date

21 Jan y 1814 Jug. True Ch
21 Jan y 1814

Jug. True

Ch.3. Natural Evidence

7

This incidental deficiency in the article of belief, could it on the part of the sort of persons in question have had for its cause any natural or extraordinary aversion to the proof of extraordinary things—any natural or preternatural propensity to disbelief or doubt? In all places at all times propensity to the belief of extraordinary and improbable things has been strong not in the inverse but in the direct ratio of the prevalence of ignorance and error. Very ignorant and copiously stocked with errors especially in comparison with modern times were the minds of the people who in those places were living in those times if this every page of those same histories contributes to assure use. To a large and indefinite extent, according to those same histories, among those very people, facts which according to those same histories were extraordinary—extraordinary in the same ways and at the same time false, failed not to obtain credence. (a)

Among the very same set of people—in the very same circles, in relation to the very same species of facts, unbelief and belief are in and by those same histories stated as prevalent: unbelief? and on the part of what persons? in relation to what sort of facts? in relation to those very facts which in these same histories are declared to be true, belief again? and in relation to what individual facts? in relation to those individual facts which in and by those same histories were at the same time stated as false.
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  • Title: [21 Jan y 1814 Ch.3. Natural Evidence]
    Description: 21 Jan y 1814

    Ch.3. Natural Evidence

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    Meantime according to these very histories, multitudes there were to whom this superior evidence was actually administered—to human beings in great numbers administered in great quantities—administered within a very small extent of territory—and yet within this narrow extent no general persuasion produced. To those most extraordinary facts which notwithstanding this best sort of evidence is in such prodigious quantity supposed or alledged to have been administered to them so small a number if any of them were made to believe, on no other ground than that of a sort of evidence which in proof of the most ordinary and most naturally probable species of facts is more received—more at least where any ofa better sort is to be had, we who now here are called upon to give credence.
  • Title: [Headings and some notes in text by Bentham]
    Description: Headings and some notes in text by Bentham, text in the hand of Colls.

    1821 March 3

    Jug. Util and True

    10

    Plan of the Work

    Part III. Revealed at large. Verity considered.

    10

     Here copy the titles of the Chapters. Note by Bentham in red ink.

    Part III.

    On the usefulness of Supposed Revealed Religion at large—verity considered.

    Ch.1.

    Notion that belief is the only safe course, and that therefore a deaf ear should be turned to all disprobative arguments: its absurdity and fallaciousness exposed.

    Ch.2.

    The facts assumed are, in all supposed Revealed Religions, destitute of all support from trustworthy evidence: the falsity of the statement is always more probable than the verity of it. No judicial decision would be regarded as warranted by such evidence.

    Ch.3.

    Supposed proof from miracles—its improbativeness. Witnesses, none: miracle non: nothing but the report of one.

    Ch.4.

    Supposed proof from predictions—its disprobativeness.

    §.1. Predictions, supposed preternatural, classed.

    §.2. Relation between supposed supernatural predictions, and other miracles.

    Ch.5.

    D r. Campbel's answer. Belief is the work of sense. Sense being infallible, belief proves the truth of everything believed—the absurdity exposed.

    Ch.6.

    D r. Price's answer to the objection of improbability—improbabilities are continually happening—the fallacy exposed.

    Ch.7.

    Propensity to believe improbable things—its causes natural and factitous

    §.1. Man at large—why credulous—credulous in proportion to their ignorance /ignorance the cause and measure of credulity/

    §.2. Medical men—why incredulous.

    §.3. Factitious, or less immediate causes—Priestcraft—groundless fear, from invisible sources, employed as an instrument of dominion. See Part II. Ch.8.
  • Title: [1817 Sept. 1 Not Paul 2 o]
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    Such being the facts―so great / wide so important / the difference between the doctrine of the alledged MS orig. ‘pretended’. pupil and his alledged Master, now on to the cause. The cause when once brought to view will present itself as being by no means an obvious / unobvious / one: it being in respect of its relative / appropriate / effieciency―its adequacy to the effect in question so undeniable an one.

    In so far as in the case of the individual in question, natural propensity and favourable situation with reference to the situation / pursuit / in question are united / concurr /, all pursuits Bentham note at this point: ‘it has already been observed Quære.’ are rivals to one another: rivals, in a degree of efficiency proportioned to the force / strength / of the propensity. He who takes upon him to become the preacher of a new religion, true or false, beholds in every pursuit in which those to whom he addresses himself / his wished-for disciples / engaged or liable to be engaged, a source of rivalry of position and competition: a competition the formidableness of which will be as the strength of the propensity to the pursuit, of all propensities of the competition of which Paul / the preacher in question / found reason to be apprehensive that which belongs / corresponds / to / has its seat in / the sexual appetite was manifestly the strongest. Against this therefore / it were most natural that / his hostile endeavours to be / should / pointed / pushed / with greatest anxiety and force and energy.