gat i on of t r ut h,

and t hr ows as i de pr ej udi c e, human opi ni on, and

al l s uper f i c i al and f al l i bl e gui des i n i t s s ear c h, c an

oppos e t he r el i gi on t hat i s r oot ed i n t r ut h, i s har d

t o s ay . Phi l os ophy oppos es not hi ng wi t hout s uf f i -

ci ent r eas on ; i t ac c ept s of not hi ng wi t hout ev i -

denc e. I f r el i gi on i s bas ed on r eas on, and s up-

por t ed by s uf f i c i ent ev i denc e, i t c annot be i nj ur ed

by met aphy s i c s . To deny r el i gi on, i s nei t her t he

wor k nor t he c ondi t i on of met aphy s i c s ; i t i s

nei t her i t s s t ar t i ng poi nt , nor i t s c ul mi nat i ng

t as k ; t he bus i nes s of phi l os ophy i s t o t r ac e t hi ngs

t o t hei r f i nal c aus es , t es t and ex ami ne t hem on t he

110 PART I I I .

gr ound of t l i c c l ear es t and mos t i mpar t i al ev i -

denc e, and t hi ngs ar e r ef us ed or ac c ept ed ac c or d-

i ng as t hey ar e f ound on t hes e hi gh gr ounds of

t es t . Ther e ar e ques t i ons s o deep and s ubt l e, at

t he r oot and i n t he s ur r oundi ngs of r el i gi on, t hat

no one but t he k een met aphy s i c i an c an f eel and

unr av el . Henc e t he gr eat es t met aphy s i c i ans i n

ev er y age and c ount r y , hav e been i t s gr eat es t

ex pounder s and def ender s . Met aphy s i c s hav e

been t he f r i end of r el i gi on, and met aphy s i c i ans

her def ender s . Her r i c h and l as t i ng l i t er at ur e i s

t hat of t heol ogi c al met aphy s i c i ans ; and i t woul d

hav e gone badl y wi t h h«i r of t en, but f or met a-

phy s i c s . Her c hi ef bat t l es wi l l be of nec es s i t y on

met aphy s i c al gr ound ; and i f her f r i ends c annot

handl e t hei r t ool s r i gl i Ll y , i t wi l l s uf f er f or want

of s k i l l and power i n her pr of es s ed f r i ends . I t

wi l l be f ound i n t i mes of dar k nes s and di s t r es s ,

t hat out of t he Gal i l ee of met aphy s i c s , l i ght ,

suppor t , and del i v er anc e wi l l c ome.

Met aphy s i c al pur s ui t s ar e v i ewed by s ome as

adv er s e t o t r ut h. The name of t r ut h i s v er y

conv eni ent , and muc h abus ed ; i t i s of t en s ubs t i -

t ut ed f or f al s e dogmas , par t y and one- s i ded v i ews ,

and s uper f i c i al f anc i f ul opi ni ons . I t i s t he c om-

mon mot t o on al l par t y banner s ; i n t he hand of

j i ar t i es i t i s of t en a s i gn whi c h l eads t o del us i on,

ends i n dar k nes s and er r or , and s et t l es down

METAPHYSI CS. 1 ] 1

i n bl i ndnes s and hopel es s har dnes s . Tr ut h i s

br oader t han human dogmas , l of t i er t han par t y

mot i v es , pur er t han human des i gns , f r eer t han

human c us t om, and mor e c at hol i c t han t he c r eeds

and s ec t ar i ani s m of men. He who us es t he bes t

means wi t hi n hi s r eac h, i n s eek i ng t he t r ues t

vi ews and c onv i c t i ons ^ and f ai t hf ul l y c ar r i es t hem

out , i s t r ue bot h t o hi ms el f and al l hi gher

demands . To be t r ue, ar e r equi r ed t he har mony

and uni t y of v ar i ous el ement s i n t he c ons c i ous

Page 66 of 108

convi ct i on of t he soul ; hence i t i s possi bl e t hat

he who i s l ess cor r ect i n j udgment concer ni ng

obj ect s, may be i ncompar abl y mor e t r ue t han hi s

mor e i nf al l i bl e br ot her . To be t r ue i s not t o be

i nf al l i bl e; i t i s not one dul l monot onous uni -

f or mi t y. Nonconf or mi t y wi t h human vi ews and

cust oms i s gener al l y t r ut h i n consci ousness and

pr act i ce ; and what men of t en cal l her et i cal and

het er odox, i n t he si ght of a hi gher t r i bunal ar e t r ue

and or t hodox. Tr ut h i s har mony wi t h t he l aws

and condi t i ons of bei ng ; and he Avho f ul f i l s t hese

most genui nel y and uni ver sal l y, i s most t r ue.

Tr ut h i n i t s r eal char act er i s ver y di f l f er ent f r om

what i t i s i n human opi ni ons; i t i s qui t e anot her

t hi ng i n t he pr esence of a hi gher l i ght and j ust er

bal ance t l i an i t appear s t o be t o human f ancy and

cust om. Tr ut h i s a t hi ng whi ch concer ns t he

j udgment , t he f eel i ngs, t he mot i ves, t he consi st -

112 PART I I I .

ence, and t he out war d expr essi ons of human l i f e.

I t i s t he hi ghest devel opment and exer ci se of t hese

i ndi vi dual l y and uni t edl y.

I f t r ut h be vi ewed i n i t sel f , and i n i t s t r ue

r el at i ons, apar t f r om human opi ni on and cust om,

i t i s di f f i cul t t o make out a case, how met aphysi cal

st udy i s adver se t o i t s appr ehensi on and pr ogr ess.

The chi ef busi ness of met aphysi c i n i t s f i nal ai m

and r esul t s i s t he possessi on of t r ut h. I t di scar ds

human cr eeds and opi ni ons, human cust oms and

habi t s, unsuppor t ed by i ndubi t abl e evi dence ; and

i f t hese ar e meant i nst ead of t r ut h, t hen most

assur edl y i n t hi s sense i t i s an adver se power ;

but i n most cases t hese cont ai n mor e f al sehood

t han t r ut h. But i t r ef uses not even human

opi ni on, onl y so f ar as i t cannot be subst ant i at ed

by cl ear and subst ant i al evi dence. I t s ai m and

ef f or t i s, t o separ at e t he r eal f r om t he convent i onal ,

t he f anci f ul f r om t he sol i d, t he r i ght f r om t he

wr ong, t he pr i mor di al f r om t he cust omar y. Ther e

i s a di st i nct i on t o be kept i n vi ew, whi ch must not

be f or got t en, — t he met aphysi cal power i n i t s t r ue

ai m and end, and met aphysi cal t heor i es. Ther e

ar e sect s and par t i es among met aphysi ci ans as

wel l as i n Chr i st i ani t y ; t her e ar e f al se and nar r ow

t heor i es i n her r anks, as wel l as i n r el i gi on.

Chr i st i ani t y i s not bl amed and r ef used on account

of sect s and par t i es ; nei t her i s r el i gi on consi der ed

METAPHYSI CS. 113

wor t hl ess and danger ous, because of f al se t heor i es,

by t heol ogi ans and her di sci pl es; why, t hen,

shoul d met aphysi cs be bl amed and r ef used on t hi s

gr ound? I t i s i mpossi bl e t o concei ve an i nt el l i -

gent gr ound t o condemn and excl ude i t . Met a-

physi cs i n i t sel f has no human t heor y t o pr opound,

no par t y t o suppor t , no per sonal and sel f i sh ai m

Page 67 of 108

t o seek. I t i s based upon no f al l i bl e maxi m, i t i s

gover ned by no cust omar y pr ej udi ce. I t ai ms t o

pl ease and sat i sf y no par t y nor ear t hl y power . I n

i t sel f i t i s a power , gi ven and cul t i vat ed ; and no one

of her di sci pl es cul t i vat es such a power t o oppose

t r ut h, but r at her t o seek and suppor t i t ; and no

one can do i t ef f ect ual l y but t he met aphysi ci an.

Met aphysi cs i s concei ved by many as bei ng

i ni mi cal t o t he or di nar y dut i es of l i f e. Thi s i s

an ol d char ge, whi ch, i n i t s t ur n, has been used

agai nst r el i gi on, educat i on, avt , and sci ence i n

gener al . The met aphysi ci an enj oys t he i nnocent

pl easur e, and can per f or m t he r el at i ve dut i es of

l i f e as ot her men, when he pl eases t o t hr ow asi de

hi s met aphysi cal cap ; and he i s al l t he mor e

accompl i shed by hi s deeper and l ar ger power and

knowl edge.

The busi ness of l i f e wi l l t ake car e of i t sel f ;

i t f i t s t he or di nar y capaci t i es of men; i t br i ngs

i t s i mmedi at e and pal pabl e r esul t s ; men ar e

dr i ven t o i t bot h by want , pl easur e, and i nt er est .

I

114 PART I I I .

Ther e i s never a r eason t o f ear t hat t he vast

maj or i t y wi l l become so met aphysi cal as t o neg-

l ect t he common r el at i ons of l i f e. " What f or want

of apt i t ude, and t he sacr i f i ce demanded, most men

wi l l al ways be pr event ed f r om becomi ng pr of ound

met aphysi ci ans.

Di r ect l y, met aphysi cs has not hi ng t o do wi t h

t he or di nar y dut i es, t r ansact i ons, and pl easur es of

common l i f e. The met aphysi ci an i s oi t en bot h bl i nd

and i ndi f f er ent t o t he smal l t hi ngs of common

l i f e, because absor bed i n hi gher and mor e i m-

por t ant t hi ngs; t hi ngs of vast er i nt er est and

cl ai m, i n t he hi gher r el at i ons of men. But l et any

i mpor t ant cr i si s or quest i on ar i se, and t he man

who i s car el ess t o t he smal l t hi ngs of l i f e, can

gr appl e wi t h, sol ve, conquer , and set t l e. And

when needf ul , he can act hi s par t , or gi ve cour i sel

i n t he common t hi ngs of l i f e, and t hat i n a way

t hat no one but a super i or spi r i t can. I t i s easy t o

descend at pl easur e, but not so easy t o ascend at

wi l l . The di f f i cul t bei ng conquer ed, t he easy can

be done wi t hout doubt and uneasi ness.

Rat her t han i nt er f er i ng wi t h t he dut i es of com-

mon l i f e, i t t ends t o f aci l i t at e t hem, and ar r est

t hei r f oi bl es and f ol l i es, by cor r ect i ng, di r ect i ng, and

st r engt heni ng t he t hought s of men, and poi nt i ng

out common er r or s and danger s. I t ai ms t o make

l i f e saf e, by poi nt i ng out i t s er r or s; make i t

Page 68 of 108

METAPHYSI CS. 115

easy, by r emovi ng al l obst r uct i ons f r om t he Avay

of i t s advancement ; make i t st r ong and compl et e,

by st r engt heni ng i t s power s; make i t nobl e and

t r ue, by pur i f yi ng and r est or i ng i t ; and make i t

happy and har moni ous, by dest r oyi ng i t s evi l s:

i t r est or es t he good, and uni t es human af f ect i ons,

t hought s, mot i ves, consci ence, and l i f e, wi t h God

and t he uni ver se.

I t i s not possi bl e t hat a sci ence whose ai m and

busi ness i s t o pur i f y, st r engt hen, and r i ght l y

gui de t he human mi nd, and f i nd out t he l aws and

r i ght r el at i ons of bei ngs and t hi ngs, shoul d be

wi t hout r esul t s, i ndul ge i n f ool i sh t heor i es, be

i r r el i gi ous i n t endency, adver se t o t r ut h, and

i ni mi cal t o common l i f e. I f i t wer e, ei t her t hese

wer e Avr ong, or our concept i ons and convi ct i ons

of met aphysi cs ar e i ncor r ect . I t wi el ds an unseen

power , i nasmuch as i t has t o do di r ect l y wi t h t he

mai n spr i ng of act i on. I t s i nf l uence i s uni ver sal ,

t hough unacknowl edged; and dest i ned t o be

gr eat er and mi ght i er st i l l , and t o be acknowl edged

as a f r i end, and not a f oe.

I 2

I I G

CHAPTER I I .

THE ADYAKTxVGES OF METAPHYSI CAL STUDY.

I t i s not cor r ect t o say t hat ever y t hi ng has

some advant ages; nei t her i s i t t r ue t hat ever y

t hi ng has di sadvant ages. I f i t can be pr oved t hat

t her e i s an absohi t e wr ong, t her e can be no r eal

good i n t hat . I t i s possi bl e t hat i n t he gover n-

ment of I nf i ni t e Goodness^ t her e i s not hi ng so

bad as t o have no t r ace of t r ut h and goodness i n

i t at al l , and not hi ng — i n t hi s wor l d, at l east — so

good as t o have not hi ng bad i n i t . Hence, i n

t hat sense, t her e i s not hi ng wi t hout i t s advant ages

and di sadvant ages. But i f we can concei ve of

per f ect goodness, and al so of per f ect evi l , t her e

can be no di sadvant asj e i n t he one, nor advant age

i n t he ot her .

Advant age and di sadvant age ar e t er ms l oosel y

used, and var i out - l y appl i ed. They ar e not used

on t he hi gh gr ound of t r ut h and r eal goodness ;

but i n t hei r appl i cat i on t o t he convent i onal and

sel f i sh vi ews and f eel i ngs of t hose who use t hem.

I n t he l oose sense t he wor ds ar e used, t he best

t hi ngs have t hei r di sadvant age, and t he wor st

Page 69 of 108

METAPHYSI CS. 117

t hei r advant ages. Ri ght i s a di sadvant age t o wr ong,

t r nt h i s an i mpedi ment i n t he way of f al se-

hood, and may pr event t he f al se f r om advanci ng.

I n t hi s sense i t may be a di sadvant age, accor di ng

t o t he sel f i sh and ear t hy opi ni on and f eel i ng of

men. I t may occur ci r cumst ant i al l y under cer t ai n

condi t i ons t hat t he unj ust may enr i ch hi msel f ,

and t he f al se advance t he super f i ci al i nt er est of

men i n t hi s wor l d. But t he t hi ng advanced by

i nj ust i ce, and def ended by t he f al se, i s not a sol i d

and a r eal advant age; nei t her i s any i mpedi ment

or r esul t of t r ut h a r eal di sadvant age. The super -

f i ci al and t he t r ansi ent ar e not advant ageous;

such ar e t he r esul t s of t he wr ong and t he f al se.

The sol i d, t he l ast i ng, t he saf e, and t he happy,

ar e no di sadvant age ; t hese ar e f ol l ower s of t he

j ust and t he t r ue. I n t hi s super f i ci al st at e of

par t i al knowl edge and j ust i ce, t r ut h i s at a di s -

count , and t he unt r ue at a pr emi um. But t her e

i s no r eal advant age i n t he pr emi um of one, nor

di sadvant age i n t he di scount of t he ot her .

The same t hi ng of t en i s consi der ed an advant age

t o one, but a di sadvant age t o t he ot her ; and f r e-

quent l y t hi ngs ar a t hus vi ewed, i n t he l i f e of t he

same per son, under di f f er ent condi t i ons and per i ods

of l i f e. I n t he r el at i on of t hi ngs t o t he super -

f i ci al t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d, t hey ar e t est ed and

sol ved f r om di f f er ent st and- poi nt s, as t hey agr ee

118 PART I I I .

wi t h di f f er ent sympat hi es, and i nvol ve t hei r i nt er -

est s. So l ong as men wi l l be gover ned by di f f er ent

mot i ves, i nf l uenced by di f f er ent power s, and vi ew

t hei r i nt er est s as adver se t o one anot her , such wi l l

be t he case.

I f t he or der of God i s based i n equi t y, t r ut h

and r i ght can be of no di sadvant age t o any t hi ng

i n Hi s or der . I f goodness i s t he end of Hi s

or der , evi l and wr ong can be of no r eal advant age

t o any one. The st at ement t hat t he wr ong, ei t her

i n i t sel f or i n exper i ence, i s advant ageous, l eads t o

a monst r ous pant hei sm, dest r oys t he di st i nct i on be-

t ween t he nat ur e and end of t hi ngs, or i mpl i es t hat

t he gr eat sover ei gn Mi nd has f ai l ed i n Hi s desi gn

and gover nment . Ei t her of t hese concl usi ons

woul d be di shonour abl e t o God, per pl exi ng t o

r eason, and dest r uct i ve of r el i gi on. Such a con-

cl usi on woul d be adver se bot h t o r eason and

r evel at i on ; f or bot h decl ar e t he di sadvant age of

t he wr ong, and t he advant age of t he r i ght ; bot h

r ecommend and r ewar d t he seeker af t er t he good

and t he avoi der of t he wr ong.

The t est s by whi ch peopl e wei gh and concl ude

Page 70 of 108

t he advant age and di sadvant age of t hi ngs, ar e bot h

l ) ar t i al and i mper f ect ; t he el ement al pr emi ses bei ng

i ncor r ect , and i t i s but nat ur al t he f i nal f i ndi ngs

s^ houl d be wr ong.

1. One wr ong t est , i s, t o est i mat e t hi ngs i nt el -

METAPHYSI CS. 119

l ect ual and r el i gi ous, accor di ng t o t he degr ee of

ear t hl y and i ndi vi dual sel f i sh advant age or di s-

advant age, t hey conf er upon t hei r possessor s.

The vi ews and f eel i ngs of men ar e so l ow and

cont r adi ct or y, r el at i ve t o mat er i al advant ages and

di sadvant ages, t hat t hi s gr ound i s unequal as a

f ai t hf ul t est , and t he l aw of equi t y demands t hat

al l shoul d he t r i ed by equal s.

2. The advant age and di sadvant age of t hi ngs

ar e of t en t est ed by t he par t i al i t y and pr ej udi ce of

human vi ew and desi r e ; so of t en t he r eal l y usef ul

i s r ef used, and t he usel ess accept ed and appl auded.

