Synthesized answer
Philosophy can shape understanding and manners in different ways, depending on the approach. One type of philosopher considers man as an active being and aims to please the imagination and engage affections, thereby shaping manners. These philosophers select striking observations, place characters in contrast, and allure people toward virtue through glory and happiness, using precepts and examples to guide them [1]. They make people *feel* the difference between vice and virtue, exciting and regulating sentiments to foster a love of probity and honor [1].
A different species of philosopher regards man as a reasonable being and endeavors to form his understanding more than cultivate his manners [1]. These philosophers examine human nature to find the principles that regulate understanding, excite sentiments, and lead to approval or blame of actions [1, 3]. While their speculations may seem abstract, they aim to discover hidden truths to instruct posterity [3]. The easy and obvious philosophy, unlike the abstruse kind, enters common life, molds the heart and affections, and reforms conduct by touching the principles that actuate men [5]. The abstruse philosophy, on the other hand,…
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From the book
ubject in an easy and obvious manner, and such as is best fitted to please the imagination, and engage the affections. They select the most striking observations and instances from common life; place opposite characters in a proper contrast; and alluring us into the paths of virtue by the views of glory and happiness, direct our steps in these paths by the soundest precepts and most illustrious examples. They make us _feel_ the difference between vice and virtue; they excite and regulate our sentiments; and so they can but bend our hearts to the love of probity and true honour, they…
ge and nation where the sciences flourish, than to be entirely destitute of all relish for those noble entertainments. The most perfect character is supposed to lie between those extremes; retaining an equal ability and taste for books, company, and business; preserving in conversation that discernment and delicacy which arise from polite letters; and in business, that probity and accuracy which are the natural result of a just philosophy. In order to diffuse and cultivate so accomplished a character, nothing can be more useful than compositions of the easy style and manner, which…
te our understanding, excite our sentiments, and make us approve or blame any particular object, action, or behaviour. They think it a reproach to all literature, that philosophy should not yet have fixed, beyond controversy, the foundation of morals, reasoning, and criticism; and should for ever talk of truth and falsehood, vice and virtue, beauty and deformity, without being able to determine the source of these distinctions. While they attempt this arduous task, they are deterred by no difficulties; but proceeding from particular instances to general principles, they still push on…
n for science, says she, but let your science be human, and such as may have a direct reference to action and society. Abstruse thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will severely punish, by the pensive melancholy which they introduce, by the endless uncertainty in which they involve you, and by the cold reception which your pretended discoveries shall meet with, when communicated. Be a philosopher; but, amidst all your philosophy, be still a man. 5. Were the generality of mankind contented to prefer the easy philosophy to the abstract and profound, without throwing any blame…
f their whole lives, if they can discover some hidden truths, which may contribute to the instruction of posterity. 3. It is certain that the easy and obvious philosophy will always, with the generality of mankind, have the preference above the accurate and abstruse; and by many will be recommended, not only as more agreeable, but more useful than the other. It enters more into common life; moulds the heart and affections; and, by touching those principles which actuate men, reforms their conduct, and brings them nearer to that model of perfection which it describes. On the contrary,…