Four Dissertations: I. The Natural History of Religion. II. Of the Passions. III. Of Tragedy. IV. Of the Standard of TasteA. Millar, in the Strand., 1757 - 240 pages |
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Page 2
... ideas , which it has fuggefted . Some nations have been discovered , who entertained no fentiments of Religion , if travellers and hi- ftorians may be credited ; and no two nations , and scarce any two men , have ever agreed pre- cisely ...
... ideas , which it has fuggefted . Some nations have been discovered , who entertained no fentiments of Religion , if travellers and hi- ftorians may be credited ; and no two nations , and scarce any two men , have ever agreed pre- cisely ...
Page 5
... idea of perfection : And flowly distinguishing the nobler parts of its frame from the groffer , it learns to transfer only the former , much ele- vated and refined , to its divinity . Nothing could disturb this natural progress of ...
... idea of perfection : And flowly distinguishing the nobler parts of its frame from the groffer , it learns to transfer only the former , much ele- vated and refined , to its divinity . Nothing could disturb this natural progress of ...
Page 12
... that , in all nations , which have embraced polytheism or idolatry , the firft ideas of religion arose not from a contemplation of the works of nature , but but from a concern with regard to the events of 12 I. DISSERTATION.
... that , in all nations , which have embraced polytheism or idolatry , the firft ideas of religion arose not from a contemplation of the works of nature , but but from a concern with regard to the events of 12 I. DISSERTATION.
Page 16
... ideas of those powers , on which we have fo entire a depen- dance . Could men anatomize nature , accord- ing to the most probable , at least the most in- telligible philofophy , they would find , that thefe causes are nothing but the ...
... ideas of those powers , on which we have fo entire a depen- dance . Could men anatomize nature , accord- ing to the most probable , at least the most in- telligible philofophy , they would find , that thefe causes are nothing but the ...
Page 17
... idea of them . The more they confider these causes themselves , and the uncertainty of their opera- tion , the less fatisfaction do they meet with in their research ; and , however unwilling , they muft at last have abandoned fo arduous ...
... idea of them . The more they confider these causes themselves , and the uncertainty of their opera- tion , the less fatisfaction do they meet with in their research ; and , however unwilling , they muft at last have abandoned fo arduous ...
Other editions - View all
Four Dissertations: I. the Natural History of Religion. Ii. of the Passions ... David Hume No preview available - 2014 |
Four Dissertations: I. the Natural History of Religion. Ii. of the Passions ... David Hume No preview available - 2019 |
Four Dissertations: I. the Natural History of Religion. II. of the Passions ... David Hume No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
abfurd afcribe affection againſt agreeable alfo alſo amongſt antient arifes Arrian beauty becauſe betwixt cafe caufe cauſes cife circumftance compariſon compofition connexion contrary courſe defire deity diminiſh diſcover divine eafily eaſy efteem encreaſe eſtabliſhed excite expreffion fafely fame fatisfaction fays feems fenfe fenfible fentiment fion firft firſt fome forrow fpecies fpirit friendſhip ftandard ftill ftrong fubject fuch fufficient fuitable fuperftition fuperior fuppofed fupreme fure fyftem give gods greateſt happineſs himſelf human ideas idolatry imagination inftances invifible itſelf Jupiter kind leaft leaſt lefs mankind mind moft moral moſt muft muſt nations nature obferve object occafion opinion oppofite ourſelves Ovid paffion perfect perfon philofophers pleaſed pleaſure poffible praiſe prefent pride principles produce purpoſe raiſed reaſon relation relations of ideas religion religious repreſented reſemblance ſerve ſhould ſtill ſuch ſuppoſed ſyſtem tafte taſte thefe theiſm themſelves theſe thofe thoſe tion tranfition underſtanding uneafinefs univerfal vulgar whofe worſhip
Popular passages
Page 228 - ... as the standard of beauty. The organs of internal sensation are seldom so perfect as to allow the general principles their full play, and produce a feeling correspondent to those principles. They either...
Page 216 - ... and perception. One obvious cause, why many feel not the proper sentiment of beauty, is the want of that delicacy of imagination, which is requisite to convey a sensibility of those finer emotions.
Page 79 - Stock, stone, or other homely pedigree, In his defence his servants are as bold As if he had been born of beaten gold. The Jewish Rabbins, though their enemies, In this conclude them honest men and wise ; For 'twas their duty, all the learned think, T" espouse his cause by whom they eat and drink.
Page 136 - Thus any continued sound, as the music of birds, or a fall of water, awakens every moment the mind of the beholder, and makes him more attentive to the several beauties of the place that lie before him. Thus if there arises a fragrancy of smells or perfumes, they heighten the pleasures of the imagination...
Page 211 - He charms by the force and clearness of his expression, by the readiness and variety of his inventions, and by his natural pictures of the passions, especially those of the gay and amorous kind : And however his faults may diminish our satisfaction, they are not able entirely to destroy it.
Page 232 - ... in the faculties may commonly be remarked, proceeding either from prejudice, from want of practice, or want of delicacy, and there is just reason for approving one taste, and condemning another: but where...
Page 226 - Every work of art has also a certain end or purpose for which it is calculated ; and is to be deemed more or less perfect, as it is more or less fitted to attain this end.
Page 238 - The same good sense that directs men in the ordinary occurrences of life is not hearkened to in religious matters, which are supposed to be placed altogether above the cognizance of human reason.
Page 228 - When the critic has no delicacy, he judges without any distinction, and is only affected by the grosser and more palpable qualities of the object : the finer touches pass unnoticed and disregarded. Where he is not aided by practice, his verdict is attended with confusion and hesitation.
Page 107 - In all this, a superstitious man finds nothing, which he has properly performed for the sake of his deity, or which can peculiarly recommend him to the divine favour and protection.