登陆注册
15397500000071

第71章

The former begins from the place I occupy in the external world of sense, and enlarges my connection therein to an unbounded extent with worlds upon worlds and systems of systems, and moreover into limitless times of their periodic motion, its beginning and continuance.The second begins from my invisible self, my personality, and exhibits me in a world which has true infinity, but which is traceable only by the understanding, and with which I discern that Iam not in a merely contingent but in a universal and necessary connection, as I am also thereby with all those visible worlds.The former view of a countless multitude of worlds annihilates as it were my importance as an animal creature, which after it has been for a short time provided with vital power, one knows not how, must again give back the matter of which it was formed to the planet it inhabits (a mere speck in the universe).The second, on the contrary, infinitely elevates my worth as an intelligence by my personality, in which the moral law reveals to me a life independent of animality and even of the whole sensible world, at least so far as may be inferred from the destination assigned to my existence by this law, a destination not restricted to conditions and limits of this life, but reaching into the infinite.

But though admiration and respect may excite to inquiry, they cannot supply the want of it.What, then, is to be done in order to enter on this in a useful manner and one adapted to the loftiness of the subject? Examples may serve in this as a warning and also for imitation.The contemplation of the world began from the noblest spectacle that the human senses present to us, and that our understanding can bear to follow in their vast reach; and it ended- in astrology.Morality began with the noblest attribute of human nature, the development and cultivation of which give a prospect of infinite utility; and ended- in fanaticism or superstition.So it is with all crude attempts where the principal part of the business depends on the use of reason, a use which does not come of itself, like the use of the feet, by frequent exercise, especially when attributes are in question which cannot be directly exhibited in common experience.But after the maxim had come into vogue, though late, to examine carefully beforehand all the steps that reason purposes to take, and not to let it proceed otherwise than in the track of a previously well considered method, then the study of the structure of the universe took quite a different direction, and thereby attained an incomparably happier result.The fall of a stone, the motion of a sling, resolved into their elements and the forces that are manifested in them, and treated mathematically, produced at last that clear and henceforward unchangeable insight into the system of the world which, as observation is continued, may hope always to extend itself, but need never fear to be compelled to retreat.

This example may suggest to us to enter on the same path in treating of the moral capacities of our nature, and may give us hope of a like good result.We have at hand the instances of the moral judgement of reason.By analysing these into their elementary conceptions, and in default of mathematics adopting a process similar to that of chemistry, the separation of the empirical from the rational elements that may be found in them, by repeated experiments on common sense, we may exhibit both pure, and learn with certainty what each part can accomplish of itself, so as to prevent on the one hand the errors of a still crude untrained judgement, and on the other hand (what is far more necessary) the extravagances of genius, by which, as by the adepts of the philosopher's stone, without any methodical study or knowledge of nature, visionary treasures are promised and the true are thrown away.In one word, science (critically undertaken and methodically directed) is the narrow gate that leads to the true doctrine of practical wisdom, if we understand by this not merely what one ought to do, but what ought to serve teachers as a guide to construct well and clearly the road to wisdom which everyone should travel, and to secure others from going astray.Philosophy must always continue to be the guardian of this science; and although the public does not take any interest in its subtle investigations, it must take an interest in the resulting doctrines, which such an examination first puts in a clear light.

-THE END-

同类推荐
  • 广百论本

    广百论本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 天凑巧

    天凑巧

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 铁冠图全传

    铁冠图全传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 惟日杂难经

    惟日杂难经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上导引三光宝真妙经

    太上导引三光宝真妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 问情风云录

    问情风云录

    霜花镜胭脂泪情难断离恨苦剥开云雾见天日守得云开见月明(本书没有无脑打脸,主角没有嘲讽光环,没有虐主情节各位可以放心阅读。)
  • 这座城,这个城中村

    这座城,这个城中村

    在这座城,这座城里有个城中村,游走着这么一群人,在这里演绎着爱情,友情和亲情。在道德和底线面前,善良正直坚毅宽容容忍的荨欢,深情温柔善解人意的晨风,两位主人公为主线,经历重重苦难的考验,最后终于修成正果的故事。
  • 危险关系:总裁请止步

    危险关系:总裁请止步

    从见到苏叶开始,杜衡就暗暗下决定要把她娶回家。十七年来,他一直耐心等候、精心呵护,舍不得她受半点儿委屈,极尽所能地把这个小公主宠上了天。他费尽心机,如愿让她和自己的名字出现在同一张*本上,可短短三年的时间,她却对他说:“杜衡,我们离婚吧!”离婚?呵呵,做梦!他倒要看看,到底是哪头猪敢动他杜衡养的白菜!
  • 大气宗

    大气宗

    呆萌男穿越异界成为气功师的故事……(本人写书就是兴趣爱好,写的不好勿喷。)
  • 战火与悲歌

    战火与悲歌

    李阳,只不过是河洛星上一个普通的农人子弟。获得最流行的虚拟现实军事游戏《轩辕争霸赛》的冠军后,竟然被强征入伍,编入星联的顶级特战队--蜂针特战组。征调官给的理由听起来如此地荒唐:“《轩辕争霸赛》,你表现地异常惊艳,超乎各位军事长官的想象。所以拯救人类的重任,理所当然要由你承担。”“那他妈的不过只是一个虚拟的电子游戏而已!”闻言少年如同五雷轰顶哭丧着脸抗议到,稚嫩地声音尖厉地嘶吼着,满脸不甘和悔恨的表情。“少年拿出点英雄气概,去拯救人类世界吧!”高大地征调官大手一挥,两名身着星际作战服的战士立刻将李阳拖走。
  • 傻瓜不服气

    傻瓜不服气

    可笑全身都是肉,走路浑身抖三抖,家里破事一大堆,还想谈个蓝朋友,不是啥良家妇女,但绝对是黄花“大”闺女,想找个务实滴男银,没想到却恋上一个大反派,行,反派就反派吧,但,怎么一个不小心反而被他带坏了呢?
  • 鹿晗今生只为遇见你

    鹿晗今生只为遇见你

    她是一个孤儿,被世界著名大师收养。他,是国民男神,人气超旺的艺人。与他一次次的化险为夷………
  • 记忆苦涩的味道

    记忆苦涩的味道

    姐妹同嫁它国帝王,爱上同一个人,是谁先放手?他该如何选择?面对失忆的她,他和她会怎样抉择?终有一天,她想起来了,原来记忆是苦涩的味道。当泪水划过脸颊,结局还是未知的......
  • 你是我永远到达不了的明天

    你是我永远到达不了的明天

    在见到沈希的第一眼便觉得自己怕是要陷进去了。我说,无论她心里是否有我,无论她爱着的是谁,她好就好。所以不管我们最后是否有结局,至少在她在的时候我要尽我所能的对她好。只要她要,只要我有。
  • 玉衡大陆

    玉衡大陆

    平静已久的玉衡大陆迎来了一个新的种族——巫族!我们的故事也从这里开始!!!(ps:小牛好凄凉啊,作为老读者的小牛也知道,本书的好坏先不说,字数实在是太少,估计不少看到本书的读者一看字数就直接把本书给pass了,小牛不要求其他的,假如这本书的内容对您还有些吸引的话,读者大大们可以先收藏,等这本书肥肥的了大伙在开宰。小牛保证这本书一定会写下去。各位读者大大们都给点数据吧!!!)