The Works of Dugald Stewart: Account of the life and writings of Adam Smith. Account of the life and writings of William Robertson. Account of the life and writings of Thomas Reid. Tracts respecting the election of Mr. Leslie to the professorship of mathematics in the university of EdinburghHilliard and Brown, 1829 |
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acquaintance Adam Ferguson æther afforded appear approbation argument assembly attention cause and effect censure character church church of Scotland circumstances concerning David Gregory doctrine duty ecclesiastical election Essay express facts favor friends genius habits History of Scotland honor human mind human nature Hume Hume's idea important Inquiry interesting John Playfair judge judgment language laws learned Leslie Leslie's letter literary Lord Lord Provost Lordship manner mathematical ment merit Ministers of Edinburgh moral natural philosophy necessary connexion object observed occasion opinion original particular passage perhaps person perusal physical political possessed powers prejudices Presbytery present principles Professor of Mathematics question readers reason Reid Reid's remarks respect Reverend Robertson Scotland Senatus Academicus sentiments sion Smith society speculations talents theory thing Thomas Reid thought tion truth University University of Edinburgh university of Glasgow writings
Popular passages
Page 236 - The sole end of logic is to explain the principles and operations of our reasoning faculty, and the nature of our ideas ; morals and criticism regard our tastes and sentiments; and politics consider men as united in society, and dependent on each other.
Page 64 - Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice ; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things.
Page 16 - When we see a stroke aimed and just ready to fall upon the leg or arm of another person, we naturally shrink and draw back our own leg or our own arm...
Page 51 - ... a theory of the general principles which ought to run through, and be the foundation of, the laws of all nations.
Page 60 - When he cannot establish the right, he will not disdain to ameliorate the wrong; but, like Solon, when he cannot establish • the best system of laws, he will endeavour to establish the best that the people can bear.
Page 232 - The intense view of these manifold contradictions and imperfections in human reason has so wrought upon me, and heated my brain, that I am ready to reject all belief and reasoning, and can look upon no opinion even as more probable or likely than another.
Page 236 - T is evident, that all the sciences have a relation, greater or less, to human nature, and that, however wide any of them may seem to run from it, they still return back by one passage or another.
Page 71 - As I have left the care of all my literary papers to you, I must tell you that, except those which I carry along with me, there are none worth the...
Page 57 - It is thus that every system which endeavours, either, by extraordinary encouragements, to draw towards a particular species of industry a greater share of the capital of the society than what would naturally go to it; or, by extraordinary restraints, to force from a particular species of industry some share of the capital which would otherwise be employed in it, is in reality subversive of the great purpose which it means to promote.
Page 36 - I shall inform you of a few that have come to my knowledge. I believe I have mentioned to you already Helvetius's book de 1'Esprit. It is worth your reading, not for its philosophy, which I do not highly value, but for its agreeable composition.