3. The t est s ar e of t en as numer ous as t he

opi ni ons and t ast es of peopl e ; hence t her e i s no

hi gher gr ound of j udgment r el at i ve t o t he advant age

or di sadvant age of many t hi ngs, t han human dog-

mas and opi ni ons. I n such condi t i ons t he t est i s as

var i ed as par t i es and one- si ded i nt er est s ; as change-

abl e as acci dent al ci r cumst ances. I n f act , accor di ng

t o t hi s, t her e i s no r eal t r ue t est at al l . I f t hi ngs

have a r eal i t y i n t hemsel ves and r el at i ons, t her e

must be somewher e a t est of t hei r t r ut h and ut i l i t y

apar t f r om human opi ni on, pr ej udi ce, and sel f i shness.

4. I n t he pr esent st at e of t hi ngs, mat t er s ar e

br ought t o an i mper f ect cour t t o be j udged, and

t he ver di ct of t en goes agai nst t he t r ue and advan-

t ageous, and i n f avour of t he wr ong and t he

di sadvant ageous.

120 PART 111.

I t i s t l i e f at e of al l t hi ngs al i ke, t o be j udged

accor di ng t o t hese i mper f ect t est s ; and al ways

wi l l be mor e or l ess, i n t hi s st at e of bei ng at l east .

For t he r eason of t he shor t comi ngs of t he human

j udgment , t hi ngs ar e never al l i n al l cor r ect l y-

j udged and est i mat ed accor di ng t o t hei r r eal

i nt r i nsi c and r el at i ve val ue. And met aphysi cs

come f or a f ul l shar e i n t hi s er r oneous j udgment

of manki nd ; and al l t he mor e, because t he ob-

j ect s ei t her t r anscend t he comr aon wal k of men,

or t l i e mode of pr ocedur e demands a t oi l and

at t ent i on t hat al l ar e not wi l l i ng t o gi ve ; per haps,

under or di nar y condi t i ons of l i f e, al l ar e not abl e

t o gi ve.

To j udge of t he advant ages of met aphysi cs, we

must r ai se t he gr ound of t est above t he common

Page 71 of 108

opi ni on of manki nd. I f t hi s cannot be done f ul l y

and per f ect l y, t her e must be an honest ai m and

st r i f e t o accompl i sh i t . I n or der t o accompl i sh i t

j ust l y, al l human pr edi l ect i ons and opi ni ons must

be vi ewed as i nsuf f i ci ent f or f i nal deci si on : human

consci ousness must be at t ent i vel y and pat i ent l y

r ead. Evi dence must be car ef ul l y si f t ed and

exami ned ; not hi ng must be r ef used or accept ed

but on t he gr ound of cl ear and convi nci ng evi -

dence. I t i s not pr oposed t o do al l t hi s i n t hi s

pl ace, onl y wi t hi n a nar r ow l i mi t ; mor e t i me and

space ar e demanded^ t han can be her e spar ed.

METAPHYSI CS. 121

Ther e ar e t wo r easons whi ch hi de t he advan-

t ages of met aphysi cal st udy f r om t he vi ew of or di -

nar y t hi nker s. 1. As an i nt el l ect ual sci ence, i t s

i nf l uence di r ect l y i s upon t he mi nd ; hence, i t s

advant ages ar e i ndi r ect , and not seen and f el t at

once. Thi s i s t he case al so wi t h r el i gi on and edu-

cat i on i n gener al , yet many of t hose who bel i eve

and appr eci at e t he advant ages of r el i gi on and edu-

cat i on, deny t hose of met aphysi cs ; whi l e t he same

r eason i n t hi s r espect may be used agai nst t hem

al i ke. 2. The advant ages i n t hemsel ves ar e not

seen; t hey ar e l i ke seed i n t he dept hs of t he

mi nd, gi vi ng f r ui t i n t he l i ves of men, of var i ous

ki nds and of di f l Fer ent degr ees. Though unseen

and i ndi r ect , yet , l i ke t he seed i n t he gr ound,

t her e woul d have been no such happy and abun-

dant har vest wi t hout t hem. The wor k i s done

deep i n t he mi nd, but t he r esul t s ar e i n t he ver y

ext er nal ci r cl es of l i f e, and i n t he ext r emi t y of

human act i vi t y,

1. Met aphysi cal st udy st r engt hens and expands

t he human mi nd. Al l t he gi f t s of God ar e

capabl e of bei ng i ncr eased and expanded ; t hey ar e

gi ven us f or hi gh and common ser vi ce ; t he

st r onger and mor e expanded t hey ar e, t he mor e

ser vi ce t hey ar e capabl e of doi ng. I t i s a com-

mon and an uni ver sal advant age t o i mpr ove ever y

t hi ng good ; and al l i ncr ease i n i mpor t ance i n

12. 2 PART I I I .

t he r at i o t hey ar e val uabl e i n t hemsel ves^ and

capabl e of hi gh and gr eat ser vi ce. I t i s a

hi gher mat t er t o cul t i vat e heal t h and st r engt hen

t he body, t l i an t o i ncr ease r i ches ; but i t i s of

hi gher i mpor t ance st i l l t o t he i ndi vi dual hi msel f

and t o soci et y at l ar ge, t o cul t i vat e and st r engt hen

t he r esour ces and power s of t he l i uman mi nd.

Those who speak of t he f r ui t l essness of met a-

physi cal st udy, acknowl edge t he vi gour and

expansi on i t gi ves t o t he mi nd, and t hei r own

t aci t conf essi on i s a suf f i ci ent answer t o t hei r

obj ect i on : f or what ever r ender s such ser vi ce t o

Page 72 of 108

t he mi nd, does not exi st i n vai n. I t cannot do

ot her wi se t han expand and st r engt hen, f or i t l eads

t he mi nd t o do bat t l e wi t h hi gh and l of t y

quest i ons ; i t opens bef or e t he mi nd t he gat e

whi ch l eads t o t he i nf i ni t e and t he unknown.

Men become massi ve and i nt el l ect ual gi ant s, not

by deal i ng and amusi ng t hemsel ves wi t h smal l and

common t hought s ; but by gr appl i ng and wr est l i ng

wi t h t he deeper and gr eat er quest i ons of bei ng.

2. The st udy of met aphysi cs i mpar t s qui ckness

and i nsi ght i ng abi l i t y t o t he per cept i ve power s,

and shar pness t o t he l ogi cal f acul t y of man. The

sayi ng of Rober t Hal l , t hat t he chi ef use of met a-

physi cs i s t o make men cl ever at t he ar t of gi a-

di at or shi p, has made many di sci pl es ; and i s t aken

as a shel t er by many t o der i de met aphysi cal st udy.

METAPHYSI CS. 123

Rober t Hal l was not adver se t o met aphysi cal

st udy ; t her e i s a vei n of met aphysi cal sympat hi es

and pr obi ngs r unni ng t hr ough t he whol e of hi s

wor ks : a f r i end and admi r er of John Fost er coul d

not be ot her wi se t han f ond of met aphysi cs, t hough

he never st udi ed i t as a sci ence f r om t he l i ps or

wor ks of i t s gr eat mast er s. Put t i ng t he most

sever e const r uct i on on Mr . Hal l ' s sal l y, i t bear s

out our posi t i on t hat t he st udy gi ves qui ckness

and edge t o t he i nt el l ect ual power s and t he

l ogi cal f acul t y of t he mi nd. Ski l l i n t he use of

i nst r ument s and el ement s i s an essent i al neces-

si t y f or t he def ence, t he devel opment , and t he pr e-

ser vat i on of t hi ngs. I f such ski l l i s abused, i t i s

nei t her t he f aul t of t he i nst r ument , nor t he

acqui r ed ski l l by whi ch i t i s so used ; but t hat of

t he agent , and t he power s whi ch i nf l uence hi m i n

such a conduct . What ever i s bad i n t he abuse, i s

good i n t he use; what ever i s capabl e of doi ng

much har m, i s al so, i f i t be di f f er ent l y and r i ght l y

used, capabl e of doi ng much good.

Met aphysi cal sci ence br i ngs her st udent s con-

st ant l y i nt o cont act wi t h deep and subt l e pr o-

bl ems ; hence t hei r t ool s must be wel l edged and

kept br i ght , and a ski l l and qui ckness t o use t hem

above t he or di nar y wal k of l i f e. I t i s a ki nd of ana-

t omi cal sci ence of mi nd, t hought , and exi st ence, i n

t hei r l aws and myst er y ; advancement i s made by

124 FART I I I .

t he most car ef ul and mi nut e di ssect i on ; and i n

or der t o do i t wi t h pl easur e and ef f ect , t he i nst r u-

ment must be pr eci se, del i cat e, and shar p.

I t f i t s t he mi nd t o expose and at t ack t he sophi s -

t r i es of r el i gi on and cor ar aoa l i f e, Avhi ch of t en

woul d di st ur b and baf f l e or di nar y mi nds. By i t s

ai d t he wr ong, i n t hought , cr eed, and pr act i ce, i s

Page 73 of 108

br ought t o l i ght , wei ghed, and f ound want i ng.

By i t s assi st ance of t en t r ut h and r el i gi on have

been def ended and exal t ed, when ot her power s

wer e f eebl e and hel pl ess, and al ways i n ext r eme

di f f i cul t y her ai d wi l l be asked, and t hankf ul l y

acknowl edged,

3. Met aphysi cal st udy di st ur bs t he st agnat i on

of or di nar y t hi nki ng, and opens bef or e t he mi nd a

new and a l of t i er r egi on. Common- pl ace men

can never advance soci et y ; i n t he hands of such

men, i n t he l ong r un, soci et y woul d st agnat e,

r ecede i nt o f eebl e mechani sm, and ment al l y,

mor al l y, and r el i gi ousl y di e. Men of t al ent , of

power , of or i gi nal i t y, and geni us, ar e t he l i f e and

power of soci et y ; t hey del i ver i t f r om st agnat i on

and sl uggi sh t or por ; t hey r ai se t he pl at f or m of

t hought and sympat hy, and l ead i t t o new f i el ds

of r i ch past ur e, and aspi r i ng hope.

As men of geni us and power di st ur b t he common

t or por , and r ai se and move soci et y ; met aphysi cs

di st ur bs, moves, and advances t he sci ence of com-

METAPHYSI CS. 125

mon t hought and knowl edge. Even i f i t l eads occa-

si onal l y i nt o a doubt f ul specul at i on, t hat car r i es

wi t h i t a ki nd of compensat i on; i t st i mul at es

t hought , and l eads men t o exami ne t he r oot and

pr i nci pl es of t hei r common bel i ef : i t awakes t hem

f r om t hei r sl umber , ar ouses new power s, and deve-

l opes r esour ces not known bef oi * e. I nact i ve t or por

gi ves nei t her hope, usef ul ness, nor happi ness : con-

sci ous wakef ul ness and act i vi t y, i s an at t i t ude of

hope and advancement .

Met aphysi cs has r epeat edl y di st ur bed t he com-

mon t or por of soci et y, r ai sed i t t o a hi gher r egi on,

and gi ven a new di r ect i on t o i t s t hought and l i f e.

And i f i t had done no mor e, i t s vi si t has not been i n

vai n, and deser ves an i mmor t al mement o of gr at i -

t ude.

4. Met aphysi cal st udy t ends t o f r ee and l i ber al i ze

human t hi nki ng, and make i t i ndependent of hu-

man cust om and opi ni on. One of t he canons of

met aphysi cs i s, not t o t ake any t hi ng f or gr ant ed.

No human aut hor i t y must be consi der ed i nf al l i bl e;

no name, nor cr eed, nor ear t hl y sour ce what ever ,

must be accept ed wi t hout bei ng wei ghed and mea-

sur ed by t hought and ar gument . Ever y t hi ng

must be si f t ed and t est ed, bef or e i t can be r ecei ved

i nt o t he vocabul ar y of phi l osophi cal bel i ef ; hence

i t s col l i si ons wi t h common opi ni on, and i t s oppo-

si t i on t o a t est t hat woul d be i nf al l i bl e and easy.

126 PART I I T.

No one can advance an i nch i n phi l osophy wi t hout

Page 74 of 108

a f ul l exer ci se of hi s hi gher power s, and a com-

pl et e f r eedom f r om t he cust om, t he pr ej udi ce,

and al l human opi ni ons. Thi ngs must be l ooked

at as t hey ar e, and f ol l owed t o t hei r r eal t r ue

sour ce; t he mi nd i s obl i ged t o exer ci se al l i t s

power s, and use al l r esour ces i n i t s possessi on t o

accompl i sh t he t ask pr oposed. The phi l osopher

ever has t hr ee t hi ngs i n vi ew and ai m. 1. Fr ee-

dom f r om human opi ni on and t he f al se. 2. Know-

l edge of t he t r ut h. 3. The i nvi gor at i on and

per f ect devel opment of hi s own power s, and t hat

by i ndependent t hi nki ng and act i on. I n ever y

st ep i n phi l osophy t her e i s a necessi t y whi ch can-

not be evaded, t o f al l back upon one' s own power s,

r esour ces, and consci ousness.

Ever y t hi nker i s obl i ged t o f eel hi s own f eet and

use t hem ; t he moment he al l ows ot her s t o car r y

hi m t o t he end of hi s j our ney, he i s depr i ved of

hi s name, i ndependency, and power . I t i s bot h a

di gni t y and a hi gh pl easur e t o be abl e t o f r ee our -

sel ves f r om human opi ni ons and f anci es, and pur -

sue t he j our ney of t hought wi t h our i ndependent

r esour ces and gui dance. I f phi l osophy di d not hi ng

el se, t hi s i t pr omi ses and f ul f i l s ; and t hi s i s mor e

t han a r ewar d f or i t s accept ance and cul t i vat i on.

5. I NI et aphysi cal st udy r ef i nes t he t hought s and

sympat hi es of t he mi nd. The mi nd r ecei ves t he

AI ETAPHYSI CS. 127

char act er of i t s f eel i ngs and moul di ng, f r om t hose

obj ect s i t communes wi t h. I f t he char act er of

t he obj ect s wi t h whi ch t he mi nd communes i s

cor r upt , mean, or mat er i al , t he mi nd i n i t s sym-

pat hi es, t hought s, and expr essi ons, becomes t he

same : on t he cont r ar y, i f t he char act er of t hose

obj ect s i s pur e, l ovel y, spi r i t ual , and gr eat , t he

mi nd i s so moul ded accor di ngl y.

The obj ect s pr esent ed t o t he mi nd i n phi l osophy,

ar e pur e, t r ue, gr eat , and spi r i t ual . I n t he pur sui t

of t hem, t he mi nd l oses i t s meanneos, and r i ses

above mat er i al t endency, and becomes nobl e, pur e,

st r ong, t r ue, consci ous of some gr eat er end t han

t he body and mat t er . I n t he f ace of so much

mat er i al t endency, and cor r upt and mean i n-

f l uences, i t i s comf or t i ng t hat t her e i s one sci ence,

at l east , whose t endency and educat i on ar e spi r i -

t ual , pur e, t r ue, and Di vi ne. The t hought s of men

gover n and moul d t hei r subj ect s : hence, t hose who

ar e st udent s of phi l osophy, unl ess t hey ar e t r ea-

cher ous t o t hei r pr of essi on, cannot be mean, ma-

t er i al , f al se t o t hemsel ves, and unf ai t hf ul t o t he

l aws of bei ng. I t separ at es men f r om t he dr oss of

human opi ni on and par t y ; i t gi ves t hem a cal mer

and happi er r egi on t o r esi de i n ; t hey ar e beyond

t he common wor l d of st or ms and t ur moi l s. I t

communes t hr ough sel f wi t h gr eat er power and

hi gher t hi ngs t han sel f : hence t he meanness, t he

Page 75 of 108

128 PART I I I .

shal l owness, and t he dr oss of common sel f ar e l ost ,

by communi on wi t h t hi s nobl er count er par t of bei ng.

6. Met aphysi cal st udy i ncr eases t he st or e of

human knowl edge ; and t hat qual i t y of knowl edge

t hat no ot her f or m of st udy coul d. I t makes t he

mi nd an obj ect of i t s exami nat i on and r esear ches :

and t he power s and t he l aws whi ch gover n t he

mi nd ar e t hus expl or ed, and made obj ect s of know-

l edge. The f i nal l aws and causes of uni ver sal bei ng

ar e per pet ual l y bef or e her at t ent i on ; she def i nes

t he boundar i es bet ween t he unknown and t he

known, t he f i ni t e and t he i nf i ni t e, t he condi t i oned

and t he uncondi t i oned. I t t eaches t he l i mi t of

our power s ; i t sear ches out t he par t i cul ar and t he

uni ver sal i n knowl edge. I t gi ves men knowl edge

of sel f , and of t he l aws whi ch ar e above and out -

si de sel f . I f t hi ngs ar e est i mat ed accor di ng t o t he

qual i t y and quant i t y of t hei r pr oduci ng power , phi l o-

sophy shoul d be hi ghl y est i mat ed ; f or t he qual i t y

i s f i r st i n char act er , and t he quant i t y r eal and t r ue,

and t hat i n t he degr ee of i t s ear nest ness and ai m.

7. The st udy of met aphysi cs i mpar t s f or t i t ude

and comf or t t o t he mi nd. I t enabl es t he mi nd t o

t ake a cor r ect vi ew of t hi ngs ; i t t eaches t he mi nd

t o accept t hi ngs as t hey ar e, and submi t cal ml y

t o t l i ei r l aws and condi t i ons. I t t eaches

moder at i on i n expect at i on, and submi ssi on i n

r ever ses. The mi nd i s suppl i ed wi t h pur e t hought ,

METAPHYSI CS. 139

SO as t o become absor bed i n i t s obj ect , and ob-

l i vi ous t o many of t he mi nor sor r ows of ear t h.

The mi nd t akes a l ar ge and compr ehensi ve vi ew

of t hi ngs ; so as t o be abl e t o compar e on a l ar ge

scal e, and r eason and concl ude mor e cor r ect l y t han

ot her s, who have not t he same advant ages ; and i s

cal mer and comf or t ed accor di ngl y.

Ther e i s a ki nd of pl easur e i n al l t oi l ; but spe-

ci al l y so, i n pur e ment al t oi l , when t he mi nd i s

l ost t o al l but t o i t s own consci ousness and t he

obj ect s of i t s t hought . I n phi l osophy t he obj ect s

ar e al ways pur e and gr eat ; and t he soul i s l ost i n

an i nconcei vabl e i nf i ni t ude. The soul i s al so com-

f or t ed i n t he consci ousness of her l of t y aspi r at i on,

and her t r ue ai m and mot i ve, t hough t he hi gh end

i s not al ways r eal i zed.

