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REVIEW] ** Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame,"—Popj&
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Art . I . —Essays on the Formation arid Publication of Opinions , and on other Subjects . Cr . 8 vo . pp . 296 . 8 * . Hunter . 1821 . THIS is not a common book . "The author ( whoever he be ) possesses an acute , discriminating' mind ; embraces comprehensive views of mankind ; and asserts &nd maintains the most liberal &nd philosophical
principles . His style appears to indicate a practised writer : it is free , perspicuous , manly , and often beautiful . We fall in so entirely with his speculations , that we have little more to do than to describe his plan and to quote « i few passages as samples of his talents and illustrations of his design
and spirit . The first Essay is "On the Formation of Opinions / ' This is divided into eight Section ' s . Section I ., is "On the terms Belief , Assent and Opinion /* " Assent appears to denote the state of the understanding
with regard only to propositions . " "Belief bus a more comprehensive acceptation , expressing * the state of the mind \ Vitli regard to any factor circumstance , although that fact Or circumstance may riever have occurred to it in the form of a proposition , or /
what is the same thing , may never have been reduced by it into words . " " Opinion is seldom , if ever , used in reference to snBjfects wlik ' h ard certain or demonstrable ^ it . is employed by the author , " in reference to propositions of a ^ robatHe riatiire ; to designate that which ist believed . "
The Ilnd S <* ctiott is " On the Independence tff ffeltef Ott the Will . " Here the Essayist examines aaid we think overturns the assumption of the voluntary nature of beKefi He
observes that there are a great number ° f facts and . propositions in regard to our belief of witid it is allowed that the will can have no power and motives no efficacy ; e . £ mtftheuiuticfcl
a xioms , propositions iS geomtetry , and ; facts coming under tttfe- ' ecfasfes or supported by gdotf ^ MtmAiV . Tf tfie ** U exetcMh My 6 oMo * L it tons * be
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on those subjects that admit df diversity of opinion . Biit the bfelifef ) doubt or disbelief which a mail < eiit&ftarns of &ny proposition , may tfe the same in strength and every other respect as the belief , dotibt or disbelief which he entfert&in 3 Of k pro £ 'd § itibti in regard to whfch tKerfc is entire tuianimity } and if in tfee latter cas £ ftH
opinion is involuntary , there can be no reason to suppose it dtherwise iri the former . It is supposed that when , the understanding is in a state of flue- * tuation between twd opinions , it is in the power of the will to determine the decision : but all the various degrees of belief and disbelief , from tl $ & fullest ?
conviction to dotibt , arid franK -ddubt to absolute incredulity , correspond to the degree of evidence , or to the nature of the considerations present to the mind . The understanding , it is clear , cannot believe a proposition on precisely the same evidence as that oa which it previously doubted it , and
yet to ascribe to mere volition a , change from doubt to conviction , is asserting that this may take place ; it is affirming that a mafi , withoiit the slightest reason , ma ^' fF h ' e please , believe to-day what he doubted yesteffday . The following distinction , is ot ) - viously jtist :
Belief appears to be the firmest wheu there ^ re no hostfl ei or contrary conSid ^ ratioas for the inind to * , rest upon . In proportion to the number and inipbrtahce of contrary consideration $ belief is inipaired , and if they are increased to a ceirraiii extent ^ it fades into doabt . r rhe J latter is . oftea a state of oscillation , ih
which the mind passes from one class of argmnents , to another , the predominant ^ aflfection of fhe momeqt according with the arguments on which the contemplation happen * to be fixed . The mind m ay ^ also b £ said to be in doubt when itf is
acquainted with neither side of a question ^ and has therefore no grounds for a determinate opinion . The one may he called active or positive , the other passive oc negative doifdt . "—Note * p . U « The author" n £ Xt meets the dll ^ gafioti that the will ii * a # * a * fe the po * 6 # of dfeitoittg the ehOTbfct&r 6 t th 6 e ^ fc
Review] ** Still Pleased To Praise, Yet Not Afraid To Blame,"—Popj&
REVIEW ] ** Still pleased to praise , yet not afraid to blame , "—Popj&
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V ^>^ . XVII . 4 B
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1822, page 553, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2516/page/33/
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