The Work of Lord Bolingbroke (Volume 3 ); With a Life, Prepared Expressly for This Edition, Containing Additional Information Relative to His Personal (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1841 Excerpt: ... ESSAY THE SECOND: CONTAINING SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE FOLLY AND PRESUMPTION OF PHILOSOPHERS, ESPECIALLY IN MATTERS OF THE FIRST PHILOSOPHY; ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THEIR BOASTED SCIENCE; ON THE PROPAGATION OF ERROR AND SUPERSTITION; AND ON THE PARTIAL ATTEMPTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO REFORM THE ABUSES OF HUMAN REASON. SECTION I. He who asserts that there would be more real knowledge and more true wisdom among mankind, if there was less learning and less philosophy, may offend some men's ears by advancing a paradox; for such at least they will call it. But men who inquire without prejudice, and who dare to doubt, will soon discover that this seeming paradox is a most evident truth. They will find it such in almost every part of human science, and above all others in that which is called metaphysical and theological. The vanity of the vainest man alive, of some who call themselves scholars and philosophers, will be hurt; but they who seek truth without any other regard, and who prefer therefore very wisely even ignorance to error, will rejoice at every such discovery. There was a time when navigators bent themselves obstinately to find a passage by the northeast or the northwest to Cathay. Neither frequent losses nor constant disappointment could divert them from these enterprises, as long as the fashionable folly prevailed. The passage was not found; the fashion wore out, and the folly ceased. The bounds of navigation were set: and sufficient warning was both given and taken against any further attempts in those dark and frozen regions. Many such there are in the intellectual world: and many such attempts have been made there with no better success. But the consequence has not been the same. Neither examples nor experience have had their effect on philosop...