As no one but t he pur e knows t he f el i ci t y of

pur i t y, and no one but t he t r ue knows t he comf or t

and f or t i t ude of t r ut h, so no one but t he phi l oso-

pher knows t he comf or t of phi l osophy.

130

Page 76 of 108

CHAPTER I I I .

THE NECESSI TY OF METAPHYSI CS.

The good, t he t r ue, t he r eal , t he pur e, t he saf e,

t he usef ul , aud t he happy, ar e needf ul as i nt egr al

par t s i n t he const i t ut i on of t he uni ver sal or der of

bei ng ; and as count er par t s, t o meet t he want s of

t he cr eat ed dependent s of bei ng. I t i s t he most

del i ght f ul t hought t hat t he opposi t e of t hese ar e

not a necessi t y i n t he or der of bei ng, — namel y,

t he bad, t he f al se, t he unr eal , t he cor r upt , t he

danger ous, t he usel ess, and t he mi ser abl e. Two

opposi t es cannot be needf ul ; i ndeed, t hey cannot

consi st ent l y exi st i n one t hought and or der . I f

t he i nf i ni t e nat ur e i s absol ut el y good, t he opposi t e

of al l goodness cannot have a necessi t y : i f t he

or der of bei ng be t he gover nment of t he absol ut e

good, and i f r i ght i n i t sel f , t he wr ong cannot

have a necessi t y i n i t .

I f t hi s r easoni ng i s concl usi ve, i t f ol l ows, what -

ever i s wr ong must be out si de t he t hought s of

God and Hi s or der , — an out si de needl ess i nt r uder .

I t may be est abl i shed as an axi om t hat what ever

i s needf ul i s gcod, aud what ever i s good i s needf ul .

METAPHYSI CS. 131

To pr ove t he f i r st i s t o est abl i sh t he second, and

t o demonst r at e t he second i s t o show r eason f or

t he f i r st .

We est i mat e t hi ngs i n t he degr ee we need

t hem, or as we t hi nk we need t hem, because

necessi t y i s a t est of val ue. Br ead i s mor e pr e-

ci ous t han st ones, because mor e needed ; wat er

mor e pr i zed t han mer cur y, because ever y day' s

l i f e i s mor e dependent upon i t ; l abour i s mor e

needf ul t han i dl eness, because t he weal t h and

wel f ar e of soci et y depend upon one and not upon

t he ot her ; hence, i t i s hel d i n hi gher est eem.

Ther e ar e t wo cl asses of necessar y t hi ngs ; — t hi ngs

whi ch ar e made so by f ancy and super f i ci al

t hought and f eel i ng, and t hose whi ch f r om t r ue

want and r el at i on ar e made so, and t he l ast of

t hese i s r ef er r ed t o her e.

Necessi t y i n i t sel f i s a ki nd of r el at i onal condi -

t i on, i nvol vi ng t he exi st ence of ot her bei ngs and

t hi ngs, and apar t f r om t hese can have no exi st -

ence. I n i t s appl i cat i on t o f i ni t e exi st ence, i t

supposes l i mi t and l aw.

Necessi t y i n i t s appl i cat i on t o common and

uni ver sal exi st ence compr ehends, 1. Qual i t y of

nat ur e. 2. Mode of bei ng. 3. The condi t i on on

whi ch i t exi st s. 4. The condi t i on of f i ni t e bei ngs

i nvol ves a r el at i on t o t i me, space, hi gher cause,

and t he l aws of l i f e, and r eason. 5. Cause and

Page 77 of 108

K 2

182 PART I I I .

ef f ect ; whi l e f i ni t e bei ng i nvol ves a cause above

hi msel f , t he i nf i ni t e supposes an ef f ect bel ow

hi msel f .

Necessi t y i s ei t her absol ut e or condi t i onal . I n

i t s r el at i on t o t he I nf i ni t e and t he Al l - per f ect One,

i t i s absol ut e ; but i n i t s r el at i on t o f i ni t e bei ngs

and t hi ngs, i t i s condi t i onal . I t i s t r ue t hat among

f i ni t e bei ngs and t hi ngs, t he exi st ence of one

bei ng or condi t i on, necessi t at es t he exi st ence of

anot her as a mat t er of r esul t or compl et eness ; but

vi ewi ng t hi ngs i n t hei r r el at i on t o t hei r hi gher

causes, t hey ar e onl y condi t i onal necessi t y. But

f or hi gher wi l l and power t hey coul d not have

exi st ed ; t hese ar e essent i al condi t i ons of t hei r

ver y bei ng. What ever i s dependent upon anot her

cannot be an absol ut e necessi t y i n i t sel f , but a

condi t i onal one; i t i s condi t i oned by l aw,

dependence, and sour ce of bei ng ; a hi gher wi l l ,

power , and l aw, ar e condi t i ons of i t s exi st ence.

I nasmuch as exi st ence has di f f er ent si des,

necessi t y has var i ous f or ms. As mat er i al sub-

st ance exi st s, physi cal necessi t y i s t he conse-

quence. Ther e i s a necessi t y f or physi cal l aws

and condi t i ons t o secur e har mony and compl et e-

ness. I t i s not t he wor k of phi l osophy t o show

how t hi ngs mi ght be di f f er ent i n nat ur e and r el a-

t i ons t o what t hey ar e : her wor k i s t o expl ai n

exi st euce as i t i s, and t o show t r ue causes, f i t l aws

METAPHYSI CS. 133

and r el at i ons. Nat ur e vi ewed as i t i s; her phy-

si cal f or ces, agenci es, el ement s, means, and ends,

ar e a necessi t y.

Mor al necessi t y i s anot her ki nd whi ch ar i ses

f r om t he nat ur e and r el at i ons of mor al cr eat ur es.

Thi s necessi t y i s not t he necessi t y of f or ce and

passi veness, as t hat of t he physi cal ; i t i s r at her t he

necessi t y of r at i onal and mor al f i t ness, supposi ng

a wi l l i ng agent , and a r at i onal obj ect and end.

Bef or e man can be happy he must be t r ue and

pur e ; t hi s i s a mor al necessi t y ar i si ng f r om t he

f i t ness of t hi ngs ; yet , man i s made t r ue by t he

sway of hi s f r ee vol i t i on, and t he exer ci se of hi s

r eason and consci ence.

I n r easoni ng of mor al necessi t y, we al ways base

t he consequences whi ch f ol l ow, upon some ant e-

cedent condi t i ons, whi ch i nvol ve wi l l and i nt el l i -

gence. I t supposes t he possi bi l i t y of t hi ngs bei ng

ot her wi se, because i t i nvol ves wi l l and f i t ness : i t

i s a r easoni ng on t he gr ound of possi bi l i t y, pr oba-

bi l i t y, vol i t i on, and mor al f i t ness.

Page 78 of 108

Ther e i s al so a r el i gi ous necessi t y, whi ch, t hough

based upon and i ncl udi ng t he mor al , yet has f eat ur es

di f f er ent f r om i t . Ther e i s a necessi t y i n t he r el a-

t i on of bei ngs of r at i onal and mor al nat ur e f or

r el i gi on : whet her we vi ew t hi s r el at i on as exi st i ng

bet ween man and hi msel f , hi s f el l ow man, uni ver sal

l aw and cr eat i on, or bet ween hi m and hi s l awgi ver

134 PART I I I .

and God, i t i s al i ke needf ul . Rel i gi ous necessi t y

i s deep i n t he nat ur e of cr eat ur es wi t h af f ect i ons,

l i ke t hose of man. Man' s nat ur e demands a f i t

count er par t ; wi t hout i t he woul d bot h be mi ser -

abl e and i ncompl et e. I t i s a necessi t y of Di vi ne

pur pose, of f i t ness, of r el at i on, of need, of nat ur e,

and of dest i ny.

Met aphysi cal necessi t y i s deep i n t he nat ur e

and r el at i ons of r at i onal bei ngs. A bei ng l i ke

man sur r ounded wi t h myst er y ; bei ng endued as

he i s wi t h power of t hought , and t hat wi t hout pr e-

vent i on or l i mi t i n i t s exer ci se ; havi ng doubt s

and f ear s, as he has i n ever y st ep and condi t i on,

cannot be pr event ed f r om t r yi ng t o br i dge t he

myst er y of bei ng, and si nk i nt o t he deep secr et

and r oot of l aw and exi st ence. I t i s as easy t o

dest r oy t hought , bl ot out i nt el l i gence, or anni hi -

l at e exi st ence, as t o ext i ngui sh met aphysi cal t en-

dency i n r at i onal nat ur e.

I . Ther e i s an obj ect i ve necessi t y f or t he exi st -

ence of phi l osophy. The obj ect s about whi ch

phi l osophy pr edi cat es, ar e a necessi t y bot h i n

t hemsel ves and i n t hei r r el at i ons. The compr e-

hensi ve and myst er i ous obj ect s of met aphysi cs

ar e exi st ence i n i t sel f , wi t h i t s var i ous l aws and

r el at i ons. Exi st ence i s a necessar y f act ; and t o

a f i ni t e mi nd a myst cr v. Uni ver sal exi st ence

necessi t at es t he exi st ence of t he par t ; and t he

METAPHYSI CS. 135

par t i cul ar pr edi cat es t he necessi t y of t he uni ver sal .

1. Exi st ence i s a necessi t y as an obj ect of sense, of

r eason, of consci ousness. 2. I t i s necessar y i n i t s

cause. 3. I n i t s gover ni ng and r egul at i ng l aws.

4. I n i t s r el at i onal dependence and ser vi ce. 5.

I n i t s r el at i on t o man. ( 1. ) Man needs t he com-

pl ement of bei ng as a cr eat ur e. I f exi st ence i n

i t s most compl et e f or m di d not exi st , he coul d

have had no exi st ence as he has i n i t s pr esent

f or m. ( 2. ) I t i s needf ul f or man i n a hi gher

sense as he i s an i nt el l i gent bei ng. Human

i nt el l i gence pr oves an i nt el l i gent exi st ence above

and out si de man; and t hat t her e ar e count er

obj ect s f or t hat i nt el l i gence t o spend i t s

ener gi es of t hought , f eel i ng, and act i on upon.

Exi st ence i s t he count er par t of r at i onal nat ur e;

Page 79 of 108

and i t coul d never be compl et e, nor even exi st

wi t hout i t .

I t i s evi dent t hat exi st ence i n al l i t s f or ms i s

i nt ended t o be an obj ect of human t hought and

r eason. I t exci t es man' s i nqui si t i ve cur i osi t y ; i t

pr esent s i t sel f t o hi s r eason, i nvi t i ng hi s exami na-

t i on; i t comes, i n some of i t s mul t i f ar i ous f or ms,

ever y moment i n cont act wi t h hi s senses. Hi s

i nt el l ect ual advancement and exi st ence depend

upon t he exami nat i on and communi on wi t h

uni ver sal bei ng.

I I . Ther e i s a subj ect i ve necessi t y i n t he

136 PART I I I .

l i uman mi nd f or met aphysi cal sci ence and deve-

l opment . I n vai n wi l l men speak of t he danger

and f r ui t l essucss of met aphysi cs, and di scour age

and pr ohi bi t i t s pur sui t ; t he sympat hy i s deep

i n t he nat ur e of man, and i t cannot be dest r oyed

wi t hout i mpai r i ng hi s nat ur e. The pur sui t of

met aphysi cal st udy i s not hi ng but t he deep f eel i ng

i n human nat ur e, r i si ng t o t he sur f ace of l i f e, t he

i nvi si bl e comi ng t o pr omi nence, and t he r oot

appear i ng i n t he f l ower and f r ui t . Thi s exi st s i n

t he nat ur e of men i n t he pr opor t i on of t hei r ment al

st ami na ; hence, i t appear s i n act ual t hought , pr o-

por t i onat el y t o t he i nt el l ect ual power at t he r oot

of man' s nat ur e, and i n t he degr ee t hat i t i s cul t i -

vat ed. I nt el l ect ual gi ant s wi l l al ways, and have

al ways, by t he ver y power f ul sympat hi es of t hei r

nat ur e, ent er i nt o r egi ons t hat common mi nds

dar e not and cannot go, and t r y t hei r ski l l and

st r engt h wi t h t he deep and myst er i ous pr obl ems of

bei ng, and t hat of t he i nf i ni t e.

We can t r ace t he met aphysi cal necessi t y t o

some of i t s par t i cul ar sour ces known t o t he com-

mon consci ousness of men gener al l y. — 1. The f i r st

t o be ment i oned i s, a l ove f or knowl edge, ei t her

f or i t s own sake, or as means t o some ot her end.

2. A desi r e i n men uni ver sal l y t o r emove or r i se

above t he evi l of l i f e. The human mi nd car r i es

wi t h i t i n ever y st at e a di sl i ke f or t he pai nf ul , and

METAPHYSI CS. 137

a desi r e af t er t he easy and t he happy ; and t hose op-

posed t o uni ver sal f eel i ngs st i mul at e men i n sear ch

of t he new and t he unknown. 3. Ther e i s an

unaccount abl e cur i osi t y i n t he mi nd, t o pr y i nt o

t he myst er i ous and t he unknown, and t hat i n i t sel f

and f or i t s own sake. Man di sl i kes secr ecy, f r om

Eden t o t he pr esent hour ; he must t r y t o sol ve or

anni hi l at e i t . He f ear s t he secr et , and becomes

anxi ous t o sear ch i t out ; he has a ki nd of doubt -

i ng hope i n t he unknown, hence he i s anxi ous t o

ascer t ai n i t by cl ear pr oof , and r eal i ze t he sub-

Page 80 of 108

st ance of i t . 4. Ther e i s a wi sh i n man t o be

bef or ehand i n t he knowl edge of hi s f ut ur e con-

di t i on. Fr om a desi r e t hus t o know and gover n

hi s own dest i ny man ever si ghs af t er t he unknown

and t he unknowabl e. 5. Ther e i s a l aw i n t he

i nt el l ect ual sympat hy of man whi ch l eads hi m t o

i nqui r e i nt o f i nal causes ; t her e i s al so a l aw i n

t he same nat ur e, whi ch ever seeks af t er t he l aw of

uni t y and har mony. These l aws ar e compr e-

hensi bl e and power f ul , t hey ar e t he r oot and i mpul se

of hi s phi l osophi cal nat ur e and dest i ny. Man has

not cr eat ed hi s phi l osophi cal t endency, he can at

best or wor st but di r ect or modi f y i t . I f t he

phi l osophi cal t endency i s not r i ght l y cul t i vat ed

and devel oped, i t i s t o t he det r i ment and i nj ur y

of human nat ur e. I n t hi s, as i n ot her t hi ngs i n

phi l osophy, what i s f i r st and deepest i n t he or der

138 PART I I I .

of nat ur e, i s l owest and l ast i n t he or der of human

knowl edge and pr act i ce.

I I I . I Met aphysi cal st udy i s a hi gh educat i onal

power ^ and as such i t i s necessar y t o t he advance-

ment of t he humau mi nd and soci et y at l ar ge.

The human mi nd i ncr eases i n st r engt h and vi gour

by exer ci se ; i t i s pr eser ved i n heal t h and power

by const ant vi gor ous act i vi t y. Phi l osophy i s a f i el d

of i nt el l ect ual gymnast i cs, whi ch cal l i nt o ski l f ul

and ear nest pl ay al l t he power s of t he mi nd. I f

met aphysi cs was no l onger an obj ect of pur sui t ,

soci et y woul d gr ow t amer , f eebl er , mor e i gnor ant ,

and l ess i ndependent . Ther e i s no ot her f or m of

st udy t hat coul d suppl y t he l ack of t hi s. I t s

obj ect s ar e pr of ound, numer ous, and l of t y ; yet i t

demands such ni cet y of si f t i ng and anal ysi s, t hat

i t i mpar t s r ef i neness t o t he mi nd, whi l e at t he

same t i me i t gi ves br eadt h, power , and pr of undi t y.

I t i s not an evi l , but an advant age t o soci et y, t o

have abundance of educat i onal means and power s ;

i n t hi s way al l ar e r eveal ed ; al l par t s and

si des ar e t hus t ouched, devel oped, and pol i shed.

The means of educat i onal devel opment shoul d

cor r espond wi t h t he obj ect s of knowl edge, t he

end of l i f e, and t he power s and r esour ces of t he

mi nd : t hese ai ' c count er par t s i n l i f e, and go

t oget her .

Soci et y mi ght di spense wi t h some subsi di ar y or

METAPHYSI CS. 139

ci r cumst ant i al power s and means wi t hout suf f er i ng

much l oss ; but not so wi t h an essent i al depar t ment

at t he r oot of nat ur al exi st ence, as met aphysi cs i s.

I t may be sai d t hat soci et y gener al l y nei t her

st udy nor car e f or met aphysi cs ; and what benef i t

can i t be ? Al l ar e not gr ower s of cor n, but

al l must have br ead ; t he maj or i t y never pl ough,

Page 81 of 108

and woul d di sl i ke i t , yet t her e must be t he pl ough-

i ng t o keep al i ve soci et y. Soci et y l i ves i n i t s

var i ous depar t ment s by t he ski l l and t oi l of t he

f ew : and i f t hose depar t ment s whi ch t he f ew

car r y on and manage wer e t o st op, al l woul d soon

f eel t he l oss. Onl y f ew pr oduce ment al f ood t o

soci et y, and l ead her on i nt o i nt el l ect ual advance-

ment and t r i umph : i f t hey f ai l ed, or gave up t hat

hi gh ser vi ce, soci et y at l ar ge woul d f eel t he need,

and coul d not advance i n her usef ul and happy

pr ogr ess.

140

CHAPTER I V.

METAPHYSI CS AND THE LI BT. E,

The Bi bl e among Chr i st i ans i s made t he f i nal

aut hor i t at i ve cr i t er i on of ever y opi ni on and act i on.

