On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    the name olovoicTiicrf * which the moderns have corrupted into oIumotucti , ( the science of omens . ) In 90 much then as the prophetic art' excels that of augury and omens , in so much do the ancients testify that the madness which comes from God , excels the wisdom which comes from men . Many again , on whom , by the anger of the gods , great calamities and diseases have fallen , have been cured by the supervention of madness , which operating upon them in a manner similar to divination ,

    indicated to them the proper prayers and adorations of the gods , by which they were purified , and became free from their previous evils . A third kind of madness is that , which , coming from the Muses , awakens the mind , and stirs it up to pour itself forth in odes and other kinds of poetry j and by adorning the deeds of the ancients , instructs their posterity . For he who , without madness inspired by the Muses , knocks at the door of poetry , thinking that he can become an adequate poet by mere art , fails of his purpose , and his poetry is thrown into the shade by that of the inspired madmen .

    • Such , and yet more , are the good works which proceed from madness inspired by the gods . Let us not , therefore , be disturbed by any argument which inculcates the preference of a sane above an insane mind . Let us first require proof , that love is not sent by the gods , for the benefit both of the lover and of the person loved . We ourselves

    will show that , on the contrary , this kind of madness is given by the gods for the greatest possible felicity of mankind . The proof will be very unsatisfactory to merely clever people , but convincing to the really wise . f We must , with this view , first institute an inquiry concerning the soul , both of men and of gods ; what are its affections , and what

    its acts . * All souls are immortal ; for that which is always in motion must be immortal . ( That which is set in motion by something else , may cease to he moved , and may therefore cease to live . But that which is selfmoving , as it never quits itself , \ never ceases moving , but is the source and beginning of motion to all other things which are moved . But that which is a beginning , is not itself generated : a thing which is generated

    may be traced up to a beginning , but that beginning would not be the beginning if it could be traced to anything prior . Not being generated , it is not susceptible of destruction ; for , if the beginning were destroyed , every thing which is generated from it would be destroyed with it ; if that which is self-moving were destroyed , since it is the cause of all other motion , there would be no motion whatever . ) Since , therefore , that which is ' self-moving is immortal , immortality is the essence of life ; for , all bodies which require to be moved from without , are termed lifeless ; those which are moved from within are said to have life . Life * therefore , is the principle of self-motion , and is consequentl ^ rtTngene-Jrated , and immortal , life is immortal ; or in other words , the soul is immortal . ' Respecting the immortality of the soul , this is sufficient . About its * From « MpMu ( to think *) and » # v * ( intellect } .

    X The same word , > l * % *> tiguifies Aft and the « om / . This is no ambiguity . What is the soul but the principle of life ? not organic life , which fates have as well a * Human beings , but Mutant lilt > coosoousntts .

    Untitled Article

    JPlato ' s Dialogues ; the Phtcdrus . 413

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1834, page 413, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2634/page/31/