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
... kind has been found abfolutely univerfal in all nations and ages , and has always a precife , de- terminate object , which it inflexibly pursues , The first religious principles must be secondary ; fuch as may eafily be perverted by ...
... kind has been found abfolutely univerfal in all nations and ages , and has always a precife , de- terminate object , which it inflexibly pursues , The first religious principles must be secondary ; fuch as may eafily be perverted by ...
Page 3
... , the fouth , the east , the weft , give their unanimous teftimony to the fame fact . What can be oppofed to fo full an evidence ? As far as writing or history reaches , man- kind B 2 As NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION . 5.
... , the fouth , the east , the weft , give their unanimous teftimony to the fame fact . What can be oppofed to fo full an evidence ? As far as writing or history reaches , man- kind B 2 As NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION . 5.
Page 4
... kind , in antient times , appear universally to have been polytheifts . Shall we affert , that , in more antient times , before the knowledge of letters , or the discovery of any art or science , men entertained the principles of pure ...
... kind , in antient times , appear universally to have been polytheifts . Shall we affert , that , in more antient times , before the knowledge of letters , or the discovery of any art or science , men entertained the principles of pure ...
Page 19
... kind or fpecies . Nor is it long before we afcribe to them thought , and reason , and paffion , and fometimes even- the limbs and figures of men , in order to bring them nearer to a refemblance with ourselves . IN proportion as any ...
... kind or fpecies . Nor is it long before we afcribe to them thought , and reason , and paffion , and fometimes even- the limbs and figures of men , in order to bring them nearer to a refemblance with ourselves . IN proportion as any ...
Page 22
... kind of supersti- tion , fays Strabo , are the women . These ex- cite the men to devotion and supplications , and the obfervance of religious days . It is rare to meet a Diod . Sic . Lib . iii . b Lib . vii , with one , that lives apart ...
... kind of supersti- tion , fays Strabo , are the women . These ex- cite the men to devotion and supplications , and the obfervance of religious days . It is rare to meet a Diod . Sic . Lib . iii . b Lib . vii , with one , that lives apart ...
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.