date

7 Aug. 1815 : rework this 14 Aug.
7 Aug. 1815 : rework this 14 Aug.

Jug. True

Ch. Imperfections

1

§. Marks of Verity

(4) (1)

Modes of verity—give the use of all or each

1. Individualization as to time

2. D o as to Place Time 1. abridged 2. relative

4. 3. Individuals present

7. 4. Narrating witness whether percipient or no

6. 5. If not, who the intermediate reporting witnesses and the number of resources

5. 6. Narrative when penned—how soon after the supposed fact

7. 1. No self contradiction /[...?] Negative marks/

7. And who of other narratives either actual or possible and whether trustworthy or untrustworthy; and why

2. No mutual contradictions.

To possess any reasonable claim to credence a statement or narrative to the penning of which supernatural assistance under the name of imposition or any other name purports upon the face of it or is alledged to have been afforded, ought to wear upon the face of it all such marks of verity, internal or external, as human wisdom has ever been known to afford, viz. if not all such as at the present time that wisdom is able and has been known to afford, at any rate and at the least all such as at the time in question human wisdom was able, and has been known to afford.

[marginal note]

Aphorism respecting title to credence as far as regards the employing the known evidence of trustworthiness.
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  • Title: [7 Aug 1815 * A  + Jug True]
    Description: 7 Aug 1815 * A  +

    Jug True

    Ch. Imperfection

    §. Marks of Verity

    1. From Individualization

    (1)

    To the trustworthiness of any narrative a determinate and correct indication given of time at which in each instance the alledged events or state of things in question is represented as having place, is an essential requisite. Why? Because if this is not required of a man, his narrative or statement may from beginning to end be a topic of falsehood, and yet no means of proving it so be furnished by it.

    On the other hand, let the time be fixt in this case, if there be more or less of falshood in the narrative if not a source of detection at any rate a ground of suspicion will naturally be furnished by it. The existence of the falsity reported (in question) will naturally be incompatible and so seems to be with the existence of some other event or state of things: which has been rendered either practically certain or more or less probable by other evidence more or less trustworthy.

    In some cases the effect of the disproof will amount practically speaking to be conclusive: as where the event or state of things is incompatible with the relative state of the earth and the other celestial bodies of the known world as established by astronomical observation and calculations.

    In this case is the story of the star by which the wise men of the East were conducted from their own country to the stable at Bethlehem where Jesus for a few days after his birth is represented as having been kept.

    1

    Requisites to trustworthiness in a narrative:

    1. Indication of the [...?] time.

    Individualization in respect of time. Reason: But for this falshood may be universal, yet no manner of detecting it.

    2

    [...?] contra, if the time be compleatly individualized, then if not a source of detection, a ground of suspicion will naturally be furnished by it. Of the falsely reported event or state of things the existence will be and be seen to be incompatible with d o, if some others provable by more trustworthy evidence.

    3

    In some cases the disproof will be conclusive: viz where the falsified fact is incompatible with the state of the heavens at that time.

    4

    [...?] [...?] Star [...?] [...?][...?] [...?].
  • Title: [1 Sept 1815 Jug True Ch Imperfection]
    Description: 1 Sept 1815

    Jug True

    Ch Imperfection

    12

    §. Marks of Verity

    Jug endures not the test

    (2)

    5. Of the indications such as they are, that are here and there given of relative time as between incident and incident, instead of encrease diminution of title to credence is the result: the place assigned in the order of time to the same incident by the different narrators being very often different, the consequence is a perpetual tissue of contradictions—contradictions such as by no discernment can any real consistency be discovered in them, nor by any ingenuity so much as the appearance of it.

    6. It is only in a comparatively small number of instances that of the same incident a relation is given by all four by the whole number of these biographers: most commonly it is by no more than three, frequently by no more than two, no unfrequently by no more than one is mention made of it. Not only from mutual contradictions as between narrative and narrative but even from the before omission made in one or more of them of incidents related in another or others does MS alt. ‘as’. ground of disbelief arise. The strength of this ground is in every case in the joint ratio of the importance of the incidents, and the multitude of the narrators by whom all mention of is omitted. An incident of which supposing to have really had place, the importance would have been so great, is to be believed that if it had been true the number would have been so considerable of those by whom no mention has been made of it?

    or 4

    By such indications as are given of relative times as between title to credence, both to coincidence is diminished one placing the incident in one time, another in another; contradictions utterly irreconcilable.

    or 5

    In but very few instances, is any story related by all four, commonly by no more than three; not unfrequently by one. Hence a ground for disbelief strong in proportion to the importance of the matter omitted, and the number of those by whom it has been omitted.
  • Title: [27 Aug. 1815 Jug. True Ch.]
    Description: 27 Aug. 1815

    Jug. True

    Ch. Imperfections

    Marks of Verity

    7

    When the story which a man has to tell is true and by him who tells it known to be so [...?] is the case in an eminent and not to say almost exclusive degree where of that in relation to which he performs the function of narrating witness he was himself at the time in question a percipient witness. Speaking from the memory and not from invention a man speaks freely and boldly; for in so far as his memory is correct, and that which he narrates is neither more nor less than that which that faculty presented him with, he is in no danger of uttering what is false, nor therefore of being seen by others so to have trespassed against the laws of truth. Then this is a safe spot: on which he may expatiate at his ease.

    On the other hand, no such sincerity but the opposite characterises the situation of him who has taken a false story to obtain credence for. No time does he see in which he can with full security place the false event or state of things for which it is his object and endeavour to find credence: the place whatever it be in which he would take upon him to place at the time in question his supposed matter of fact may at the time in question for aught he knows by some other portion of matter.

    14 or 7

    Story true and by reporter known to be so, as when he was percipient witness, speaking not from invention but memory, he speaks freely and boldly: conscious of not uttering falshood, he fears not the being seen to do so. Truth a safe spot, in which he may expatiate at ease.

    15 or 8.

    Not so he who has a false story to obtain credence for. In no portion of time can he safely place his story: in no portion of space can he safely place the portion of matter which he has to speak of as being in it at that time. At that time the place may have been occupied by some other portion of matter, and proof of this may be obtainable: at that time the portion of matter may have been seen to be in some other place. The man of this circumstance a man [...?] the more of these circumstances done to bring to view which for a false [...?] no man of any [...?] [...?].