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ployed on subjects « tppat ^ tttl ^ fli 6 # dl 3 t ^ eiildfe sense , a cld « e « Uiafysia ^ f their operations will still sfeew ther derivation from that huraMe source-Admitting this , we may easily understand why the laws of sense are the Jaws also to a certain extent of intellect f ; am } why thp-easy exercise which is gratifying to the corporeal faculties , is in , like manner gratifying to those of the
mind . Whatever stimulates attention and attracts observation ; whatever imparts new ideas , or excites a train of thought ; whatever recalls former perceptions with distinctness to the memory , or opens a field in which imagination may range at large , must naturally be a source of pleasure , because it is action and excitement that constitute our very life ; and if to live be grateful , these must necessarily be grateful in the same degree . "—VoL I . pp . 26 ~ h 28 .
It is by a developement , on the whole very judicious and successful ; of this leading principle , so wonderfully fertile in the extent and variety of its applications , that our author pursues the analysis of the affections ^ and is enabled to dispense with all that multitude of original instiacts ,, senses ; and innate faculties , which make so conspicuous a figure in the theories of man }? Eminent metaphysicians . If by these terms nothing more be meant tfcsaw ^ thalt the constitution of the human being is originally such that the circuiristaafees
in which he is placed necessarily tend to promote the growth- of certain affections , and among others the sentiments with which he regards wkteie either in himself or others * , and that along with great diversities in the ? jdeitailsj there is a remarkable general analogy in these sentiments ;*—if this be all that is meant , perhaps the difference which apparently prevails among
philosophers on this subject may be one rather of expression tban of real opinion . Many , however ^ appear to have carried their notion of original instincts to a much greater length than this , and hence at the same time that they admit the general influence of the associative principle , -greatly under * , rate the extent and importance of its operations . " In what manner , * says Mr . Stewart , " the association of ideas should manufacture out of the other
principles of our constitution a new principle stronger than them all , it is difficult to conceive . " Certainly this is ; a wonderful result , and one which we should scarcely have anticipated ; but yet it is the undeniable fact , and that in cases which have never been made the subject of dispute * The love of money , which every one admits to be factitious , and to derive its origin ^ from the perceived instrumentality of money to procure for us a great variety of other things originally agreeable , frequently supersedes those very desires
which gave it birth . If this happens in one case , it may happen in another , it may happen in all ; and thus it may be true that the pleasures and pains of sense , and desires originally referring only to bodily gratifications , furnish the materials out of which are gradually formed the most refined tastes , the inost intellectual trains of thought and speculation , the most comprehensive , disinterested and spiritual affections . To the manner in which tne investigation , proceeding upon this basis , is carried on by Mr . Jevons , we have
little to object , and we fully assent to all his leading conclusions ; but our Unfits will not admit of our entering into a detailed examination of it , and ty » , ahajl , therefore content ourselves with recommending it as a pleasing specimen of ingenious metaphysical analysis , applied to a subject of considerable practical value , conducted in such a manner as to be interesting an *} satisfactory to those wfiojare less conversant with philosophical disfcussipns ,, at the same time , .. that , it is founded upon the roundest principles of mental science . , , The second ) 3 nd thi j 4 , f % « SS . * ## % S , J } 9 * . ffl » * v » fcd tqan Wiry WW W JWB ^ ^ 4 ^ t ^ fpt , a 9 tfp <^ pfrwritafr a ^ i ^ ^^ gfQ u nd ^ of
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1827, page 892, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1803/page/36/
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