But t her e i s not hi ng mor e common, t han t o make

t he Bi bl e speak a l anguage i t never meant , and

t o ut t er dogmas i t never cont ai ned. j Men ar e so

bl i nded by t hei r own opi ni ons and par t y vi ews,

when t hey t hi nk and expr ess t hemsel ves as def ended

and suppor t ed by t he Bi bl e, t hat i t i s of t en not hi ng

mor e t han t he r ef l ect i on of t hei r own opi ni ons, i n

t hei r i nt er pr et at i on. The book whi ch i s i nt ended

t o r ect i f y human opi ni ons and pur i f y cor r upt sen-

t i ment s and mot i ves, i s made t he gr eat est suppor t

of f al se opi ni ons, and scapegoat of gr oundl ess

f anci es, of any ot her . The l of t i ness of t he book,

and t he gr eat ness of i t s aut hor i t y, make i t a de-

si r abl e t hi ng t o af f ect r espect f or and pr i ze i t s

t est i mony.

The Bi bl e i s made by some t he cl ass- book of

nat ur al and gener al sci ence, and what ever does not

l i t er al l y accor d wi t h i t sci ent i f i cal l y, i s not i n t hei r

METAPHYSI CS. 141

opi ni on cor r ect . Thi s i s t aki ng t he Bi bl e beyond

i t s i nt ended and pr of essed boundar i es ; i t al so con-

t r act s t he pat h and l i ber t y of sci ence wi t hi n t oo

nar r ow a l i mi t . I f t he Bi bl e coul d be made t he

cl ass- book of sci ence si mpl y as such, i t woul d

be a gr eat mi sf or t une t o i t s aut hor i t y ; f or i t i s

cl ear t hat i t i s not , by t he cl ear est ( j vi dence and

demonst r at i ons. The Bi bl e i s a book of gr eat mor al

t r ut h, i nt ended t o gover n t he mot i ves, t he t hought s,

t he f eel i ngs, and t he act i ons of men. I t i s a book of

vi t al f ood f or t he spi r i t ual nat ur e of man, and a

r ul e t o r egul at e t he r el at i ons and l i ves of men.

I t i s enough f or sci ence t o know, t hat t he Bi bl e

does not f l at l y cont r adi ct and oppose i t s di scover i es

and det ai l ; and t hat t he mot i ves of i t s pr omot er s,

Page 82 of 108

and i t s r esul t s r el at i ve t o t l i e common good and

advancement of t r ut h, ar e i n accor dance wi t h i t s

pr i nci pl es and l aws. Fr om t he af f i ni t y of r el at i on,

t he Bi bl e st ands i n cl oser r el at i on t o some br anches

of knowl edge t han i t does t o ot her s. I t st ands i n

near er r el at i on t o t he sci ence of mi nd t han i t can

t o t hat of mat t er , because i t i s a mor al book i n-

t ended f or man as a mor al and i nt el l i gent bei ng.

A case cannot be made out t hat met apl i ysi cs i s

adver se t o t he Bi bl e. I t i s easy t o make a l oose

st at ement , t hat phi l osophy i s cont r ar y t o t he t r ut h

and spi r i t of t he Bi bl e, and t hat i t under mi nes or

opposes i t s aut hor i t y, and such t hi ngs; but when

142 PART I I I .

i t i s asked when and w her e ? i t cannot be def i -

ni t el y and speci f i cal l y shown and pr oved. To say

t hat phi l osopher s have been of t en agai nst t he Bi bl e

i s not hi ng t o t he quest i on; i t may be t hat t hey

woul d have been so, i f t hey had not been phi l oso-

pher s qui t e as much i n sympat hy ; onl y t hei r phi l o-

sophy gave t hem mor e ski l l and power , hence t hei r

opposi t i on mor e f el t and danger ous. And i t of t en

happens t hat t he vi ews of phi l osopher s, when con-

si der ed t o be agai nst t he Bi bl e, ar e much mor e

agai nst t he convent i onal vi ews of men and par t i es

r el at i ve t o t he Bi bl e, t han t hey ar e agai nst t he

book i t sel f . When human ar gument s and par t y

vi ews ar e opposed, i t i s enough t o r ai se t be cr y i n

many quar t er s, t bat t he Bi bl e i s opposed, and

r el i gi on i s i n danger ; and wi t hout much of i mpar -

t i al exami nat i on, whet her human opi ni ons or t he

Bi bl e i s opposed, phi l osopby whol esal e i s anat he-

mat i zed as an execr abl e danger ous t hi ng. Theol o-

gi ans and comment at oi ' s of t en quot e Scr i pt ur e

agai nst Scr i pt ur e, and t hat t o di spr ove t he asser t i ons

of one anot her ; and yet al l t hi s i s i n har mony wi t h

t he Bi bl e, whi l st sur el y one of t wo cont r adi ct i ons

i s al ways agai nst t he Bi bl e : but any t hi ng under

t he name of phi l osopby dar i ng hal f so much, woul d

r ai se t he i r e of al l t he r el i gi ous par t y scr i bbl er s of

t he l and agai nst i t . Names sway t he maj or i t y of

manki nd much mor e t han pr i nci pl es and t r ut h ;

METAPHYSI CS. 143

t her e i s mucl i mor e of f i ght i ng f or human opi ni ons

and convent i ons, under t he sham of def endi ng r e-

l i gi on and t he Bi bl e, t han r eal l y t her e i s f or r eal

t r ut h and r el i gi on, as t hey ar e i n t hemsel ves f r ee

f r om al l par t y vi ews and pr ej udi ce.

Met aphysi cs exi st ed i n i t s ger mi nal f or m

bef or e t he Bi bl e i n i t s ver bal f or m ; and has

never been st udi ed by any one of i t s t r ue st u-

dent s f r om mal i ce pi ' epense t o t he Bi bl e. I f ever

i t appear s t o oppose t he Bi bl e, i t i s i nci dent al

and not i nt ent i onal ; i t may be an appar ent opposi -

Page 83 of 108

t i on mor e t han r eal . I f ever met aphysi cs becomes

opposed t o t he t r ut h, i t i s t he f aul t of met aphy -

si ci ans mor e t han met aphysi cs ; and i f ever i t

opposes t he Bi bl e, i t i s an opposi t i on t o somet hi ng

human about t he Bi bl e, and not t he t r ue and t he

Di vi ne i n i t , or t he wr ong i n t he met aphysi ci an

hi msel f , and not i n t he met aphysi cs.

Ther e i s not hi ng i n t he Bi bl e f r om whi ch i t

can be shown, t hat i t opposes met aphysi cs i n

i t sel f , nor yet i n i t s st udi ous cul t i vat i on and

use. The Bi bl e speaks mor e about t he use of

t hi ngs, t han of t hi ngs i n t hemsel ves ; i t l ays down

l i mi t s and condi t i ons f or t he r i ght use of al l t hi ngs,

cont r ar y and beyond whi ch t hey become wr ong

and si nf ul . The Bi bl e appr oves of bei ngs and

t hi ngs i n cer t ai n r el at i ons and condi t i ons, whi l st

i t di sappr oves of t hem i n ot her s, and t he cont r ar y.

144) PART I I I .

As i t i s possi bl e t o mi suse and abuse t he best of

God' s gi f t s, so t l i e best i nt el l ect ual i nst r ument and

power may be mi sappl i ed, and made t he pr oduct i on

of evi l r at her t han good; and i n t hat sense di s -

appr oved of , whi l st i n i t s nat ur al and best sense

i t woul d be appr oved of . The Apost l e ( Col . i i . 8)

speaks of phi l osophy, t pt Koa- of l a. ; , i n a bad sense, as

a t hi ng capabl e of bei ng abused j and, when so

mi sappl i ed, t o be avoi ded by si mpl e and unsus-

pi ci ous Chr i st i ans.

Not onl y t he Bi bl e does not oppose met aphy-

si cal sci ence, but t he met aphysi cal el ement per vades

i t , and i t cannot f ul l y be under st ood and i nt er -

pr et ed wi t hout i t . 1. Many of t he t er ms used i n

t he Scr i pt ur es ar e met aphysi cal , and cannot be

t hought of wi t hout met aphysi cal sympat hy and

r easoni ng bei ng pr oduced; and cannot be i nt er -

pr et ed wi t hout met aphysi cal power . God, spi r i t ,

cr eat or , gover nor , cr eat i on, cause, ef f ect , t r ut h,

t hought , consci ence, mi nd, soul , r egener at i on, i n-

f l uence, power , et er ni t y, ever l ast i ng , t i me, space,

i nf i . ni t e, omni pr esent , unchangeabl e, al mi ght y, ever -

l ast i ng, t hese, and a l ar ge number besi des, i nvol ve

i n t hei r si mpl est meani ng t he met aphysi cal el e-

ment , and cai mot be t hought of wi t hout i t , 2.

The obj ect s- mat t er of t he Bi bl e ar e necessar i l y

met aphysi cal i n t hei r char act er , not i ons, and sur -

r oundi ngs. The i nf i ni t e, t he i nvi si bl e wor l d, r eve-

METAPHYSI CS. 145

l at i on, mi r acl es, Di vi ne gover nment , t he i nj l uence of

spi r i t upon spi r i t , r edempt i on, t he exi st ence and

cause of evi l , t he r el at i on of t hi ngs and bei ngs, hap-

pi ness and mi ser y, man' s i mmor t al i t y, f ai t h, l ove,

hope, and heaven : — t hese i nvol ve t he met aphysi cal

el ement , and cannot be appr oached wi t hout i t .

3. Some books and por t i ons of t he Bi bl e ar e t ho-

Page 84 of 108

r oughl y met aphysi cal i n t hei r t endency, sympat hy,

and r easoni ng. I s i t possi bl e t o r ead t he books of

Job, Psal ms, Pr over bs, Eccl esi ast es, I sai ah, and t he

Pr ophet s ger i er al l y , ' wi t hovLt hei ng convi nced of t hi s?

The Gospel s ar e per vaded by t he same el ement ;

t he Epi st l e t o t he Romans, and al l t he Epi st l es of

Paul , especi al l y t hose t o t he Ephesi ans, Phi l i ppi ans,

and t he Col ossi ans. Never was a mor e met a-

physi cal wr i t er t han t he Apost l e Paul ; t ake t he

ei ght h chapt er of Romans, and t he f i f t eent h

of 1st Cor i nt hi ans as an exampl e of t hi s; and

t he same, mor e or l ess, per vades t he whol e of hi s

wr i t i ngs. I t was i n t he dept h of t he man, and i t came

out i n ever y t hi ng he sai d and wr ot e ; i t was wor -

t hy hi s super i or gr andeur , wi t hout i t he coul d not

have been t he gr eat Apost l e and t he power f ul wr i t er

he was. 4. The compr ehensi ve pr i nci pl es and end

of met aphysi cs ar e ever ywher e r ecommended i n

t he Bi bl e, even on t he hi gh gr ounds of need and

dut y. Ref l ect i on on t he l aws and wor ks of God

i s r ecommended ever ywher e ; t he sear ch af t er

L

146 PART I I I .

knowl edge i s const ant l y ur ged and encour aged ;

t he t est i ng of t hi ngs, and t he seeki ng of t r ut h, ar e

appl auded and shown as needf ul ever ywher e t hr ough

t he vol ume. The i nqui r y i nt o t he r el at i ons, t he

causes, t he l aws, and t he r esul t s of bei ngs and

t hi ngs, ar e i nvol ved i ndi r ect l y i n t he t r ut hs i ncul -

cat ed i n t he Bi bl e, as wel l as di r ect l y and r epeat -

edl y r ecommended ver bal l y.

I t woul d be easy t o quot e pages f r om t he Bi bl e,

t o ver i f y t he f or egoi ng r emar ks ; but t hi s i s di f l S-

cul t f r om t hei r number , and par t i al l y needl ess t o

al l t he r eader s t hat may l ook i nt o t hese pages,

f or such passages wi l l be known t o t hem. I ndeed,

t o ent er i nt o mi nut e det ai l , woul d r equi r e bot h a

l onger t i me and a l ar ger space t han I can af f or d t o

i t ; t he i nt ent i on of t he chapt er i s suggest i ve, and

not exhaust i ve.

147

CHAPTER Y.

THE RELATI ON OF METAPHYSI CS TO OTHER FORMS OF

KNOWLEDGE.

As ever y at om bel ongs t o and ser ves t he whol e

at omi c uni ver se ; as ever y par t i cl e of l i ght i s a

par t , and ser ves t he whol e body of l i ght ; as ever y

member i s a par t of a body, and hel ps t o compl et e

t he whol e, and no body can be compl et e wi t hout

al l i t s member s ; so i s one br anch of knowl edge

Page 85 of 108

connect ed wi t h, and essent i al t o t he ot her . Some

par t s, on account of t hei r r el at i ve posi t i on, or t he

var i et y or i mpor t ance of t he ser vi ce t hey r ender ,

ar e gr eat l y mor e i mpor t ant t hen ot her s, hence

mor e essent i al and needf ul .

I f t he sci ence of mi nd i s at al l any par t of t he

gr eat syst em of knowl edge, i t f ol l ows t hat i t has

i t s par t s t o pl ay, and t hat t he whol e woul d not be

compl et e wi t hout i t . The degr ee of i t s ser vi ce

depends upon i t s compr ehensi on, i t s posi t i on, and

means of usef ul ness, and t he var i et y and degr ee of i t s

ser vi ce. Ever y f or m of knowl edge has i t s own spe-

ci al obj ect s- mat t er , and must be speci al l y adapt ed

L 2

148 PART I I I .

f or t hem ; i t has al so i t s uni ver sal r el at i on as a par t

of t he whol e, whi ch i t ser ves i ndi r ect l y, i n t he

degr ee of i t s r el at i on, means, and power . Ever y

f or m of knowl edge has i t s mor e par t i cul ar and

pr of essed busi ness : at t he same t i me, ever y t hi ng

st ands r el at ed t o t he whol e, and hel ps t o compl et e

i t .

Ther e ar e some par t i cul ar br anches of know-

l edge t o whi ch t he sci ence of mi nd i s speci al l y

connect ed. The r el at i on bet ween t hi ngs i s medi at e

or i mmedi at e, near or r emot e, common or speci al ;

t her e i s a r el at i on bet ween t he most ext r eme

t hi ngs, but i t i s r eact ed and dependent upon

var i ous medi at e l i nks and condi t i ons. Whi l e met a-

physi cs st ands r el at ed t o t he whol e body of know-

l edge, i t st ands near er t o some par t s t han i t does

t o ot her s.

1. Met aphysi cs st ands i n i nt i mat e r el at i on t o

t heol ogy. Theol ogy r eaches i t s syst emat i c ai m

ei t her t hr ough t he obj ect s and l aws of nat ur e,

or t hr ough t he t r ut hs and l i ght of r evel at i on ;

hence i t i s cal l ed nat ur al or r eveal ed.

The obj ect - mat t er of t heol ogy i s God, i n Hi s

nat ur e, and Hi s desi gn, wi l l , and l aws, t owar ds

men and t he uni ver se. Theol ogy i s absol ut el y a

sci ence of mi nd, and t hat i n t he l of t i est and most

sacr ed sense. I t t r eat s of t he Di vi ne mi nd,

r el at i ve t o human i nt er est and dest i ny ; hence i t

METAni YSI CS. 119

compr ehends uni ver sal i nt el l i gence, l aw, and or der .

Ment al sci ence opens t he door and l eads on t heo-

l ogy ; i t st r engt hens t he mi nd f or i l s successf ul

pur sui t , and f eeds and suppor t s i t s pr emi ses and

bul war ks. I t i s di f f i cul t t o t hi nk, how t heol ogy

can exi st and be def ended, wi t hout some know-

l edge of t he l aws of cause, of bei ng, and of t hought .

Phi l osophy and t heol ogy ar e t wo si st er s, havi ng

Page 86 of 108

t hei r or i gi n i n one sour ce, t hei r conver se about

common obj ect s, and t hei r ai m and r esul t s i n t he

same ul t i mat e concl usi ons. They ar e i nt ended t o

ser ve each ot her i n t hei r car eer , t o r ect i f y each ot her

i n t hei r i nadver t enci es, and t o suppor t each ot her

i n t hei r common and t r ut hf ul concl usi ons. Fr om

t he nat ur e and or der of t hi ngs, t heol ogy i s mor e

dependent as a sci ence upon phi l osophy, t han

phi l osophy i s upon t heol ogy ; because i t i s wi der

i n i t s r ange, f r eer i n i t s act i on, r i cher i n i t s means

and r esour ces of i l l ust r at i on and def ence. Phi l o-

sophy exi st ed bef or e syst emat i c t heol ogy had any

f or m ; i t i s based upon t he f act of mi nd and some

f i nal cause behi nd i t s ver y f i r st pr emi ses, and i s

def ended by i t s ski l l and i nst r ument s. Theol ogy

and phi l osophy go a l ong way t oget her , havi ng

common sympat hy and end, — t r ut h, and common

happi ness. Theol ogy i s mor e of a st at ement ,

accor di ng t o cer t ai n f or mul a? and supposed r e-

veal ed t r ut hs ; phi l osophy i s mor e of a sear ch af t er

150 Par t hi .

t r ut h, ^ yi t l l Out any assumpt i on or pr escr i pt i on of

i nf al l i bl e r ecor d what ever . Theol ogy i s l i mi t ed

wi t hi n a wr i i t en r ecor d ; hence dogmat i c and

nar r ow, as i nt er pr et ed by human syst em ; phi l o-

sophy i s bounded by no wr i t t en r ecor d, i t si nks

i nt o t he deep, and ascends t o t he l of t y pl aces of

t he uni ver se, sear ches out myst er i es, and t r aver ses

t he i nvi si bl e and t he unknown i nf i ni t ude of mi nd

and space. The Bi bl e i s t he t est of t he t heol ogi an,

consci ousness t hat of t he phi l osopher .

Theol ogy i s mor e conser vat i ve i n i t s spi r i t and

t endency t han phi l osophy, because t he compl e-

ment of i t s t r ut hs i s r eveal ed ; hence t he phi l oso-

pher i s mor e l i ber al i n hi s vi ews, and uni ver sal i n

hi s sympat hi es and r esear ches, t han t he t heol o-

gi an. The t heol ogi an bel i eves hi msel f as havi ng

f ound al l ; t he phi l osopher bel i eves hi msel f as

havi ng f ound not hi ng f ul l y. The t heol ogi an i s

sat i sf i ed wi t h t he l i ght and t r ut hs he has; t he

phi l osopher ever si ghs and sear ches f or mor e l i ght

and t r ut h. The t heol ogi an i s ever i n danger of

becomi ng nar r ow, i l l i ber al , and despot i c i n t hought

and assumpt i on; and t he mer e acquai nt ance wi t h

t heol ogy, and not hi ng el se, wi l l al most sur el y l ead

t o such undesi r abl e r esul t s. The met aphysi ci an i s

i n danger of becomi ng t oo specul at i ve, scept i cal ,

and conf i dent i n t he power and l i ght of r eason.

