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Untitled Article
on the Sttff erinff 9 of Truth . 311
Untitled Article
En parcourant au loin la plan&te ou nous sommes , Que verrons nous ? les torts et les travers des homines 1 Ici c ' est un Synode , et la c ' est un Divan , Nous verrons le Mufti , le Dervicne , I'lman , Le Bonze , le Lama , le Talapoin , le Pope , Les antiques Rabbins , et les Abbes de l'Europe , Nos Moines , nos Pr 61 ats , nos Docteurs agreg 6 s , Etes vous disputeurs , mes amis ? Voyagez I
If we consider this passage , then consider human nature , and then ask ourselves , " Can truth ever reign universally ?" we must confess that it is hopeless , and this is strengthened by the fine observation of Dugald Stewart , " that the prejudices of men have less
root in their understandings than in their interests and passions , " * which leaves us no hope to convince them by reason , even if we could ever bring reason to the proper pitch , and as the interests and passions of men can never be brought under one head , it leaves us no hope there .
It is a bitter , but pregnant saying of Hobbes , that even the axioms of geometry would be disputed , if men ' s interests were concerned in them ; but he might have added prejudices also , for they have as strong a hold upon the mind as interest or passion , and perhaps have a more intimate connexion with opinions , for
it need scarcely be remajrkedl that the many who assent tea opinions from motives of con-J venience or interest , do nod nevertheless entertain them .. But the same cannot be said oH prejudices , and they thereforq call for a more lengthened ! notice from whoever shall at-J tempt the subject , and I may
perhaps be allowed to suggest ,, that any essay on the subject must be incomplete , until the author have diligently studied Du Marsais Sur les Prejuges , and the Essays on the Formation and Puotication of Opinions , both which works stand alone in the philosophcal world , as instances of $ eep thought and delightful
exposition . I may probably return to these Hints' * in the consideration of the causes of error of language , and offer a few historical examples , if some lover of truth do not anticipate me , which I sincerely wish .
* Dugald Stewart ' s Element * of the Philosophy cf the Human Mixd , voL ii . p . 28 & Bacon has made a somewhat similar remark . «« Intelkctus humanus luminis aicci non est ; s « d recipit infusipnem a voluntate et affitctibuM . " Nov . Oty % UK i »
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 1, 1837, page 311, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1837/page/23/
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