-
Articles/Ads
Article LEIBNIZ AND SPINOZA. ← Page 6 of 25 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Leibniz And Spinoza.
so common as might be Avished , but at the same time not so rare as is sometimes supposed . A man accustomed to act Avell finds a difficulty in making up his mind to act basely . Yet virtue AA'hich is proof against great temptations is not often found ; and to understand this point it becomes necessary to distinguish AA'hat are the principles of ethics . These are tAvo : utility and
pleasure . ( It would haA'e been better to have said , that men are usually guided in their choice of actions by two considerations , —profit and pleasure . ) But M . de l'Esprit entirely ignores the fact , that it is possible to loA'e virtue for virtue ' s sake . Men may admire regularity and order in architecture , symmetry in the human frame , an accurate and artistic arrangement in an
oration , and may be much displeased by the contrary ; why , then , are they not to be deemed capable of haA'ing the same likes and dislikes with regard to human actions and human motives ? It is quite clear , that if I admire any virtue in another , it Avill be requisite for a certain amount of temptation to be presented to me to make me practise the opposite vice ;
and that amount must be greater , in proportion as I approve and admire the virtue in question . Take treachery for an example , —all men despise it ; when De l'Esprit makes this acknowledgment he tacitly admits that men universally approve
and admire fidelity . If it be hinted to a man that he might be tempted to fail in this particular , he Avould reply with Hazael , and with about the same truth : " Is thy servant a clog that he should do this thing ? " Yet AA'hen a strong temptation occurs , hoAv many fall who would have deemed themselves impregnable , at least on that side ! George , Prince of Denmark , the husband
of our Queen Anne , was , taken on the whole , one of the most respectable men of his age , yet he is now principally known by a single act of treachery . When the friends and adherents of the unfortunate James II . were leaving him one by one , Prince George , at the announcement of each neAV defection , ' exclaimed , "Est-il possible ? " Very soon he Avent over to the enemy
himself , and the king , using his own phrase as the severest of sarcasms , inquired , " What , is Est-il possible gone too ? On the peculiar case of those who make great professions of religion Leibniz says nothing ; but the reply is easy . True religion implies true humility ; and the case of the Pharisees , Avith their great outward sanctity , and their deep and desperate hypocrisy ,
is the case of all AVIIO , whatever their creed may be , make similar professions . Moliere ' s " Tartuffe" only offended the devotees of his day by its truth . A feAV years ago , there was a notable member of the Stock Exchange , not more remarkable for his religious character than for the great and ever-increasing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Leibniz And Spinoza.
so common as might be Avished , but at the same time not so rare as is sometimes supposed . A man accustomed to act Avell finds a difficulty in making up his mind to act basely . Yet virtue AA'hich is proof against great temptations is not often found ; and to understand this point it becomes necessary to distinguish AA'hat are the principles of ethics . These are tAvo : utility and
pleasure . ( It would haA'e been better to have said , that men are usually guided in their choice of actions by two considerations , —profit and pleasure . ) But M . de l'Esprit entirely ignores the fact , that it is possible to loA'e virtue for virtue ' s sake . Men may admire regularity and order in architecture , symmetry in the human frame , an accurate and artistic arrangement in an
oration , and may be much displeased by the contrary ; why , then , are they not to be deemed capable of haA'ing the same likes and dislikes with regard to human actions and human motives ? It is quite clear , that if I admire any virtue in another , it Avill be requisite for a certain amount of temptation to be presented to me to make me practise the opposite vice ;
and that amount must be greater , in proportion as I approve and admire the virtue in question . Take treachery for an example , —all men despise it ; when De l'Esprit makes this acknowledgment he tacitly admits that men universally approve
and admire fidelity . If it be hinted to a man that he might be tempted to fail in this particular , he Avould reply with Hazael , and with about the same truth : " Is thy servant a clog that he should do this thing ? " Yet AA'hen a strong temptation occurs , hoAv many fall who would have deemed themselves impregnable , at least on that side ! George , Prince of Denmark , the husband
of our Queen Anne , was , taken on the whole , one of the most respectable men of his age , yet he is now principally known by a single act of treachery . When the friends and adherents of the unfortunate James II . were leaving him one by one , Prince George , at the announcement of each neAV defection , ' exclaimed , "Est-il possible ? " Very soon he Avent over to the enemy
himself , and the king , using his own phrase as the severest of sarcasms , inquired , " What , is Est-il possible gone too ? On the peculiar case of those who make great professions of religion Leibniz says nothing ; but the reply is easy . True religion implies true humility ; and the case of the Pharisees , Avith their great outward sanctity , and their deep and desperate hypocrisy ,
is the case of all AVIIO , whatever their creed may be , make similar professions . Moliere ' s " Tartuffe" only offended the devotees of his day by its truth . A feAV years ago , there was a notable member of the Stock Exchange , not more remarkable for his religious character than for the great and ever-increasing