Theol ogy may be of good ser vi ce t o t he met a-

METAPHYSI CS. 151

physi ci an t o modi f y hi s specul at i on, and show hi m

t hat t her e i s somet hi ng hi gher t han human r eason

i n t he uni ver se : i t may pr eser ve f r om scept i ci sm

and despai r . Phi l osophy may ser ve t he t heol ogi an,

by gi vi ng hi m br oader and mor e cat hol i c vi ews

Page 87 of 108

of God, men, and t r ut h; i t may pr eser ve f r om

assumpt i ons i nf al l i bi l i t y, t he phar i sai cal boast of

or t hodoxy, and t he l oud anat hemas agai nst al l

vi ews and t hi ngs, except t hose of t he nar r ow

dogma or adopt ed par t y.

One t hi ng i s cer t ai n t hat t he Di vi ne voi ce i n

wor ds i s not di f f er ent f r om t hat i n wor ks ; and i f

t hey be r i ght l y i nt er pr et ed, t he concl usi on wi l l be

one. But t r ue phi l osophy i s of t en a ver y di f f er ent

t hi ng f r om t he opi ni ons of phi l osopher s; so i s

t r ue t heol ogy, f r om t heol ogi ans. I t i s not a

di scor d bet ween t heol ogy and phi l osophy t hat

causes col l i si on ; but a want of har mony of t hought

and f eel i ng bet ween t heol ogi ans and phi l osopher s.

Ther e i s not hi ng i n t he nat ur e, t endency, and

i nt ent i on of phi l osophy and t heol ogy ant agoni st i c

t o each ot her : bot h per f ect l y agr ee i n t hemsel ves,

i n t hei r speci al f unct i ons, and yet i n t hei r common

ser vi ce and end. The echo of Di vi ne r eason must

be t he same i n consci ousness, as i t i s i n t r ue

r evel at i on : r i ght l y r ead, t hey wi l l har moni ousl y

agr ee.

2. Phi l osophy st ands al so near l y r el at ed t o

153 PART I I I .

pol i t i cs. I n al l wal ks of knowl edge t her e ar e

some t hi uj i s common and al i ke t o t hem al l ; whi ch

cannot be acqui r ed wi t hout t he same qual i f i cat i t ) ns.

I t i s a condi t i on i n al l al i ke, t hat t he mi nd must

a qui r e a cer t ai n acut eness and vi gour bef or e any

ot t hem can be pur sued wi t h ef f ect i ve r esul t s.

These, phi l osophy i mpar t s t o t he mi nd, whi ch i s

t he one common power i n t he pur sui t and di s-

cover y of al l knowl edge. But ever y f or m of

knowl edge has somet hi ng pecul i ar t o i t sel f i n i t ,

whi ch r equi r es speci al qual i f i cat i on t o i t s r i ght

per f or mance. Pol i t i cs has a common wor k and

obj ect ; i t has al so i t s speci al Avor k, and t he way

of doi ng i t . I t vi ews and deal s wi t h man as a

r at i onal r esponsi bl e bei ng ; i t i s t r ue t hat i t vi ews

man on hi s mat er i al si de as wel l , but al ways

t hr ough hi s hi gher nat ur e — t he ment al . I n

enact i ng and admi ni st er i ng l aws, man i s vi ewed as

a bei ng of i nt el l i gence, wi l l , and consci ence.

Bef or e l aws of r eason and equi t y, sui t abl e t o

man as a bei ng of r eason, of l i mi t , of condi t i ons,

and st at es, can be cor r ect l y enact ed, and j ust l y

admi ni st er ed, i t i s needf ul t o know somet hi ng of

t he nat ur e of such a bei ng ; t hi s ment al sci ence i s

t he best i nst r ument t o i mpar t .

I n or der t o car r y out t he wor k of pol i t i cs

r i ght l y and f ai t hf ul l y, t he pol i t i ci an i s under t he

necessi t y t o know somet hi ng of causes and ef f ect s ;

METAPHYSI CS. 153

Page 88 of 108

of l aws and r el at i ons; of t he human i nt el l ect ,

passi on, consci ence, and wi l l ; of ment al i di o-

syncr asi es ; of di f f er ences and l i kenesses ; of

human mot i ves and act i ons; of t he nat ur e of

t r ut h and f al sehood ; t he cause of happi ness and

mi ser y ; and of human abi l i t y i n cer t ai n condi t i ons,

and hi s i nabi l i t y i n ot her s. The want of knowi ng

t he human mi nd bet t er i s one r eason t hat so many

l aws ar e enact ed, so unnat ur al t o t he nat ur e of

man, and so unr easonabl e i n t hei r r equi r ement s

and pr ovi si on, hence opposed of t en by r evol ut i on,

and r epeal ed by f or ce, or by hi gher r eason. I t

wi l l be a happy event f or peopl e and count r i es,

when t hei r l egi sl at or s wi l l st udy mor e, and under -

st and bet t er , t he l aws of mi nd ; t hen bet t er l aws

wi l l be enact ed, and gr eat er st abi l i t y est abl i shed.

Bef or e any man aspi r es t o be a maker of l aws f or

hi s f el l ow men, he ought at l east t o have t hi s

qual i f i cat i on i n a super i or degr ee, — t he knowl edge

of ment al sci ence. I f l egi sl at or s made i t t hei r

busi ness t o know t hemsel ves bet t er , we shoul d

have f ewer l egi sl at or s, but f ar bet t er i n qual i t y;

j ust er l aws ; happi er count r i es ; mor e sat i sf i ed

peopl e ; and mor e st abl e i nst i t ut i ons. I nst ead of

t he ci r cumst ant i al and convent i onal qual i f i cat i ons,

t hi s woul d be bot h r eal , super i or , and of uni ver sal

advant age,

3. Gener al j ur i spr udence st ands near l y r el at ed

154 PABT I I I .

and gr eat l y i ndebt ed t o t he sci ence of mi nd. Al l

t hi ngs whi ch bel ong t o man, ar e st udi ed di r ect l y

or i ndi r ect l y i n r ef er ence t o hi m. They ar e t hus

st udi ed i n t hemsel ves, or i n man hi msel f ; f or a

knowl edge of hi m i s t o know t he count er par t s of

hi s bei ng.

Jur i spr udence has men i n vi ew, i n cer t ai n r el a-

t i ons, and under speci al condi t i ons ; i f t hose r el a-

t i ons and condi t i ons di d not exi st , t her e coul d be

no such syst em as j ur i spr udence. ( 1. ) I t vi ews man

as subj ect of l aw. ( 2. ) As f r ee and capabl e of

mor al and r esponsi bl e act i on. ( 3. ) As a bei ng of

pur poses and mot i ves. ( 4. ) As a bei ng of var i ous

r el at i ons. ( 5. ) As a bei ng i n a condi t i on of

doi ng wr ong, and of bei ng wr onged. ( 6. ) As a

bei ng of mer i t or demer i t , accor di ng t o t he nat ur e

of hi s act i ons. Not onl y i s ment al phi l osophy an

assi st ance t o j ur i spr udence, but an essent i al

necessi t y t o i t s r i ght under st andi ng and pr act i ce.

To st udy j ur i spr udence i n t heor i es apar t f r om men,

i s of t en not hi ng bet t er t han l egal dogmas, wi t hout

ei t her f i t ness, t r ut h, or r eason; but when t he

hi gher nat ur e and r el at i ons of man ar e st udi ed,

t r ue and r i ght eous j ur i spr udence i s under st ood ;

f or al l ar e f or hi m, and what ever answer s hi s

want s and r el at i ons i s f i t and t r ue. No one can ad-

vance or pr act i se j ur i spr udence on an enl i ght ened

gr ound, wi t hout a knowl edge of ment al sci ence.

Page 89 of 108

METAPHYSI CS. 155

4. Ther e i s a near r el at i on bet ween t he sci ence

of mi nd, and t hat depar t ment of knowl edge whi ch

t r eat s of di sease and r emedy — t he heal i ng ar t . I t

i s undeni abl e t hat t her e i s a ver y near uni on be-

t ween t he mi nd and t he body, and many of t he

di seases of t he body pr oceed f r om t he i nf l uence of

t he mi nd over t he mat er i al or gani sm. I t i s needf ul

f or t he medi cal st udent t o under st and somet hi ng

of t he l aws, emot i ons, and power of t he mi nd, i n

or der t o know mor e accur at el y what ki nds of di s-

eases ar e mor e par t i cul ar l y pr oduced by t he power

of t he mi nd over t he body, and t he way and t he

degr ee t hey ar e t hus pr oduced. A knowl edge of

t he l aws of mi nd woul d of t en si mpl i f y and sol ve

many per pl exed and compl i cat ed cases, and be t he

means, i n many i nst ances, t o suggest t he t r ue

r emedy, and, i n al l cases, of pr event i ng many and

i nj ur i ous pr escr i pt i ons. For t he want of t hi s

power , t he medi cal pr act i t i oner i s depr i ved of t he

ski l l and power he mi ght and ought t o have ; and

not unf r equent l y he mi st akes and f ai l s, wher e he

mi ght be r i ght and successf ul . I gnor ance of t he

l aws of mi nd and t hei r i nf l uence upon t he body,

mi sl eads t he medi cal pr act i t i oner of t en beyond hi s

l egi t i mat e boundar i es, t o wander ami dst st r ange

r ocks and bewi l der i ng pat hs; and t hi s i s al l t he

mor e i nt ol er abl e i n a gui de who shoul d know

somet hi ng of t he way, and t hat when l i f e i s i n

156 PART I I I .

quest i on. The i mpor t ance of t he f unct i on of t he

medi cal pr act i t i oner demands at hi s hands t hi s

knoAvl edge, and al l ot her s whi ch i ncr ease hi s ski l l

and power : he has t o do wi t h heal t h and af f l i ct i on,

wi t h l i f e and deat h. He owes t hi s knowl edge t o

hi msel f , and t o al l t hose who put t hemsel ves i n hi s

hands.

By t he excl usi ve st udy of t he bodi l y or gans i n

t hei r anat omi cal and physi ol ogi cal f or ms, no won-

der t hat t he medi cal st udent so of t en becomes a

mat er i al i st . A knowl edge of ment al phi l osophy,

woul d be a ki nd of equi poi se and a pr eser vat i ve

power , f r om t hat l ow and dul l mat er i al i sm so of t en

compl ai ned of as pr eval ent among medi cal st udent s.

For t he want of t hi s knowl edge, i t i s not unf r e-

quent t hat ment al di seases ar e t r eat ed as physi cal

ones: hence i nj ur y i s done, and unhappy r esul t s

f ol l ow. Ment al phi l osophy t o t he medi cal st udent

i s a common benef i t t o soci et y ; i t i ncr eases hi s

r esour ces, ski l l , and power , and makes hi m mor e

abl e t o admi ni st er hi s i mpor t ant f unct i on t o t he

good and happi ness of al l pat i ent s.

5. Met aphysi cs st ands r el at ed t o hi st or y; and

t hat i n such a degr ee, t hat hi st or y cannot be

successf ul l y st udi ed and f ul l y wr i t t en wi t hout i t .

Page 90 of 108

I f hi st or y has t o' account f or phenomena, act i ons,

and r evol ut i ons, i n t hei r causes and r esul t s ; and i f

mi nd i s i nvol ved i n t hese, and i s t he l eadi ng

METAPHYSI CS. 157

agent i n al l , t hen i t i s needf ul , i n or der t o have a

f ul l and f ai t hf ul r ecor d, t o st udy t he l aws and

phenomena of mi nd. Much of hi st or y i s i nsi pi dl y

and super f i ci al l y wr i t t en; and one r eason i s, t he

want of pr of ounder knowl edo; e, on t he par t of t he

wr i t er s, of ment al phi l osophy. Hi st or y, i f f ai t hf ul ,

i s mor e a hi st or y of t hought and mot i ves, t han of

mechani sm and mat er i al f or ms and appear ances.

The hi st or i an has per pet ual l y t o t r ace t hi ngs t o

t hei r act i ve and mot i ve sour ce ; he has const ant l y

t o anal yse t hought s and mot i ves, i n or der t o di s -

t i ngui sh di f f er ence and dr aw r i ght deduct i ons :

bef or e al l t hi s can be done ef f ect i vel y, t he mi nd

must have acqui r ed met aphysi cal t r ai ni ng and

power .

The hi st or - , an const ant l y i s t hr own beyond t he

boundar y of cl ear and common f act s, t o t he gr ound

of anal ogy and abst r act r easoni ng; and i f hi s-

t or i ans wer e mor e f ami l i ar wi t h t he l aws of mi nd,

hi st or y woul d be bot h mor e t r ue and compl et e.

No uuphi l osophi cal mi nd can wr i t e an i ndepen-

dent , t r ue, and i mmor t al hi st or y: t her e may be a

pr et t y r el at i on of event s and ext er nal t r ansact i ons

wr i t t en, whi ch ar e pl easi ng t o super f i ci al r eader s ;

but i f unphi l osophi cal l y wr i t t en, i t i s not deep and

f ai t hf ul enough t o be i mmor t al . The most phi l o-

sophi c hi st or i es of t he past l i ve and ar e admi r ed ;

t he shal l ow, t he l i ght , and t he f l i ppant ones, ar e

l UO PART I I I .

nei t her consul t ed nor r espect ed. The pr esent

numer ous super f i ci al hi st or i es wi l l become ef f et e ;

but t he f ew phi l osophi cal ones wi l l wi t hst and t he

r avage and r evol ut i on of t i me, and Avi l l go down

wi t h honour and r espect t o f ut ur i t y. Phi l osophy

gi ves t o hi st or y br eadt h, f ai t hf ul ness, and t r ut hf ul -

ness, t o uni ver sal l aw and bei ng, whi ch ar e t he

same i n ever y age, and t he sur e qual i t i es of i mmor -

t al i t y.

6. Ther e i s a near r el at i on bet ween met aphysi cal

sci ence and l ogi c. Logi c i s t he pr oduct i on of me-

t aphysi cs, and dependent upon i t f or bei ng and

ef f i ci ency. Logi c bei ng t he f or mal l aw of t hought ,

i s a nat ur al of f shoot of t he sci ence whi ch makes

mi nd t he obj ect - maLt er of i t s st udy, whi ch i s

phi l osophy. Logi c agai n i s an essent i al ef f ect i ve

i nst r ument i n t he pur sui t of met aphysi cal sci ence,

and cannot be pur sued ef f i ci ent l y wi t hout i t .

Ther e i s a par t i al dependence and ser vi ce bet ween

t he t wo ; met aphysi cs depends par t i al l y upon l ogi c,

l ogi c depends ent i r el y upon met aphysi cs. Tr ue

Page 91 of 108

met aphysi cs advances t he i nt er est of l ogi c; t r ue

l ogi c pr ot ect s and gui des t he i nt er est of met a-

physi cs. ^ Vhen t he l ogi c* of peopl e i s bad, t hei r

met aphysi cs cannot be good ; when t hei r met a-

physi cs i s bad, t hei r l ogi c i s t he same. They go

t oget her ; as one f ar es, i t shar es wi t h t he ot her ;

i f one i s wel l of f , so i s t he ot her ; i f one badl y of f , i t

METAPHYSI CS. 159

i s t he case wi t h t he ot her . They ar e t wi ns pos -

sessi ng one common sympat hy, t hey wer e bor n

onl y a l i t t l e af t er each ot her , t hey l i ve t oget her ,

and i f one di es t he ot her wi l l not l ong sur vi ve.

Thei r sour ce i s one— mi nd ; t hei r end i s one— t he^

advancement of mi nd and t r ut h.

7. Though met aphysi cal and m; f t hemat i cal

sci ence di f f er , yet t her e i s a near al l i ance and

sympat hy exi st i ng bet ween t he t wo. These t wo

gr eat i nst r ument al power s i n t he advancement of

knowl edge, have been per pet ual l y set agai nst each

ot her . The mat hemat i ci an has ever f r owned phi l o-

sophy down as vague and i ndef i ni t e i n i t s demon-

st r at i ons and concl usi ons, and appl auded mat he-

mat i cs as t he onl y met hod of exact and pur e

knowl edge. The met aphysi ci an, agai n, has of t en

denounced mat hemat i cs as a mat er i al , f or mal , and

st i f f t hi ng, never abl e t o t r anscend t o t he hi gher

and nobl er r egi on of t hought . Now t hese t wo

sci ences ar e needf ul and compat i bl e wi t h each

ot her , so t hat t he met aphysi ci an and t he mat he-

mat i ci an may l i ve on good t er ms wi t h each ot her ,

and t hi nk t hemsel ves br ot her s, and co- wor ker s i n

t he advancement of t he wor k and happi ness of t he

uni ver se.

