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Article LEIBNIZ AND SPINOZA. ← Page 14 of 25 →
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Leibniz And Spinoza.
and induce him to resolve one Avay . On the other hand , he feels that B . is not the companion he would have chosen for himself , had his choice been in all respects unfettered . If he be of an active , enterprising , ambitious character , he will be induced to propose , Avhen he thinks of the aids Avhich in his neAV position will be offered to him . On the other hand , he will also
be very likely to suppose that he can Avin place , wealth , and influence for himself , and Avithout the trammels of a marriage not Avholly to his taste . If he be of a careless and indolent character , he may be willing to grasp the apparent advantages , and be saved the labour of providing for himself . If he be of an affectionate and domestic character , this will tend to prevent his forming an alliance determined solel y by questions of interest . The man accustomed to lean on others will seek their
adA'ice and support , and innumerable varying influences AA'ill be brought to bear upon him , until , at last , some combination of motives becomes strong enough to determine the question , and he resolves to propose , or not to do so . There is no real uncertainty in this matter ; I cannot tell which Avay he Avill decide , because , first , I do not ICIIOAV what motives will be presented to
him , nor can I sufficiently estimate the influence which each will exert ; but so far as I know the man . and his circumstances , so far am I able to judge what he will do , always taking into the account my own soundness of judgment . NOAA ' , if my judgment were infallible , and I kneAV every circumstance which acted on the intellect or feelings of A . or any other manI should be
, perfectly sure of knoAving Avith certainty what he Avould do ; this would be , in the strictest sense of the word , foreknoAvledge ; but as there' can be no foreknoAvledge where there is no certainty , so , to a being able to decide accuratel y both on motiA ^ es anel the mind on Avhich they act , there can be no uncertainty about any human action Avhatever . Thus
we come to a third principle , that in every conjuncture there can be but one result ; men may guess it , may anticipate it with more or less accuracy , according to their poAvers and opportunities , but the result can onl y be ONE , and that one must be foreseen b y any being capable of measuring mind and motive . And UOAV it will seem that we have nearl y reached the doctrine
of fatalism , nearly overthrown that of man ' s free-Avill ; but there is yet one more point to be reached , aud that is , that circumstances themselves are determined one by another in an immutable chain . Take the long series of events which followed , as a - cause , the succession of Cromwell to the chief authority in this country , —AVIIO shall say that it was not by the reading of some particular tract that the mind of that great man Avas first turned
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Leibniz And Spinoza.
and induce him to resolve one Avay . On the other hand , he feels that B . is not the companion he would have chosen for himself , had his choice been in all respects unfettered . If he be of an active , enterprising , ambitious character , he will be induced to propose , Avhen he thinks of the aids Avhich in his neAV position will be offered to him . On the other hand , he will also
be very likely to suppose that he can Avin place , wealth , and influence for himself , and Avithout the trammels of a marriage not Avholly to his taste . If he be of a careless and indolent character , he may be willing to grasp the apparent advantages , and be saved the labour of providing for himself . If he be of an affectionate and domestic character , this will tend to prevent his forming an alliance determined solel y by questions of interest . The man accustomed to lean on others will seek their
adA'ice and support , and innumerable varying influences AA'ill be brought to bear upon him , until , at last , some combination of motives becomes strong enough to determine the question , and he resolves to propose , or not to do so . There is no real uncertainty in this matter ; I cannot tell which Avay he Avill decide , because , first , I do not ICIIOAV what motives will be presented to
him , nor can I sufficiently estimate the influence which each will exert ; but so far as I know the man . and his circumstances , so far am I able to judge what he will do , always taking into the account my own soundness of judgment . NOAA ' , if my judgment were infallible , and I kneAV every circumstance which acted on the intellect or feelings of A . or any other manI should be
, perfectly sure of knoAving Avith certainty what he Avould do ; this would be , in the strictest sense of the word , foreknoAvledge ; but as there' can be no foreknoAvledge where there is no certainty , so , to a being able to decide accuratel y both on motiA ^ es anel the mind on Avhich they act , there can be no uncertainty about any human action Avhatever . Thus
we come to a third principle , that in every conjuncture there can be but one result ; men may guess it , may anticipate it with more or less accuracy , according to their poAvers and opportunities , but the result can onl y be ONE , and that one must be foreseen b y any being capable of measuring mind and motive . And UOAV it will seem that we have nearl y reached the doctrine
of fatalism , nearly overthrown that of man ' s free-Avill ; but there is yet one more point to be reached , aud that is , that circumstances themselves are determined one by another in an immutable chain . Take the long series of events which followed , as a - cause , the succession of Cromwell to the chief authority in this country , —AVIIO shall say that it was not by the reading of some particular tract that the mind of that great man Avas first turned