some theory of my own; the other, to give the arguments on each side for any system, fairly and candidly, and allow the reader to draw his own conclusions respecting them. I have in general followed the latter plan. I have endeavoured to give the scope and bearing of every author's system in as full a manner as the importance of the subject or the plan of this work could justify; reserving to myself the privilege of stating, in the last Chapter but one, to what particular theory I am inclined to give the preference. I thought it would prove an advantage to the work, to insert a short biographical notice to each system. These short sketches are only intended to make the reader cursorily acquainted with the respective authors whose works are noticed, and not by any means to supply the place of a lengthened detail of the life and character of each. I have taken most of these biographical accounts from Aiken's General Biography, the Edinburgh and London Encyclopædias, and other similar sources. I beg also to add, that the substance of five or six of the Chapters of this book were published by me, in the shape of Essays, in a respectable periodical publication, ten or twelve years ago. In examining so many different systems, it is very possible I may occasionally have been led into error in forming my opinions of them. I can only say, that I have been at all times actuated by an ardent desire to do justice, and to act fairly, both towards the living and the dead. At the same time, I have been equally anxious to judge and think for myself. And I trust that the candid critic will allow, that in pursuing this independent course, I have in no instance overstepped the legitimate boundaries of a free and candid discussion of the merits of those numerous theories I have ventured to examine. I have not knowingly had any partialities nor enmities to warp my judgment; and if I have been, in any instance, betrayed into an expression of censure or applause, which may seem unmerited, I hope the reader will attribute it to an error of the understanding, rather than to the heart. If there be any errors of the in these pages, press the reader will I hope excuse them, as I have found it impossible to attend so carefully to the correction of the work, on account of my living at a considerable distance from the place of publication. MORPETH, 18th MARCH 1833. HISTORY. OF MORAL SCIENCE. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. MORAL PHILOSOPHY is usually defined to be that part of knowledge which relates to human conduct; treats of the motives which appertain to that conduct; and to what ends and purposes it ought to be directed. Casting our eyes over the actual condition of the human race, so far as personal observation or the observations of others enable us to do so, we see a wonderful difference in their external appearances, habits of life, and mental capacity and acquirements. From the rude wanderer on the bleak B |