On The Philosophical Tendencies Of The Age (Paperback)

ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL TENDENCIES OF THE. A0R BEING FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED AT EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW, IN JANUARY 1818. J. 1. MOM7L, A. M. MOUYIE CHERAGH US Hawab Azam Yar, cn 9 tahadur. HBRAHV Bought in 19 16 or the State libraty JOHN JOHNSTONS, 26 PATEHNOSTEE EOW AND 15 PB1NCE9 STREET, EDINBDRGH. Printed by JOHN JOHNHTONB, 101 j rrecf, CONTENTS. LKCTUHK I. POSITIVISM, ......... LECTURE U. INWVIDUAU M, LKOTURK UJU O N TUB PlULOMOJMlY OJf TKAD1T10N, LECTURE IV. THE riuNciru OF COMMON SJEWSJS AS A TlfiNDICNCY, ......... PREFACE, THERE are several reasons which induced me to commit the following Lectures to the press. First of all, They may be regarded as a kind of com plement to my History of fc Modern Philosophy being, in fact, an expansion of the remarks there made, in the conclusion, upon Methodology and an application of them to the present philosophical phenomena of Europe Secondly, The interest they appeared to awaken in the large audiences who bottoortttf me witlx their attendance, suggested to me the propriety of offering to those who might desire it, the opportunity of reconsidering the subject at their leisure. Thirdly, As I am not likely, from various circumstances, to repeat the Lectures at present, and as I am too deeply con vinced of the importance of many of the principles inculcated, to leave them open to misrepresenta tion, I thought the - best way was to let every man read and judge for himself. This I felt to be the vi PREFACE. more necessary, as 1 was obliged, iu cousequemv of the length of the remarks, to omit many pas sages in each Lecture, and often subject myself, for the sake of brevity, to give an imperfect de velopment of my meaning. Lastly, The natures of theplatform upon which I stood, prevented the propriety of applying the principles maintained specifically to the subject of Christianity, and the present state of different sections in the Church. What I uttered from the text, I am persuaded, could not be said to interfere with any mans re ligious peculiarities although it is impossible to discuss the question of the fundamental principles of all human certitude, without involving remarks which might be readily applied to the subject of Christian truth. I have now embraced this opportunity, therefore, to append some remarks to the three last Lectures, which may exhibit thin application more clearly than I had any right to exhibit it on a purely philosophical platform. A public journal has accused me of wonderfully finished subtlety, and making an insidious use of unsound opinions. I confess this was the last charge I expected to hear. I have ever felt truth to bo so holy and sacred a thing, that I would at any time have sacrificed everything dearest to me on earth rather thaix be found trilling. with it, or using any other than the fullest candour in its manifestation. A philosophical plat form, it is well known, is not designed to admit religious Discussion but as ray subject necessarily involved principles wliich were applicable to theo logy, I expressly introduced ab much as I dared, to prevent the appearance rREFACE. Vli The critical reader will find a considerable dif fhsonoss of style, and some occasional repetition. ft should be remembered, however, that the Lectures were written expressly for the ear, with out any thought, at the moment of writing, of their ever coming before the public eye. Those who know the difference of aspoken atid written style, will understand that such a diffuseness was not unnecessary. With regard to the phraseology cm ployed, I have sometimes allowed myself the use of tho term Traditionalism, the meaning of which, however, will appear evident from the context. Tho term Individualism ia already in use, although of iH inuurtn j anything the drift of which woa not perfectly apparent in this respect...