1819 Aug. 9

Fallacies 1 Preface or Generalia

| | Causes of

coining

utterance or acceptance

Of all these several distinguishable causes of misjudgement, misdiscourse and misconduct there is not one of the existence of which is not compatiable with that of all the others in the same receptacle: the proportion in which they thus have place in each other's company are numerous infinitely variable diversificable: nor is it by any means necessary that by the mind in which they exist and are productive of these effects their existence - the place they occupy it, and /or/ the influence they exercise in it should be matter of observation. To decompose their own minds - to resolve them into two as it were distinct ones, the one of which is occupied in making observations on the other is a process, the relish /to [...?]/ for which, and consequently the habit of carrying on[?] which is the lot of the very few.

of Those who are governed exclusively by sinister interest there are two distinguishable classess: 1. those to whom it has never occurred to make pretention to any social feeling upon any enlarged scale /, with the exception of social feeling upon a small /narrow/ scale, and antisocial upon an[?] a scale of every variety of extent,/ conscious of the main spring not to say the only one by which they are moved, it would seem to them an idle task to look out for any other.

A task from which neither pleasure nor profit neither immediate nor remote good is looked for, will not be voluntary[?] undertaken - and of this sort, in the eyes of all but a few will naturally and at all times ne the task of observation and scouting[?] as applied to a man's own mind.

Much smaller than the number of those who are conversant with the anatomy of the body is that of hose the

object

object of whose study is the anatomy and physiology of the mind
Similar Items
  • Title: [2 Oct. 1814 Logic 13]
    Description: 2 Oct. 1814

    Logic

    13

    Ch.2. Ontology

    Entities classed

    47

    13

    {Unless the above observations be altogether wide of the truth /incorrect/, it will appear but too manifest that} that in the notions commonly attached to the word cause much deficiency in respect of clearness and correctness as well as completeness cannot but have place: and that in the inferences made from either the one to the other whether it be the cause that is deduced or supposed to be deduced from the effect or the effect that is deduced or supposed to be deduced from the cause much uncertainty and inconclusiveness cannot but be a frequent not to say an almost constant and continual result.

    Seldom indeed does it happen that of the co-influencing circumstances the collection made for the purpose is complete: nor is it always that in such a collection so much as the principal /principally influencing/ circumstances are included.

    In those cases in which the several influencing circumstances are all of them subject not only to the observation but to the powers of the human agent /human agency/, any such miscalculations and errors as from time to time happen to be made, may when perceived from time to time be corrected.

    Thus it is for example in the case of observations that have for their field the anatomy and physiology of plants and animals.

    Thus it is moreover with little exception in the instance of the practical applications made of the respective theories of Chemistry and Mechanics: the influencing circumstances being for the most part or even altogether subject and that at all times not only to our observations but to our command.

    69
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 9 Fallacies 2 Preface or]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 9

    Fallacies 2 Preface or Generalia

    | | Cause of coining, utterance and acceptance

    Thus unwelcome would be the task /occupation/, of the prospect /scene/ had nothing in it but what was indifferent /a matter of indifference/. But how much more so, when in every case it is of a sort which can scarcely fail to be more or less unwelcome[?] in every /each/ case it presents to a man's view something which he is accustomed to /in the habit of/ hear and see spoken /mentioned/ of in the character of a cause of shame, in the one case a weakness of the moral department, in the three other cases a weakness in the intellectual part of man's frame.
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 10 Fallacies Preface]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 10

    Fallacies

    Preface or Generalia

    That this work is but a Parliamentary Reform worth in disguise, and that therefore in profession it is so extensive in design it is thus narrow, is an objection to which it will by many an eye be naturallu enough regarded as exposed.

    In this observation there is indeed so much truth; that if I recollect aright it was by the contemplation of the subject of Parliamentary Reform, and the pecularity urgent demand for such a work presented by that subject, that the design of undertaking this work was suggested.

    But as to the fallacies themselves, finding them in my very earliest youth continually opposed to whatsoever case /arrangements/ newly proposed how unquestionable so ever the utility /usefulness/ of them appeared to me, the notice taken of them was taken long before any such idea as that of parliamentary reform had ever presented itself to my mind.

    As to narrowness, even supposing in reagrd to the exposures given of these fallacies, that the applicability of such exposures extended not beyond the subject /field/ of parliamentary reform, with no great degree of propriety could the imputation of narowness be attached to them on that score. For among[?] arrangements that are /would/ in any eminent degree be servicable to the univresal interest, what are they the field of which is not included in that of parliamentary reform? Scarce any: for until parliamentary reform shall take place, nothing of that eminently serviceable sort can reasonably be expected to be done. The ruling few being placed in a state of hostility with the sibject many the interest of the subject many being

    in

    in every part of the field of political action scarificed to the interest of the ruling few, nothing eminently useful being capable of being done without a co[...?] of a part more or less considerable of that sinister sacrifice that sinister sacrifice not being capable of being diminished nor so much as stopped from continual augmentation /increase/ by any thing but by parliamentary reform, hence it is that on the question of parliamentary reform are involved in a manner all other questions.