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Article ERNEST AND FALK. ← Page 8 of 16 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ernest And Falk.
F . The Avise man cannot say that which it is politic to conceal . E . Well ! as you please ! Let us , hoAvever , not get back to the Freemasons . I don't want to knoAv anything more about them .
F . Pardon me ! but you perceive my readiness to tell you something more about them . . E . You are jesting . Well ! civil life , as well as all governments , are nothing but means toAvard the attainment of human happiness . What then ? F . Nothing but means ! and means of human invention ;
although I will not deny that nature has so ordered everything , that man must naturally and speedily find his way to the discovery . E . This has probably induced some to consider society as the aim of nature . As everything , both in our passions and necessities , led to that end , it was consequently the ultimate goal to which nature w as making its way , —so it was inferred ; as if nature did not also create the means Avith an intention ! as
if nature rather considered the happiness of an abstract idea , —such as are gOA r ernment , fatherland , and the like , —than the happiness of each veritable individual . F . Very good . You are coming forth along the road to meet me ; for , tell me , if the methods of governing are means , and means the invention of man , should they alone be exempt from the fate of human means ?
E . What do you mean by the fate of human means ? F . That tendency which is indissolubly bound up with the means employed by humanity , —that Avliich distinguishes it from divine and infallible means . E . What is that ? F . Their inherent fallibility . That often they do not only
fail to produce the proposed effect , but even have an effect diametrically opposed . E . If an example occur to you , oblige me by quoting it . F . Navigation and ships are the means of reaching remote countries , and are the causes that many persons never arrive at the proposed destination .
E . Those , in fact , Avho are shipwrecked and drowned . NOAV I think I understand you . But it is very well knoAvn how it happens that so many individuals gain no increase of happiness through the state . Modes of governing are many ; one therefore Avould be better than another ; many are extremel y faulty , evidently at variance . with the end proposed to be attained , and the best form of government has , perhaps , yet to be invented .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ernest And Falk.
F . The Avise man cannot say that which it is politic to conceal . E . Well ! as you please ! Let us , hoAvever , not get back to the Freemasons . I don't want to knoAv anything more about them .
F . Pardon me ! but you perceive my readiness to tell you something more about them . . E . You are jesting . Well ! civil life , as well as all governments , are nothing but means toAvard the attainment of human happiness . What then ? F . Nothing but means ! and means of human invention ;
although I will not deny that nature has so ordered everything , that man must naturally and speedily find his way to the discovery . E . This has probably induced some to consider society as the aim of nature . As everything , both in our passions and necessities , led to that end , it was consequently the ultimate goal to which nature w as making its way , —so it was inferred ; as if nature did not also create the means Avith an intention ! as
if nature rather considered the happiness of an abstract idea , —such as are gOA r ernment , fatherland , and the like , —than the happiness of each veritable individual . F . Very good . You are coming forth along the road to meet me ; for , tell me , if the methods of governing are means , and means the invention of man , should they alone be exempt from the fate of human means ?
E . What do you mean by the fate of human means ? F . That tendency which is indissolubly bound up with the means employed by humanity , —that Avliich distinguishes it from divine and infallible means . E . What is that ? F . Their inherent fallibility . That often they do not only
fail to produce the proposed effect , but even have an effect diametrically opposed . E . If an example occur to you , oblige me by quoting it . F . Navigation and ships are the means of reaching remote countries , and are the causes that many persons never arrive at the proposed destination .
E . Those , in fact , Avho are shipwrecked and drowned . NOAV I think I understand you . But it is very well knoAvn how it happens that so many individuals gain no increase of happiness through the state . Modes of governing are many ; one therefore Avould be better than another ; many are extremel y faulty , evidently at variance . with the end proposed to be attained , and the best form of government has , perhaps , yet to be invented .