Of the Conduct of the Understanding (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... OF THE CONDUCT OF THE UNDERSTANDING "Quid tarn1 temerarium tamque indigiram sapientis gravitate atqne constantly, quam aut falsum sentire, ant quod non satis explorate perceptum sit, et cognitum, sine ullft dubitatione defendere?" Cio. de Natura Deorum, lib. i. 1. Introduction.-- The last resort a man has recourse to, in the conduct of himself, is his understanding; for though we distinguish the faculties of the mind, and give the supreme command to the will, as to an agent, yet the truth is, the man, who is the agent, determines himself to this or that voluntary action, upon some precedent knowledge, or appearance of knowledge, in the understanding. No man ever sets himself about anything but upon some view or other, which serves him for a reason for what he does: and whatsoever faculties he employs, the understanding, with such light as it has, well or ill informed, constantly leads; and by that light, true or false, all his operative powers are directed. The will itself,2 how absolute and uncontrollable soever it may be thought, never fails in its 1. Quid tarn, etc. "What so rash and so unworthy of the dignity and consistency of a wise man as to hold a false opinion, or to defend without any hesitation that which has been perceived and accepted as true without sufficient examination." 2. The will itself, etc. The theory of volition here briefly outlined is fully considered in the "Essay concerning the Human Understanding," Bk. II. ch. xxi. 29. obedience to the dictates of the understanding. Temples have their sacred images, and we see what influence they have always had over a great part of mankind. But in truth, the ideas and images in men's minds are the invisible powers that constantly govern them, and to these they all...