Philosophical Works, v. 2 (of 4) Including All the Essays, and Exhibiting the More Important Alterations and Corrections in the Successive Editions Published by the Author

I have already hinted, that our sense of every kind of virtue is not natural; but that there are some virtues that produce pleasure and approbation by means of an artifice or co...

'Tis altogether impossible to give any definition of the passions of _love_ and _hatred_; and that because they produce merely a simple impression, without any mixture or compos...

We come now to explain the _direct_ passions, or the impressions which arise immediately from good or evil, from pain or pleasure. Of this kind are, _desire and aversion, grief...

As all the perceptions of the mind may be divided into _impressions_ and _ideas_, so the impressions admit of another division into _original_ and _secondary_. This division of...

We come now to the examination of such virtues and vices as are entirely natural, and have no dependence on the artifice and contrivance of men. The examination of these will co...

After Demea's departure, Cleanthes and Philo continued the conversation in the following manner. Our friend, I am afraid, said Cleanthes, will have little inclination to revive...

There is an inconvenience which attends all abstruse reasoning, that it may silence, without convincing an antagonist, and requires the same intense study to make us sensible of...

I must own, Cleanthes, said Demea, that nothing can more surprise me, than the light in which you have all along put this argument. By the whole tenor of your discourse, one wou...

I scruple not to allow, said Cleanthes, that I have been apt to suspect the frequent repetition of the word _infinite_, which we meet with in all theological writers, to savour...

After I joined the company, whom I found sitting in Cleanthes's library, Demea paid Cleanthes some compliments on the great care which he took of my education, and on his unwear...

It is my opinion, I own, replied Demea, that each man feels, in a manner, the truth of religion within his own breast, and, from a consciousness of his imbecility and misery, ra...

It seems strange to me, said Cleanthes, that you, Demea, who are so sincere in the cause of religion, should still maintain the mysterious, incomprehensible nature of the Deity,...

But here, continued Philo, in examining the ancient system of the soul of the world, there strikes me, all on a sudden, a new idea, which, if just, must go near to subvert all y...

What you ascribe to the fertility of my invention, replied Philo, is entirely owing to the nature of the subject. In subjects adapted to the narrow compass of human reason, ther...

It must be a slight fabric, indeed, said Demea, which can be erected on so tottering a foundation. While we are uncertain whether there is one deity or many; whether the deity o...

How the most absurd argument, replied Cleanthes, in the hands of a man of ingenuity and invention, may acquire an air of probability! Are you not aware, Philo, that it became ne...

But to show you still more inconveniences, continued Philo, in your Anthropomorphism, please to take a new survey of your principles. _Like effects prove like causes_. This is t...

But if so many difficulties attend the argument _a posteriori_, said Demea, had we not better adhere to that simple and sublime argument _a priori_, which, by offering to us inf...

Of the Objects and Causes of Love and Hatred Experiments to confirm this System Difficulties solved Of the Love of Relations Of our Esteem for the Rich and Powerful Of Benevolen...

Division of the Subject Of Pride and Humility, their Objects and Causes Whence these Objects and Causes are derived Of the Relations of Impressions and Ideas Of the Influence of...

Justice, whether a natural or artificial Virtue? Of the Origin of Justice and Property Of the Rules which determine Property Of the Transference of Property by Consent Of the Ob...

Of Liberty and Necessity The Same subject continued Of the Influencing Motives of the Will Of the Causes of the Violent Passions Of the Effects of Custom Of the Influence of the...

Of the Origin of the Natural Virtues and Vices Of Greatness of Mind Of Goodness and Benevolence Of Natural Abilities Some farther Reflections concerning the Natural Virtues Conc...