Headings and some notes in text by Bentham, text in the hand of Colls.

1821 March 3

Jug. Util and True

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Plan of the Work

Part III. Revealed at large. Verity considered.

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 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.