A di f f er ence does not necessi t at e a cont r a-

di ct i on; t her e ar e di f f er ences bet ween t hese

sci ences^ but no cont r adi ct i on. Some of t he

I GO TART I I I .

poi nt s of di f f er ences ar e t he f ol l owi ng. ( 1. ) They

di f f er i n t hei r obj ect s- mat t er . The obj ect s- mat t er

of mat l i emat i cs ar e f or m and magni t ude; t hose of

met aphysi cs ar e cause, mi nd, exi st ence, wi t h t hei r

l aws and r el at i ons. ( 2. ) Mat hemat i cs deal s wi t h

t he t angi bl e, t he vi si bl e, and t he mat er i al ; hence

a mat er i al sci ence: met aphj - si cs deal s wi t h pheno-

mena, t he unseen, t he super nat ur al ; hence a mor e

spi r i t ual and a super i or sci ence. ( 3. ) ] \ I at ber aat i cs

i s mechani cal i n i t s oper at i on ; i t has but one

pat h, and al l must do pr eci sel y as t hey ar e bi dden,

or t hey sur el y wi l l get wr ong : met aphysi cs i s

mor e f r ee and r at i onal ; and al l ows her di sci pl es

gr eat er r ange and l i ber t y t o seek t r ut h and evi -

dence. ( 1. ) The t endency of mat l i er nat i cs i s t o

mat er i al i ze, f or mul i ze, and st er eot ype t hought ;

t he t endency of met aphysi cs i s t o spi r i t ual i ze,

Page 92 of 108

l i ber al i ze, expand, and di ver si f y t hought . ( 5. ) The

wor k of mat hemat i cs i s mor e l i mi t ed ; i t i s t o

set t l e t he mat er i al pr obl ems of t he mat er i al uni -

ver se ; and, i f t hat i s ever done, i t s wor k wi l l be

over : but met aphysi cs deal s i n t he i nf i ni t e, i t

deal s wi t h dat el ess cause and bei ng, and wi t h end-

l ess exi st ence. Hence, i t s woi ' k wi l l never end,

because i t s obj ect s ar e i l l i mi t abl e. ( G. ) Phi l osophy

exi st ed bef or e mat hemat i cs; and gave exi st ence t o

t he l at t er . I \ I en al ways phi l osophi zed, and t hei r

phi l osophi cal br oodi ngs about t he mat er i al uni ver se

METAPHYSI CS. 161

gave exi st ence t o mat hemat i cs. Mat hemat i cs was

cr eat ed by phi l osophy as an i nst r ument t o be used

f or her ser vi ce; but t he chi l d si nce has of t en

r ai sed i t s heel s agai nst i t s mor e vener abl e and

wor t hy par ent .

But t her e ar e poi nt s of r esembl ance as wel l as

of di f f er ence. ( 1. ) The ment al pr ocesses i n t he

pr osecut i on of bot h ar e ver y much al i ke ; — t he

anal yt i cal , and t he synt het i cal . ( 2. ) Bot h ai m at

common ul t i mat e ends, — t he educat i on of t he

mi nd and t he acqui r ement of t r ut h and know-

l edge. They r ei gn over di f f er ent empi r es, and

have t hei r i ndi vi dual f unct i on and busi ness : but

t hey may dwel l and commune wi t h each ot her i n

peace and har mony as mot her and chi l d ; and as

t he vi si bl e and t he i nvi si bl e do i n our per sons, and

i n t he uni ver se. ( 3. ) They bot h r equi r e t he same

qual i f i cat i on of mi nd i n st r engt h and per f ect i on t o

make any pr of i ci ency i n t hei r knowl edge. The

f i r st met aphysi ci an woul d be al so t he f i r st mat he-

mat i ci an, i f he t ur ned f ul l y hi s at t ent i on t hat way ;

so woul d t he f i r st mat hemat i ci an i n met aphysi cs :

and no one but t he f i r st - cl ass power of mi nd can

be gr eat and f i r st i n ei t her . They ar e l i nked

t oget her and cannot be separ at ed. They ar e t he

hi ghest achi evement s of t hought : t hey ar e com-

mon ser vant s of t he one gr eat uni ver se.

8. Pai nt i ng and scul pt ur e i n t hei r t l i eor y ar e

M

162 PART I I I .

par t i al l y dependent and obl i gat ed t o met a-

physi cs. The end and ai m of t hese i n t heoi y

and pr act i ce i n t hei r r el at i on t o man i s t he per f ect

r epr esent at i on and del i neat i on of t he f or m and

expr essi ons of t he mi nd and body nat nr al l y,

spont aneousl y, and per f ect l y. I nasmuch as t he

expr essi ons and act i ons of t he body ar e pr oduced

and gover ned by t he t hought s, t he vol i t i ons, and

f eel i ngs of t he mi nd, t hey never can be under -

st ood and del i neat ed f ai t hf ul l y wi t hout some know-

l edge of t he i nvi si bl e mi nd whi ch di r ect s and

Page 93 of 108

gover ns t he whol e. No ar t t hat i s not f ai t hf ul

t o t he deeper bei ng and l aws of human nat ur e,

can st and t he t est of sever e and t r ue cr i t i ci sm,

and t he r avage and t he f or ces of t i me, because

def i ci ent i n t r ut h, nat ur al ness, and compr e-

hensi veness.

9. Poet r y owes much t o met aphysi cs. The end

of poet r y i s, t o expr ess t hi ngs i n t hei r t r ue nat ur e,

r el at i on, and l aw, accor di ng t o t he har mony of

sound and pl easi ng sensi bi l i t y. I t i s t he i nspi r i ng

of t r ue t hought , wi t h t he f i r e of f eel i ng, spont a-

nei t y of expr essi on, har mony of sound, and uni t y

of desi gn. Mi nd must al ways be t he chi ef obj ect -

mat t er of poet r y, as wel l as t he mi ght y and ski l f ul

power whi ch pr oduces i t . Ther e ar e f our t hi ngs

r equi si t e t o const i t ut e r eal poet r y, — t r ue and

compr ehensi ve concept i on, har mony of sound.

METAPHYSI CS. 103

pur i t y of expr essi on, and spont aneous, deep, and

pur e f eel i ng.

No one can expr ess t he var i ous power s, r e-

sour ces, suscept i bi l i t i es, pr ocesses, and act i ons of

mi nd, wi t hout some knowl edge of i t s nat ur e, l aws,

and condi t i ons. No one can pl ease, nor hol d a

l ong and a mi ght y i nf l uence over t he mi nd of

ot her s, unl ess he i s f ai t hf ul t o i t s char act er and

l aws. Ut i l i t y, power , and i mmut abi l i t y, ar e i n

t r ut h and f ai t hf ul ness, and what ever has not t hese

qual i t i es, must ul t i mat el y di e, t hough ot her t hi ngs

whi ch possess t hese, may shar e t he same mour nf ul

f at e ; but t he t r ue and t he f ai t hf ul have a chance t o

l i ve, and t hey have al so t r ut h on t hei r si de ; but t he

unt r ue and t he unf ai t hf ul have l aw and al l agai nst

t hei r exi st ence, whi ch make i t i mpossi bl e f or

t hem t o r emai n al ways. The or der of God i s

agai nst t he unt r ue and t he unf ai t hf ul i n knowl edge

and ar t , as wel l as i n l i f e, whi ch make i t i mpossi -

bl e f or t hem t o r emai n i n i mmor t al accept ance and

r ever ence. Thi s i s pr oved hi st or i cal l y, as wel l as

deduct i vel y on t he gr ound of abst r act t r ut h, equal i t y,

and anal ogy. The gr eat met aphysi cal poet s have

come down t o us; at l east t hose whi ch have come

down ar e most abst r use, and t hey ar e r ead and

admi r ed par t i al l y on t hat gr ound. Woul d Homer

have r et ai ned hi s power ; woul d Vi r gi l be f r esh and

vi r gi n; woul d Dant e st i l l i mpr ess us wi t h awf ul

M 2

161 PART I I I .

gr andeur , but f or t hei r met aphysi cal el ement ?

Abst r act t he met aphysi cs of Shakespear e, and al l

hi s l i f e, eccent r i ci t y, beaut y, and power , ar e f or ever

gone. Mi l t on woul d never have wr i t t en Par adi se

Lost , but f or hi s met aphysi cal br oodi ngs and

sympat hy; and t ake away t hi s el ement , and i t wi l l

Page 94 of 108

be no l onger t he spl endi d pr oduct i on of Mi l t on,

nei t her wi l l i t any l onger sway uni ver sal mi nd. The

chi ef power and char m of Wor dswor t h i s i n hi s

phi l osophi cal sympat hi es and t ouches : so i s i t t he

case i n a hi gh degr ee i n Tennyson. Many mor e,

of somewhat l ess magni t ude and gr andeur , mi ght

be ment i oned, bot h anci ent and moder n, who have

gai ned and r et ai ned t hei r power , because of t hei r

t r ut hf ul ness and f ai t hf ul ness t o t he nat ur e and

l aws of mi nd. So l ong as man i s f ai t hf ul t o hi m-

sel f and t he near est and deepest l aws of hi s

nat ur e, i t cannot be ot her wi se ; as he advances i n

t r ue knowl edge of hi msel f , he must accept what

i s f ai t hf ul t o hi s nat ur e, and r ef use and despi se

t he cont r ar y.

I t may appear as a par adox, t o say, t hat t r ue

and gr eat poet r y gr ows i n t he soi l of t r ue phi l oso-

phy, yet i t i s t r ue bot h t o t he l aw of t hi ngs and

hi st or y. The super f i ci al i n t hought can never be

spl endi d i n poet r y ; t he unt r ue and nar r ow i n

concept i on, can never be gr eat and gr and i n poet r y.

I nspi r e t he deep wi t h poet i cal f i r e, i t wi l l be bot h

METAPHY?, I CS. 165

l of t y and spl endi d ; gi ve har mony of sound and

beaut y of f or m t o t he met aphysi cal sympat hi es

and t hought s of t he mi nd, t her e wi l l f l ow out of i t

gl or i ous and i mmor t al poet r y.

10. The sci ence of et hi cs st ands i n near r el at i on

and dependence t o met aphysi cs. Et hi cs i s a sci ence

of t he mi nd i n cer t ai n of i t s r el at i ons and sympa-

t hi es. Et hi cs i s a sci ence of t he human wi l l and

mot i ves, i n r el at i on wdt l i t hei r expr essi ons and

act i ons. The sci ence of et hi cs al l t hr ough r ef er s

t o a r at i onal and account abl e nat ur e ; yet , i t s

i mmedi at e obj ect s ar e t hose power s whi ch i mme-

di at el y pr oduce and gover n t hem. These power s, —

t he wi l l , t he mot i ves, and t he af f ect i ons, ar e power s

of t he mi nd under cer t ai n condi t i ons and modi f i ca-

t i ons, and ar e known t hr ough t he expr essi ons of t he

mi nd. Et hi cs can never be possi bl e, but on t he

gr ound of mi nd ; i t cannot be under st ood and

enf or ced, but t hr ough t he phi l osophy of mi nd.

Thi ngs must be st udi ed and under st ood t hr ough

t hei r l aws, t hei r r el at i ons, and t hei r dependent s :

so must et hi cal sci ence be under st ood t hr ough met a-

physi cs, whi ch i s t he sci ence of mi nd and uni ver sal

bei ng.

11. Ment al sci ence i s near l y r el at ed t o r el i gi on,

and capabl e t o r ender t o i t t he gr eat est ser vi ce.

E/ Cl i gi on i s a br oader t hi ng t han t heol ogy : whi l st

t heol ogy vi ews r el i gi on t heor et i cal l y, and as such

166 PART I I I .

pr esent ed t o t he human i nt el l ect , r el i gi on com-

Page 95 of 108

pr ehends bot h t he r eason, t he hear t , and t he l i f e

of i t s subj ect s. Rel i gi on does not excl ude t he

t heor y, but i s based upon i t ; but i t goes beyond

and deeper , and i s mor e r eal and power f ul t han a

t heor y can be.

Bot h t he danger , power , and happi ness of

r el i gi on, i s i n t he f act , t hat i t uni t es wi t h, and

r oot s i n human f eel i ng. The chi ef danger i n

r el i gi on i s, decept i on and del usi on ; and t hi s f or

want of hi gher and cor r ect er knowl edge of t he

mi nd, and i t s l aws, and dependent s. The danger s

and ext r emes ar e of t wo ki nds ; — f anat i ci sm,

depr essi on : one i s i n aer i al del usi ve r egi on, t he

ot her i s i n t he r egi on of f og and doubt . Bot h of

t hese condi t i ons pr oceed f r om a want of hi gher

knowl edge of t he mi nd; a mor e cor r ect knowl edge

of t he phi l osophy of t he mi nd, woul d of t en cur e

bot h : i t woul d be t he means of comf or t t o t he

depr essed, and undecei ve t he f anat i st . So l ong

as ment al sci ence i s di vor ced f r om r el i gi on, and

consi der ed ant agoni st i c t o i t ; so l ong wi l l r el i gi on

i t sel f be a danger and i n danger , and men del uded

and depr essed, i gnor ant of t hei r pr i vi l eges, r el a-

t i ons, and condi t i ons. No one can f ul l y under st and

t he st at e of hi s mi nd, unl ess he knows somet hi ng

of t he l aws and phenomena of mi nd.

167

CHAPTER VI .

MET. \ PHYSI GAL DANGERS.

To say t hat t her e ar e danger s ar ound met a-

physi cs, i s t he same as may be sai d of ever y ot her

good t hi ng. What i s t her e wi t hout danger s i n

some way or ot her connect ed wi t h i t i n t hi s wor l d

of dar kness, of wr ong, and of f ol l y ? Ever y f or m

of knowl edge has some par t i cul ar f or ms of danger s,

t o whi ch i t may be pushed, or l ead unt o : even r el i -

gi on i t sel f has i t s var i ous and gr eat danger s

ar ound al l i t s t r ut hs, dut i es, and bl essi ngs ; enough

t o t est i f y t he goodness and excel l ency of any -

t hi ng, i f i t i s not i nher ent l y danger ous i n i t sel f ,

and nat ur al l y and unavoi dabl y l eads t o danger s

and r ui n.

No one can hel p many danger s t hat may sur -

r ound hi s pat h : i f t he pat h be t r ue i n i t sel f , and

t he mot i ves and means used r i ght ones, t he pat h

i n i t sel f i s r i ght , and no one shoul d di scour age t he

t r avel l er f r om wal ki ng i n i t . Many good t hi ngs ar e

i n danger f r om t he i mper f ect r el at i ons and asso-

ci at i ons of t hi s st at e of t hi ngs, and t he want of

Page 96 of 108

168 PART I I I .

pr oper qual i f i cat i ons i n t he use of t hem, or t he

t endency t o f ol l y and er r or of t he agent .

The pat h of knowl edge i n t hi s wor l d i s l i ke a

st r anger i u a st r ange count r y wi t hout ei t her map,

f i nger - post s, or mi l est ones t o di r ect hi s pat h, and

guar d hi m on t he r i ght t r ack. He i s l ef t ver y

much t o hi msel f ; he has t o consul t st ar s, and al l

he meet s wi t h ; and, af t er al l hi s i nqui r i es, he i s l ef t

much t o hi msel f . Or i t may be compar ed t o a

mar i ner on t he sea, i n const ant danger f r om

r ocks, r eef s, shoal s, f ogs, waves and t empest s, and

t hat wi t hout knowl edge of t he r out e, l at i t ude, and

char t s, and t he pr oper i nst r ument s f or such a

condi t i on. The t r avel l er and t he mar i ner have t o

use al l i n t hei r power t o r each t he end of t hei r

j our ney saf el y ; and i f t hey succeed under such

condi t i ons, i t i s a mat t er of wonder and gr at i t ude.

But i f t hey negl ect t he f ew means i n t hei r hands,

no one bl ames t he j our ney and t he voyage, but

t hei r negl ect , or t he condi t i on i n whi ch t hey wer e

pl aced. Not onl y man i s i n a danger ous condi -

t i on, but t her e i s a posi t i ve t endency i n man i n

hi s car eer af t er t r ut h, t o negl ect t he t r ue means,

and go af t er t he vai n and t he wr ong.

I n t he hand of man, t he most i nnocent t hi ng

becomes danger ous ; and t he most needf ul and

benef i ci al i n i t sel f , t he means of mi ser y and of

deat h. Fi r e i s a good t hi ng i n i t sel f ; but i t may

METAPHYSI CS. 169

he made, i n t he hand of human nat ur e and wi ck-

edness, a most dest r uct i ve i nst r ument . Books ar e

usef ul and needf ul t hi ngs i n t hemsel ves ; but

of t en t hey ar e t he channel s of wr ong i mpr essi on

and f al sehood. A hundr ed t hi ngs may be named

as good and essent i al l y needf ul i n t hemsel ves, yet

i n t he hand of man t hey become bad and dan-

ger ous ; and i f phi l osophy wer e not capabl e of t he

same abuse, i t woul d be bot h unaccount abl e and

i ncr edi bl e. The bet t er anyt hi ng i s, gr eat er i s i t s

danger of bei ng abused by man : because t he sym-

pat hy and mot i ves of men ar e of t en bel ow t he

l evel of a ver y pur e good t hi ng ; and i f abused at al l ,

by t he ext r eme cont r ast i t appear s al l t he gr eat er

evi l , and i s r eal l y so. A wi se t hi ng, i f abused, i s

al l t he gr eat er f ool i shness ; and a l of t y t hi ng, i f i t

f al l s, has a gr eat er f al l and cr ash, t han a l ower

and a meaner t hi ng. Phi l osophy, i f i t i s made an

i nst r ument of abuse at al l , becomes mor e danger -

ous because of i t s super i or power ; and appear s al l

t he mor e vi si bl e and ext r eme, on account of i t s

i nher ent excel l ency and super i or i t y of power .

Phi l osophy must be vi ewed i n t wo ways, — as a

t hi ng whi ch i nf l uences t he mi nds and l i ves of

Page 97 of 108

men, and as a t hi ng act ed upon and moul ded

by men. I t i s a t hi ng devel oped and r e-

duced i nt o syst em by human mi nds. On t he

ot her hand, i t i s an i nst r ument whi ch devel opes

170 PART I I I .

and per f ect s t he human mi nd i n ski l l and power

i n t he sear ch af t er t r ut h. The danger of phi l o-

sophy may be ei t her t o i t sel f , or t o ot her s, as

we vi ew and consi der i t . As an obj ect , i t may

be mi sconcei ved, mal t r eat ed, wr ongl y f or med and

cor r upt ed ; as a power , i t may mi sl ead, def or m,

and i nj ur e t hose whom i t t hus moul ds and

gover ns. These ar e t wo di f f er ent i nqui r i es ; yet

t hey bear an i nt i mat e necessar y r el at i on t o each

ot her . I f phi l osophy i s cor r upt ed as an obj ect , i t

cannot but i nj ur e as an i nst r ument al power :

agai n, i f i t s i nf l uence upon i t s subj ect s i s nat ur al l y

and necessar i l y an evi l one, t he same i nf l uence has

a r ef l ex upon i t sel f .

