Part 1 on Superphysics

The Delicacy of Taste and Passion [Sensitive People]

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Some people are extremely sensitive to all the accidents of life.

Such people have more lively enjoyments, and more pungent sorrows than sedate men.

The Freedom of the Press

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The extreme liberty that we enjoy in Britain surprises foreigners the most.

We can say whatever we want to the public and openly censure every measure by the king or his ministers.

Politics May Be Reduced To a Science

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

It is wrong to say that all governments are alike, and that their only difference is in the character and conduct of the governors. If this were true, then most political disputes would end and there would be just one constitution for all.

The First Principles of Government

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The most surprizing about human affairs is:

the ease with which the many are governed by the few.
the implicit submission of men to their rulers.

What causes this?

We see:

Origin of Governments: Obedience, Justice, Liberty

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A man, who is born in a family, is compelled to maintain society from:

necessity
natural inclination, and
habit

To further progress, he establishes political society in order to administer justice. Without justice, there can be no peace, safety, nor mutual intercourse among them. Therefore, the only purpose of the vast apparatus of our government is to distribute justice, or, in other words, support the 12 judges.

The Indepdendence of Parliament

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Political writers have a maxim: In contriving any system of government and fixing the checks and controls of the constitution, every man should be supposed a knave, and have only private interest in all his actions.

Is The British Government An Absolute Monarchy Or a Republic?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

It affords a violent prejudice against almost every science, that no prudent man, however sure of his principles, dares prophesy concerning any event, or foretel the remote consequences of things.

Political Parties

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Of all men, that distinguish themselves by memorable achievements, the first place of honour seems due to LEGISLATORS and founders of states, who transmit a system of laws and institutions to secure the peace, happiness, and liberty of future generations.

British Political Parties

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The British government is a source of division and party.

Superstition and Enthusiasm

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

There is a maxim that says that the corruption of the best things produces the worst things. This is true in the corruptions of true religion into superstition and enthusiasm.

Dignity and Meanness Of Human Nature

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Intellectual sects and political factions secretly form. Sometimes they do not come to an open rupture.

But they give a different turn to the ways of thinking of those who have taken part on either side.

Civil Liberty

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Political writers who are free from party-prejudices cultivate a science that contributes most to public utility, of all sciences.

However, I suspect that the world is still too young to establish many general universal truths in politics.

Eloquence

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The revolutions and periods in human history are full of variety and surprize in the manners, customs, and opinions.

The Rise And Progress Of The Sciences

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In human affairs, the most refinement is required by the discernment of:

what comes from chance and
what comes from causes.

Any enquiry about an event is cut when we declare it to be derived from chance. *

Why is such a nation more polite and learned?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Why is such a nation more polite and learned, at a particular time, than its neighbours?

1. The arts and sciences can only arise under a free government

In the first ages, men were barbarous and ignorant. They only sought security against mutual violence and injustice by choosing the proper rulers. Such a ruler will eventually delegate his authority to inferior magistrates, who preserve peace and order in their respective districts.

The Rise And Progress Of The Arts

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Monarchies get their foundation from a superstitious reverence to priests and princes who have commonly abridged the liberty of reasoning on religion and politics, and consequently on metaphysics and morals.

The Epicurean

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It is a great mortification to the vanity of man, that his utmost art and industry can never equal the meanest of nature’s productions, either for beauty or value.

Art is only the under-workman,° and is employed to give a few strokes of embellishment to those pieces, which come from the hand of the master.

The Stoic

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Nature has endowed man with a sublime celestial spirit and an affinity with superior beings. She allows not such noble faculties to lie lethargic or idle.

The Platonist

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Some philosophers are surprised that all mankind have the same faculties yet:

differ so widely in their pursuits and inclinations
condemn what is fondly sought after by another

Some are even surprised that a man differs so widely from himself at different times. He rejects with disdain what, before, was the object of all his wishes.

The Skeptic

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am often skeptical of the decisions of philosophers that I tend to dispute them.

They all seem to make the mistake of confining their principles instead of accounting for the vast variety of nature.

Polygamy and Marriage

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Marriage is an engagement entered into by mutual consent for the propagation of the species. It is susceptible of all the conditions, which consent establishes, provided they be not contrary to this end.

Argument for and Against Divorce

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Monogamy

How long should monogamous marriages last? Should we allow voluntary divorces, which were customary among the Greeks and Romans?

Arguments for Divorce

Loveless marriages just increase hate and pain

Disgust and aversion often arises after marriage from:

Simplicity And Refinement In Writing

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fine writing, according to Mr. ADDISON, consists of sentiments, which are natural, without being obvious. There cannot be a juster, and more concise definition of fine writing. *95

Sentiments, which are merely natural, affect not the mind with any pleasure, and seem not worthy of our attention. The pleasantries of a waterman, ° the observations of a peasant, the ribaldry of a porter or hackney coachman, all of these are natural, and disagreeable. What an insipid comedy should we make of the chit-chat of the tea-table, copied faithfully and at full length? Nothing can please persons of taste, but nature drawn with all her graces and ornaments, la belle nature;° or if we copy low life, the strokes must be strong and remarkable, and must convey a lively image to the mind. The absurd naivety a of Sancho Pancho is represented in such inimitable colours by CERVANTES, that it entertains as much as the picture of the most magnanimous hero or softest lover. *96

National Characters

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

¹ Shallow people often carry all national characters to extremes. They categorize everyone and think that any people are knavish, cowardly, or ignorant without exception.

Men of sense condemn these undistinguishing judgments. But at the same time, they say that each nation has:

Does Climate Define National Characters?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

²⁰ If men’s characters depended on the air and climate, heat and cold should naturally have a mighty influence, since it has the greatest effect on all plants and irrational animals.