Fi r st , What ar e t he danger s phi l osophy i s

exposed t o as an obj ect , i f any ? I n t hi s r espect

phi l osophy does not escape t he l ot of al l t hi ngs i n

t hi s l i f e. Al l good and i nnocent t hi ngs ar e i n

danger f r om some sour ce, i n one way or ot her . The

happi est pr ospect may be bl i ght ed, t he pur est

f l ower may be dest r oyed, t he nobl est or gani sm

may be def or med, and t he most usef ul l i f e may be

spoi l ed and mal t r eat ed. For t hi s an obj ect i s not

r esponsi bl e i t sel f , ot her s must answer f or t he mi s -

doi ng. Per haps i n no depar t ment of knowl edge

i s t he f amous sayi ng of Pope, t hat a l i t t l e l ear ni ng

i s a danger ous t hi ng, mor e appl i cabl e t han i n t hat

of phi l osophy ; f or t he r easons t hat i t s power s ar e so

METAPHYSI CS. 171

gr eat ; t he r esour ces r equi r ed t o under st and and

appr eci at e i t so var i ous ; and no one can be a com-

pet ent j udge of i t s t r ut h and val ue, unl ess he gr asps

t he whol e, and t hat f r om al l poi nt s i n al l possi bl e

r el at i ons.

Ther e ar e var i ous ways i n whi ch i t i s possi bl e t l

i nf l i ct i nj ur y upon t he pur i t y and si mpl i ci t y of al l

f or ms of knowl edge, so upon phi l osophy t he same.

1. One way i s, by mi xi ng wi t h i t s t r ut hs mer e

human opi ni on, so t hat i n t he l ong r un t r adi t i onal

el ement s ar e est abl i shed, and become mor e pr o-

mi nent and power f ul t han t he demonst r at i ve and

t r ue. 2. I t i s possi bl e t o make i t t he end of

human t hought and pur pose, r at her t han t he

means and condi t i on t o advance and cul t i vat e t he

human mi nd : maki ng i t a ki nd of an absol ut e

i dea, r at her t han t he pat h t o t he t r ue al t ar , and

t he l adder t o t he one God and t r ut h. 3. Or

maki ng i t t he shel t er of pr ej udi ce or sect ar i ani sm ;

f or t her e may be par t y and dogmat i cal t heor i es i n

Page 98 of 108

phi l osophy as t her e ar e i n r el i gi on. When par t y

vi ews and dogmat i cal t heor i es ar e gr af t ed on pr e-

t ended phi l osophy, and shel t er ed by i t s name and

power , t hey become i nvul ner abl e ; and human

advancement an i mpossi bi l i t y. Such ar e a f ew of

t he ways ment al sci ence i s i n danger , vi ewi ng i t

obj ect i vel y, and has even t hus suf f er ed at t he hand

of men r epeat edl y.

172 PART I I I .

Secondl y, I s pl i i l osophy i n danger as an i nst r u-

ment al power ? i f i t i s, i n what way, and what i s

i t ? Phi l osoi ) hy i s a gr eat power wi el ded by t he

human i nt el l ect ; i nt ended t o advance t he i nt er est

of man, but capabl e of bei ng abused i nt o au

i nst r ument of def or mi t y and i nj ur y. I n or der t o

avoi d t hi s dan" ; er and t o t he r i ght use of t hi s

spl endi d i nst r ument , i t i s needf ul t o know t he cha-

r act er of t he danger , and v. her e i t l i es. I t i s not

an uncondi t i onal necessi t y, but a t hi ng t hat may

be avoi ded and cur ed by knowl edge of t he wr ong

and r i ght ; and pr act i se one, and avoi d t he ot her .

The danger of phi l osophy i s common t o al l sub-

l unar y t hi ngs. Money i s made t o f aci l i t at e t he com-

f or t and advancement of manki nd ; but of t en by t he

use whi ch i s made of i t , t he advancement and

happi ness of t he r ace ar e obst r uct ed by i t . Li ght

i s good, and i nt ended t o ser ve vi r t ue, and i n al l

ways i ncr ease t he happi ness and advance t he i nt er -

est s of t he whol e uni ver se ; but i n t he hand of

man i t i s made t o ser ve hi s sel f i sh cupi di t y, and

cor r upt and mean pur poses.

1. One of t he danger s of phi l osophy i s, of bei ng

made an i nst r ument i n t he hand of man t o spr ead

and suppor t human cr eeds and opi ni ons, so t hat by

i t s assi st ance t hey become mor e pot ent and i nvul ne-

r abl e. Of t en has phi l osophy been t hus degr aded

i nt o a mean i nst r ument t o per pet uat e dar kness

and wr ong, i nst ead of car r yi ng out her or i gi nal

METAPHYSI CS. 173

and nat ur al mi ssi on, di scover i ng t r ut h, spr eadi ng

l i ght , knowl edge, and l i ber t y, i n her t r ai n ever y -

wher e among men. The moment phi l osophy i s

t hus degr aded t o suppor t and spr ead human cr eeds

and opi ni ons, i t i s depr i ved of i t s l i ber t y, di gni t y,

and hi gh end and posi t i on, and i s no l onger

wor t hy of t he name.

2. Phi l osophy may be al so i n danger of devot i ng

her ener gy, or amusi ng her sel f on t r i vi al quest i ons

whi ch ar e i n t hemsel ves of l i t t l e or of no i mpor t -

ance t o manki nd ; or spendi ng her ener gi es over

quest i ons whi ch ar e not wi t hi n t he pr ovi nce of

human knowl edge t o under st and i n t hi s v/ or l d ; and

i f known woul d not pr omot e man^ s usef ul ness or

Page 99 of 108

happi ness. The hi st or y of phi l osophy i n t he

Mi ddl e Ages, and of t he Al exandr i an School s of

Phi l osophy, shows wi t hout a doubt t he possi bi l i t y

at l east of t hi s r esul t .

3. I t may be ment i oned as anot her possi bl e

r esul t whi ch phi l osophy may f al l i nt o, t he mag-

ni f yi ng of human r eason above i t s t r ue l evel .

Phi l osophy i s a syst em of r eason; i t begi ns and

ends wi t h r eason. Ther e i s a t endency i n t he zeal

of men t o push opi ni ons and t heor i es t o ext r emes.

The obj ect s of our pl easur e and ambi t i on ar e i n

danger of bei ng magni f i ed at t he expense of ot her

t hi ngs, — such i s r eason wi t h t he phi l osopher . Some

r el i gi ous syst ems depr eci at e human r eason, and

174 PART I I I .

make i t a wor se and a f eebl er t hi ng t han i t i s.

Now, of t he t wo ext r emes, i t i s bet t er and mor e

hopef ul f or manki nd t o magni f y human r eason,

t han al ways t o depr eci at e i t s power , and di scour age

i t s act i on. To depr eci at e human r eason i s di s-

cour agi ng and enf eebl i ng ; t o magni f y i t i s bot h

encour agi ng and st r engt heni ng. Reason i s t he

best t hi ng we have ; i t shoul d be f ed and encou-

r aged, di r ect ed and cul t i vat ed, f or t he advancement

of t he uni ver se, t he good of man hi msel f , and t he

honour of God.

I t i s an unwar r ant abl e concl usi on t o say, t hat

phi l osophy, even i n her ext r eme magni f yi ng of

human r eason, l eads t o di r ect and necessar y i nf i -

del i t y. The magni f yi ng of r eason i n man does not

l ogi cal l y l ead t o t he concl usi on, t hat t her e i s no

hi gher r eason; i t r at her exal t s our vi ew of t he

i nf i ni t e r eason i n t he Di vi ne. Unl ess phi l osophy

dei f i es human r eason and makes i t absol ut e and

f i nal , i t cannot l ead t o i nf i del i t y, but t he cont r ar y.

Not hi ng but unnat ur al and st r ai ned concl usi on

can asser t , t hat a syst em of human r eason l eads

necessar i l y t o i nf i del i t y. I t may l ead t o r at i onal i sm,

and r at i onal i sm cr i t i ci ze t he r el i gi ous syst ems of

men, and f i nd t hem want i ng; but t he r at i onal i st may

be as devout and si ncer e i n hi s at t achment t o t r ut h,

God, and Hi s gover nment , as t he most r el i gi ous

zeal ot , and t hat , i n hi s own vi ew, on a hi gher and

METAPHYSI CS. 175

mor e r easonabl e gr ound. I t may become a syst em

of pur e r eason, hence of pur e cr i t i ci sm : i t may

cr i t i ci ze t he Bi bl e, and even f i nd i t , accor di ng t o

i t s own st andar d, want i ng : i t does not f ol l ow even

t hen t hat i t i s r eal l y i nf i del ; i t may even under

t hat condi t i on be t r ue i n i t s f ai t h and al l egi ance

t o God, t he i nf i ni t e Sour ce of t r ut h and r eason.

Ther e i s an i nf i ni t e t endency i n t he r el i gi ous sys -

t ems of men of ever y age and par t y, t o make al l

men who dar e t o cr i t i ci ze t he common dogmas of

Page 100 of 108

her edi t ar y bel i ef s, i nf i del s ; hence phi l osopher s

wi l l be al ways l i abl e t o be t hus accused, because

t hey dar e t o t hi nk i ndependent l y, and cr i t i ci ze

f r eel y t he opi ni ons of men. So l ong as men wi l l t hus

nar r owl y and unchar i t abl y accuse one anot her of

i nf i del i t y, because t hey t hi nk and r eason above

t hei r f el l ows, i t wi l l never go wel l wi t h human

r eason, r el i gi on, and soci et y.

But t he danger i n magni f yi ng human r eason t oo

hi ghl y i s, t o r ef use br i ght er l i ght , whi ch i s hi gher

and beyond t he pr ovi nce of r eason t o di scover , whi ch

wi t hal may agr ee wi t h human r eason, as t he beast

agr ees wi t h man, onl y di f f er ent i n t he scal e of degr ee.

To make human r eason t he absol ut e t est of bel i ef , i s

as unphi l osophi cal as i t i s i ncor r ect i n l ogi c and ex -

per i ence : we ever y day i n l i f e meet t hi ngs whi ch we

cannot under st and and expl ai n, and phi l osophy i t -

sel f ends her j our ney i n enl i ght ened i gnor ance.

176 PART I I I .

4. Fr om t he f act of t he sovei ' ei gn super i or i t y of

phi l osophy, she i s i u danger of becomi ug t oo i n-

f al l i bl e i n t one, and absol ut e i n her concl usi ons.

I t i s i n t he nat ur e of al l t hi ngs, as t hey r i se i n

power and r esour ces, t o exer ci se, unl ess checked,

an absol ut e sway and i ndi sput abl e r i ght t o di ct at e

and gover n. Phi l osophy r equi r es al ways t o r e-

mi nd her sel f , t hat human r eason i s at best a

f al l i bl e t hi ng, and t he best concl usi ons i n human

r easoni ng may be at f aul t . She wi l l al ways need t o

exer ci se much pat i ence and pi t y over t he common

dul ness of mauki ud gener al l y. She must be hum-

bl e on one hand, and pat i ent and f or bear i ng on

t he ot her .

Phi l osophy may become dogmat i cal as v/ cU as

t heol ogy ; when t hat i s t he case, i t f or get s i t s

f unct i on, and i s no l onger phi l osophy ; and becomes

i nj ur i ous i n i t s educat i on upon man, i nst ead of

benef i ci al t o hi s power s, happi ness, and usef ul ness.

The vocat i on of phi l osophy i s t o st r engt hen, ex -

pand, and cor r ect t he human i nt el l ect , and t hat by

exer ci se i n t r ue and l of t y subj ect s, and enl i ght ened

and f ai t hf ul gui dance. AMi en phi l osophy makes

syst ems synonymous wi t h t r ut h, def i ni t i ons as i n-

f al l i bl e axi oms, and concl usi ons as t r ue beyond

doubt and i mpr ovement ; i t shut s up t he pat h

of pr ogr ess, makes r easoni ng usel ess, and set t l es

down i n ease as i f al l t he wor k wer e done. I n

METAPHYSI CS, 177

such a condi t i on, her i nf l uence woul d be enf eebl i ng

and di sast r ous, upon al l her di sci pl es. Such a

pass i s onl y possi bl e, not pr obabl e, t o f al l upon t he

whol e t o t he l ot of phi l osophy ; i t i s adver se t o i t s

ver y nat ur e and i nt ent i on, and t her e wi l l be al -

ways some spl endi d spi r i t s, who wi l l br eak t hr ough

Page 101 of 108

human concl usi ons, and t est t r ut h by a hi gher l aw

and sur er cr i t er i on. Ther e wi l l be al ways some

Mi ner va i n phi l osophy t o t est and l ead t he human

i nt el l ect t o some ol i vel i ke f r eshness, pr ogr ess, and

vi ct or y.

178

CHAPTER YI I .

THE ENCOURAGEMENTS AND DI SCOURAGEMENTS WHI CH MEET

THE STUDENT OF METAI ' HYSI CS.

Thi ngs vi ewed i ndi f f er ent r el at i ons and aspect s,

af f ect us var i ousl y and di f f er ent l y ; t hey of t en

pr esent t hemsel ves di scour agi ngl y and encour ag-

i ngl y t o our vi ew at t he same t i me ; vi ewi ng t he

spi r i t ual , t he heavenl y, and t he et er nal , i n t he

l i ght of t he ear t hl y, t he mat er i al , and pr esent

pl easur es, t hey appear i n a di scour aged l i ght and

aspect . Goodness appear s di scour agi ngl y t o t he

sel f i sh and bad ; l abour i s wi t hout at t r act i on, and

a t r oubl e, t o t he i dl e ; cul t ur e and knowl edge have

t hei r di scour agi ng aspect s t o t he sensual i st , t he

mat er i al i st , and t he sl ot hf ul ; whi l st t o ot her s, of

di f f er ent vi ews and sympat hi es, t hey appear

encour agi ng and at t r act i ve.

The t r ue and t he r i ght , when vi ewed t hr ough

t hei r t r ue medi ums and i n t hei r nat ur al r el at i ons,

have no di scour agi ng aspect s. When t he t r ue

appear s di scour agi ngl y t o us, t her e i s somet hi ng

M' r ong i n our vi ews, sent i ment s, or i n our gr ound

METAPHYSI CS. 179

and medi um of spect at i on. The t r ue and t he

f al se never cor r espond ; t he Di vi ne and t he human

do not al ways agr ee ; some t hi ngs appear en-

cour agi ng t o- day, but i n t hei r r el at i on wi t h t he

f ut ur e di scour agi ng ; ot her s f ul l of encour agement s

i n t he l i ght of t he f ut ur e, but di scour agi ng i n t hei r

pr esent aspect s and r el at i ons. Ther e ar e t hi ngs

whi ch appear f ul l of encour agement s i n r el at i on t o

ear t h and t i me, but ot her wi se i n r el at i on t o

heaven and et er ni t y ; t her e ar e ot her s whi ch

appear at t r act i ve and gl or i ous i n t he l i ght of

heaven and et er ni t y, but not so i n t i me and

t he wor l d. As men and r el at i ons di f f er , and as

t he wr ong i n char act er and r el at i on exi st s as wel l

as t he r i ght , what i s di scour agi ng t o some i n

cer t ai n pl ace and r el at i on i s encour agi ng t o ot her s,

i n di f f er ent pl ace and r el at i on.

Ther e i s no f or m of knowl edge wi t hout i t s

aspect s of di scour agement t o some, and f r om cer -

t ai n condi t i ons and r el at i ons i n l i f e ; i ndeed, t he

best and br i ght est t hi ng i n t he wor l d, i s f ul l of

Page 102 of 108

di scour agement t o some. The di scour agement s

whi ch t he t r ue and r i ght have, i s ei t her sent i -

ment al , or convent i onal , bl i nd, or sel f i sh, whi ch can-

not st and t he t est of l i ght , nor bear t o be wei ghed

i n an even bal ance. Thi ngs must be t est ed i n

t hei r char act er s and r esul t s, and not accor di ng t o

t he di scour agement s whi ch t hey pr esent t o many.

N 3

380 f ART I I I .

I n t hi s wor l d t he good as wel l as t he bad has i t s

di scour agement s t o many, and even much mor e.

Di scour agement i s a t est of not hi ng but of t he

di f f er ent sent i ment s and vi ews whi ch gover n

i ndi vi dual s. When vi ewed i u r ef er ence t o met a-

physi cal knowl edge, i t onl y shows t he di f f er ent

vi ews and f eel i ngs of per sons r el at i ve t o i t : i t s

char act er and ut i l i t y must be t est ed el sewher e.

I n or der t o under st and t hi ngs cor r ect l y, t he

char act er and sour ce of t he encour agement s and

di scour agement s must be under st ood. I f t he

sour ce i s good and t he mot i ve r i ght , t he encour age-

ment i s good i n nat ur e, and t he obj ect of i t cannot

be wr ong. Tr ut h and r eason encour age t he same

i n char act er as t hemsel ves; t he f al se and t he

bl i nd encour age t hei r ki nd al i ke. I t i s an evi dence

of goodness t hat i t i s encour aged by t he good, and

t hat i n t he degr ee of t he knowl edge and per f ect i on

of t he sour ce of encour agement : so wi t h t he bad

and t he wr ong. I f t he encour agement i s r at i onal

and t r ue, t he t hi ng t hus encour aged cannot be

unr easonabl e and f al se ; on t he cont r ar y, i f t he

encour agement be gr oundl ess and f ei nt , t he t hi ng

t hus encour aged cannot be st r ong and wel l

gr ounded.

I t i s beyond t he l i mi t and pur pose of t hi s

chapt er t o speak of di scour agement s par t i cul ar l y,

and i n det ai l ; t he obj ect i s t o poi nt out si mpl y

METAPHYSI CS. 181

some of t he l eadi ng di scour agement s and en-

cour agement s, connect ed wi t h ment al sci ence ; and

t hi s mor e as mat t er of suggest i on t han of det ai l .

Encour agement s and di scour agement s ar e ei t her

mat er i al , i nt el l ect ual , pol i t i cal , mor al , or r el i gi ous.

Al l ar e i n t he obj ect or i n t he agent ; or i n t he

r el at i ons and ci r cumst ances whi ch ar e bet ween t he

t wo. I n t hei r char act er t hey ar e ei t her absol ut e

or condi t i onal : i n r el at i on t hey ar e ei t her per sonal

or r el at i ve. Ever y f or m of encour agement or

di scour agement , i n i t s i nt r i nsi c char act er i s nat ur al

or convent i onal , ci r cumst ant i al or r eal , i n t he

nat ur e and r el at i on of t hi ngs as t hey appear i n

t hemsel ves, or i n t he t hought s, habi t s, pr ej udi ces,

and super f i ci al condi t i ons of men. These var i ous

Page 103 of 108

f or ms of encour agement s and di scour agement s,

t hough possessi ng somet hi ng i n common, have

wi t hal t hei r own pecul i ar f eat ur es and char act er ,

whi ch cannot her e be f ul l y devel oped i nt o t hei r

l egi t i mat e det ai l .

I t i s shown i n some of t he pr ecedi ng pages, t hat

ment al sci ence i s a necessi t y ; hence al l t he di scou-

r agement s whi ch may appear agai nst i t ar e conven-

t i onal , pr oceedi ng f r om habi t s and pr ej udi ces, whi ch

men have wr ongl y acqui r ed. I f ment al sci ence be

a necessi t y, i t al so f ol l ows, t hat i t must have r eal

encour agement f or i t s pr osecut i on ; f or ever y t hi ng

t r ue has encour agement s bot h i n i t sel f and r esul t s.

183 PART I I I .

I ndeed, i t i s a suf f i ci ent encour agement t o t he

t r ue i n convi ct i on and mot i ve, t o be convi nced of

t he t r ut h of a t hi ng, t o pur sue i t wi t h pl easur e and

ear nest ness. Hi s ai m i s l of t i er t han human pl eas-

i ng; hi s convi ct i on i s deeper t han men' s opi ni on.

He does not pur sue t hi ngs because t hey ar e ap-

pr oved of by t he maj or i t y, nei t her does he r el i n-

qui sh hi s per sever ance because t he mul t i t ude

happen t o be agai nst hi m. He per sever es under a

convi ct i on of t he need, t he t r ut h, and i mpor t ance

of t he t hi ng i n vi ew ; and i f he r el i nqui shes t he t ask,

i t i s because he has r ecei ved mor e l i ght and di f -

f er ent convi ct i ons, or hi s r esour ces and power s have

f ai l ed hi m, hence t he obj ect unat t ai ned and hopel ess.

I t may be ment i oned as one di scour agement i n

t he vi ew of many, i t r equi r es st r onger power s and

gr eat er appl i cat i on i n i t s pur sui t , t han i n ot her

br anches of knowl edge. The easy i s pl easi ng t o

nat ur al f eel i ng, whi l st t he har d i s i r ksome and

avoi ded. Men pr ef er t he sur f ace t o t he dept h, t he

smoot h t o t he har d, t he easi l y at t ai ned t o t he

ar duous and t he di f f i cul t . I n t he pur sui t of know-

l edge, qual i t y i s not consi der ed so much as quant i t y ;

r eal val ue i s not desi r ed so much as ease and

pl easur e i n t he pur sui t ; ul t i mat e r esul t s ar e not

so much a mat t er of cal cul at i on and mot i ve, as

t he ease of t he means and t he sacr i f i ce r equi r ed i n

t he acqui si t i on.

METAPHYSI CS. 183

The det ai l s of l i f e i n t he smal l bi ogr aphi es of t he

day ar e r ead ext ensi vel y wi t h avi di t y ; pol i t i cal

and commer ci al dai l y occur r ences ar e l ooked f or

and r ead by t he mi l l i on ; gener al hi st or y, whi ch

never r equi r es hi gh power s of i nt el l ect t o r ead, has

i t s numer ous cl ass of r eader s and st udent s ; t he

r el i gi ous, sent i ment al , and dogmat i cal l i t er at ur e of

ever y age and count r y, have had a l ar ge pl ace i n

t he mi nds and hear t s of men. Most br anches i n

mat er i al sci ence do not r equi r e t he hi ghest ment al

power s and appl i cat i on t o advance, and i n some de-

Page 104 of 108

gr ee at l east t o succeed i n t hem. Not so i n ment al

sci ence : i n or der t o succeed i n any degr ee, t her e

ar e r equi r ed hi gh power and l ong and gr eat appl i -

cat i on. Ther e ar e r equi r ed pi er ci ng i nsi ght , pa-

t i ent concent r at i on, acut e anal ysi s, compr ehensi ve

gr asp, i ndependent t hought , and hi gh conf i dence i n

t he l aws of bei ng and human power s. Not so i n

mat er i al sci ence and ot her f or ms of knowl edge :

hence t hey at t r act mor e at t ent i on and admi r er s

t han t hi s t hei r super i or si st er . Ment al sci ence

r equi r es ear nest t hi nki ng, whi l st ot her f or ms of

knowl edge ar e acqui r ed wi t h moder at e and l ei sur el y

t oi l i ng : hence many gi ve i t up i n di scour agement

and despai r , and t ur n t o ot her s mor e easy and

congeni al wi t h t hei r vi ews and f eel i ngs.

The r esul t i n met aphysi cal st udy i s not so

vi si bl e and i mmedi at e as i n most ot her depar t -

184 PART I I I .

i nent s of l a] ; our : hence a sour ce of di scour age-

ment t o t he f ai nt and t i mi d st udent . I n physi cal

sci ence, and ot her pat hs of l i t er ar y t oi l , t he r e-

sul t s gener al l y ar e i mmedi at e and vi si bl e t o al l ; so

t he r ewar d i s sur e, and somet hi ng equal t o t he

ef f or t and sacr i f i ce made. Not so wi t h t he st udent

of ment al sci ence : he has t o t oi l wi t hout bei ng

r ecogni sed as a common benef act or ; he has t o

spend hi s ef f or t s Avi t hout seei ng t angi bl e r esul t s

cl ear and di st i nct , as i n physi cal sci ence, t o hi s

ef f or t s. The r esul t of met aphysi cal sci ence ope-

r at es di r ect l y upon t he mi nd i t sel f , and t hat i s not

seen and acknowl edged by men gener al l y, accor d-

i ng t o i t s r eal val ue. Met aphysi cs l abour s deeper

and ant er i or t o ot her f or ms of knowl edge, so

sci ence i n gener al i s mor e i ndebt ed t o i t t han i t

wi l l acknowl edge ; f or men gener al l y concer n t hem-

sel ves about t angi bl e r esul t s, and ar e car el ess and

bl i nd t o t he i nvi si bl e oper at i ve causes behi nd t he

scenes. I n t hi s wor l d t he mat er i al and t he t angi bl e

ar e ever appr eci at ed above t he ment al and t he i n-

vi si bl e ; so r el i gi on and ment al sci ence ar e est i mat ed

l ower t han t hose t hi ngs whi ch di r ect l y concer n t he

mat er i al of l i f e.

The end and val ue of met aphysi cs ar e i n t he

f act t hat t hey ar e i ndi r ect and sl ow i n t hei r

r esul t ; t hus t hei r r eal usef ul ness i s accom-

pl i shed : but t hi s demands at t he hand of

METAPHYSI CS. 185

t he st udent gr eat er pat i ence, f or t i t ude^ and per -

sever ance.

Ther e i s anot her di scour agi ng aspect i n t he pat h

of t he met aphysi cal st udent ; he has t o pur sue hi s

wor k i n gr eat er i sol at i on t han most ot her st u-

dent s. Men gener al l y l i ke t o wor k and t r avel i n

Page 105 of 108

company, and t hat speci al l y when t he t oi l i s har d

and di scour agi ng, and t he j our ney f ar and di l Gf i -

cul t . Men r equi r e i n al l t he har d and needf ul

t oi l of l i f e, mut ual encour agement and suppor t ;

whi ch t hey ar e abl e t o gi ve one t o anot her . When

t oi l i ng and t r avel l i ng t oget her , t hey possess t he

same ai m and aspi r at i on, and ar e consci ous of t he

same doubt s and di f f i cul t i es ; whi l st t he l onesome

t r avel l er and wor ker ar e depr i ved of t hem. The

pat hs t o ot her sci ences ar e not so di f f i cul t , and t he

wor k not so har d ; t he devot ees ar e f ound i n

l ar ger compani es ; hence, have mor e mut ual

i nt er cour se and encour agement . The met aphy-

si cal st udent has t o t r avel of t en an unknown pat h

al one ; and pur sue a har d wor k si ngl e- handed :

he has not many compani ons t o encour age, no

mul t i t ude of admi r er s t o cheer hi m on. To pur -

sue hi s wor k wi t h di l i gence and success, he

r equi r es no or di nar y measur e of sel f - posses-

si on, det er mi nat i on, ear nest ness, and devot ed

per sever ance.

Not onl y has t he st udent of met aphysi cs t o

186

PART I I I .

t r avel much al one, but he has per pet ual l y t o

meet t he suspi ci on and t he st r eam of opposi t e

sympat hy. The vul gar gener al l y have nei t her

concept i on of t he end and meani ng of t he sci ence,

nor any sympat hy and at t achment f or i t ; t he

l eadi ng devot ees of mat er i al sci ence, and ot her

br anches of l ear ni ng gener al l y, have a ki nd of sus -

pi ci on and aver si on t o i t whi ch t hey do not f ai l t o

show when occasi on ser ves. No one needs such

i ndependence of convi ct i on, i ndomi t abl e cour age,

and si ngl e and l of t y ai m, as t he st udent of met a-

physi cs. The sci ence has f ewer pat r ons and mor e

opposi t i on, because l ess under st ood and mor e

negl ect ed t han ot her s : f or t hese and ot her r easons,

t her e ar e hi gher qual i f i cat i ons necessar y t o pur sue

i t successf ul l y.

The sci ence of mi nd has pecul i ar encour age-

ment s t o of f er , as wel l as her di scour agement s t o

al l her si ncer e and f ai t hf ul st udent s. Al l t r ue

obj ect s of pur sui t have at t r act i ons and encour age-

ment s i n common ; but t her e ar e pecul i ar at t r ac-

t i ons and i nducement s of f er ed by some, ei t her i n

magni t ude, qual i t y, or some pecul i ar advant ages

and usef ul ness, whi ch encour age and suppor t t he

t oi l of st udy. Men vi ew di f f er ent obj ect s f r om

t hei r own st andpoi nt of spect at i on, and t hr ough

t he medi um of t hei r own sympat hi es and sent i -

ment s, so t hat of t en what i s pecul i ar l y encour agi ng

Page 106 of 108

METAPHYSI CS. 187

and at t r act i ve t o one i s t he r ever se t o t he ot her .

So l ong as men di f f er i n power s, posi t i ons,

i nt er est s, and f eel i ngs, and t he i nf l uences whi ch

moul d and gover n t hei r l i ves ar e so wi del y di f f er -

ent , t he vi ews and concl usi ons of men wi l l be

wi del y at var i ance, r el at i ve t o cer t ai n obj ect s of

ambi t i on and pur sui t .

As t he advant ages of met aphysi cs have been

al r eady par t l y shown i n a chapt er of t hi s vol ume,

i t i s al l t he l ess needf ul her e t o dwel l at gr eat

l engt h on t he encour agement s of t he st udy. But

i t i s not i nt ended her e, mor e t han j ust t o i nt i mat e i n

a f ew sent ences t he encour agement s of t he sub-

j ect , mor e as a mat t er of consi st ency and har mony

of pl an, t han of absol ut e necessi t y and exhaust i ve

r easoni ng.

The sci ence of met aphysi cs has at t r act i on t o a

cl ass of mi nds, because i t deal s wi t h t he hi ghest

and most di f f i cul t obj ect s and l aws of t hought ;

whi ch i s i n t he i nver se t o t he di scour agement s i t

pr esent s t o most mi nds. Ther e i s a cl ass of mi nds

ever ywher e, t hat i s i mpat i ent of t he or di nar y

r out i ne of l i f e ; t hey l i ve i n di f f er ent r egi ons ;

t hey seek new pat hs, and t r avel i n a way pecul i ar

t o t hemsel ves ; and ar e never sat i sf i ed but among

t he di f f i cul t , t he l of t y, and t he unknown ; l i ke spi -

r i t ed boys, mor e vent ur esome t han t hei r comr ades,

cl i mbi ng t o di zzy pl aces, or car r yi ng t hei r spor t s

188

PART I I I .

beyond t hei r sympat hi es and capabi l i t i es : or l i ke

ent er pr i si ng men i n di f f er ent depar t ment s of t he

busi ness of l i f e, who ext end t hei r l i nes of oper a-

t i ons beyond t he dar i ng and even t he t hought of

common- pl ace men. So ar e cer t ai n mi uds ; t hey

r i se t o di zzy al t i t udes; t hey di ver ge f r om t he

or di nar y pat h ; t hey si nk deeper t han or di nar y

t hi nker s ; t hey want t o know somet hi ng t hat has

not been f ound out and known bef or e. The f or ce of

t hei r geni us and t he maj est y of t hei r power push

t hem f or war d : t hei r r est l ess ener gy, t hei r daunt -

l ess spi r i t , t hei r i ndomi t abl e cour age, t hei r bound-

l ess r esour ces, t hei r l of t y ai m, pi er ci ng t hought ,

and gr eat power , make t hem unf i t compani ons f or

t he maj or i t y i n l i f e, and of necessi t y, because of

t hei r gr eat super i or i t y, t hey ar e obl i ged t o wal k

t he pat h of sci ence al one. I n vai n you t el l t hem

i t i s danger ous, usel ess, pr ohi bi t ed by mandat es

and decr ees, and wast e of st r engt h and r esour ces.

Page 107 of 108

You cannot pr event t hem by al l t hr eat eni ng or

per suasi on; t hey consul t no pl an of pr udent i al

et i quet t e ; t hey adher e t o no ci r cumst ant i al i nf l u-

ences ; t hey br eak t hr ough al l pr ohi bi t i on and

associ at i onal di f f i cul t i es. They f ol l ow t he deep

l aw of t hei r nat ur e ; t hey submi t t o t hei r own

i nwar d mi ght y power ; t he cur r ent st r eam of t hei r

t hought s br eaks over al l ar t i f i ci al boundar i es.

METAPHYSI CS. 189

The i nexhaust i bl e char act er of t he st udy i s sui t -

abl e and an i nducement t o an i mmor t al aspi r at i on

t o pur sue i t . Many ot her f or ms of knowl edge,

ei t her on account of t hei r l i mi t , or because of

t hei r char act er , may be super seded and l ef t behi nd,

as unf i t any l onger f or t hought and pur sui t : but

t he sci ence of mi nd, of cause, of bei ng, and of

t he i nf i ni t e, wi l l never be super seded. I t i s

boundl ess i n i t s obj ect - mat t er ; i nher ent i n t he

human mi nd ; and t he spi r i t ual i t y of i t s char act er

makes i t f i t f or t he hi gher nat ur e, and t he endl ess

condi t i on and r el at i ons of man. I n t hi s st udy,

man al ways car r i es wi t h hi m a consci ousness of t he

i nexhaust i bl e, of t he boundl ess, of t he absol ut e,

and of t he i nf i ni t e ; whi ch ar e bef i t t i ng condi t i ons

as count er par t s of hi s need and nat ur e.

The st udy i n i t s r esul t s gi ves pecul i ar advant age

t o t he mi nd of i t s st udent s. I t t eaches t he l i mi t s of

human t hought ; hence i t pr eser ves f r om pr esump-

t i on, checks pr i de, and t eaches humi l i t y. As i t has

al r eady been i nt i mat ed i n a f or mer page ; i t

expands and st r engt hens t he power s of t he mi nd,

by communi on wi t h pur e and l of t y t hought s,

vi gor ous act i vi t y, and r ef l ex i nf l uence. On t hi s

gr ound as wel l as on ot her s, i t of l er s pecul i ar

at t r act i ons t o al l who aspi r e af t er t he devel opment

of t hei r hi ghest nat ur e.

I t i s a nat ur al st udy sui t abl e t o t he r at i onal

190 PART 111.

nat ur e of man. Ther e can be not hi ng mor e

congeni al and nat ur al t han t he st udy of our sel ves,

t he l aws, t he r el at i ons, and cause of our bei ng ;

and t he l aws and causes of uni ver sal phenomena

of mi nd. The st udy does not depend upon t he

super f i ci al condi t i ons of l i f e ; i t can be pur sued

under al l t he condi t i ons of l i f e, f or al l car r y wi t h

t hem al ways t hei r consci ousness ; t hey have ever

ar ound t hem t he phenomena of mi nd.

Pi ual l y, i n t hi s st udy t her e ar e pecul i ar char ms

and i nt er est s, and t hat wi t hi n t he r each of al l

devot ed st udent s. I t pr oduces a deep i mpr essi on

of t he i ndi vi dual i dent i t y of t he mi nd ; of t he

super i or i t y of our spi r i t ual nat ur e ; of t he

hi gh pur pose of our bei ng ; and of t he power

Page 108 of 108

and r esour ces of our nat ur e. I t br i ngs t he mi nd

i nt o const ant communi on wi t h t he spi r i t ual and

t he hi gher condi t i on of bei ng; i t i mpr esses t he

mi nd wi t h t he exi st ence, t he wi sdom, t he goodness,

and t he desi gns of t he I nf i ni t e. I t r ai ses t he

mi nd t o a wor l d above t he pr esent ; and t o a

subl i mer and a happi er condi t i on of bei ng. The

t r ansi ent i s l ost i n t he const ant ; t he mat er i al f or -

got t en i n t he spi r i t ual ; t he soul f or get s t he mean

and smal l t hi ngs of common val ue, i n her r ef l ec-

t i on upon and communi on wi t h t he gl or i ous, t he

i nf i ni t e, and t he endl ess. Who t hen can depr eci at e

a st udy so nat ur al , benef i ci al , l of t y, and happy?

METAPHYSI CS. 191

Let i t s r ecor ds be r ead cor r ect l y, i t s obj ect s and

ai m be consi der ed i mpar t i al l y, and i t s t eachi ng

be appl i ed r i ght l y ; and i t wi l l advance man i n

vi r t ue, knowl edge, power , t r ut h, usef ul ness, and

happi ness.