Butler, Joseph (1692-1752)

Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel

Printed by W. Botham

London

1726, 1729

"Let us Instance in a Watch--Suppose the several Parts of it taken to Pieces, and placed apart from each other: Let a Man have ever so exact a Notion of these several Parts, unless he considers the Respects and Relations which they have to each other, he will not have any thing like the Idea of a Watch. Suppose these several Parts brought together and any how united: Neither will he yet, be the Union ever so close, have an Idea which will bear any Resemblance to that of a Watch. But let him view those several Parts put together, or consider them as to be put together in the Manner of a Watch; let him form a Notion of Relations which those several Parts have to each other--all conducive in their respective Ways, to this Purpose, shewing the Hour of the Day; and then he has the Idea of a Watch. Thus it is with Regard to the inward Frame of Man. Appetites, Passions, Affections, and the Principle of Reflection, I considered merely as the several Parts of our inward Nature, do not at all give us an Idea of the System or Constitution of this Nature: Because the Constitution is formed by somewhat not yet taken into Consideration, namely by the Relations, which these several Parts have to each other; the chief of which is the Authority of Reflection of Conscience. 'Tis from considering the Relations which the several Appetites and Passions in the inward Frame have to each other, and above all the Supremacy of Reflection or Conscience, that we get the Idea of the System or Constitution of Humane Nature."

Whoever thinks it worth while to consider this Matter thoroughly, should begin with stating to himself exactly the Idea of a System, Oeconomy or Constitution of any particular Nature, or particular any thing: And he will, I suppose, find, that 'tis an One or a Whole, made up of several Parts; but yet, that the several Parts even considered as a Whole, do not compleat the Idea, unless in the Notion of a Whole, you include the Relations and Respects, which those Parts have to each other. Every Work both of Nature and of Art is a System: And as every particular thing both natural and artificial is for some Use or Purpose out of and beyond itself, one may add, to what has been already brought into the Idea of a System, its Conduciveness to this one or more Ends. Let us Instance in a Watch--Suppose the several Parts of it taken to Pieces, and placed apart from each other: Let a Man have ever so exact a Notion of these several Parts, unless he considers the Respects and Relations which they have to each other, he will not have any thing like the Idea of a Watch. Suppose these several Parts brought together and any how united: Neither will he yet, be the Union ever so close, have an Idea which will bear any Resemblance to that of a Watch. But let him view those several Parts put together, or consider them as to be put together in the Manner of a Watch; let him form a Notion of Relations which those several Parts have to each other--all conducive in their respective Ways, to this Purpose, shewing the Hour of the Day; and then he has the Idea of a Watch. Thus it is with Regard to the inward Frame of Man. Appetites, Passions, Affections, and the Principle of Reflection, I considered merely as the several Parts of our inward Nature, do not at all give us an Idea of the System or Constitution of this Nature: Because the Constitution is formed by somewhat not yet taken into Consideration, namely by the Relations, which these several Parts have to each other; the chief of which is the Authority of Reflection of Conscience. 'Tis from considering the Relations which the several Appetites and Passions in the inward Frame have to each other, and above all the Supremacy of Reflection or Conscience, that we get the Idea of the System or Constitution of Humane Nature. And from the Idea itself 'twill as fully appear, that this our Nature, i. e. Constitution is adapted to Virtue, as from the Idea of a Watch it appears, that its Nature, i. e. Constitution or System is adapted to measure Time. What in Fact or Event commonly happens, is nothing to this Question. Every Work of Art is apt to be out of Order: But this is so far from being according to its System, that let the Disorder increase, and 'twill totally destroy it. This is merely by Way of Explanation, what an Oeconomy, System or Constitution is. And thus far the Cases are perfectly parallel. If we go further, there is indeed a Difference, nothing to the present Purpose, but too important an one ever to be omitted. A Machine is inanimate and passive: but we are Agents. Our Constitution is put in our own Power. We are charged with it: And therefore are accountable for any Disorder or Violation of it.
(Preface, ix-xi)

Machine::Watch

Reading Martin's and Barresi's Naturalization of the Soul (74); and again Clifford Johnson's "Joseph Butler: Laodicean Rationalist?" Modern Language Studies. 4.2 (1974) 78-85: 82.

9 entries in ESTC (1729, 1736, 1749, 1759, 1765, 1769, 1774, 1792).

First published in 1726, but see "The second edition, corrected: to which is added a preface": Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel Upon the Following Subjects. Upon Humane Nature. Upon the Government of the Tongue. Upon Compassion. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon Resentment. Upon Forgiveness of Injuries. Upon Self-Deceit. Upon the Love of Our Neighbour. Upon the Love of God. Upon the Ignorance of Man. by Joseph Butler, L. L. B. Preacher at the Rolls, and Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durham. 2nd ed., corr. (London : printed by W. Botham, for James and John Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1729). <Link to ESTC>

See Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel Upon the Following Subjects. Upon Humane Nature. Upon the Government of the Tongue. Upon Compassion. Upon the Character of Balaam. Upon Resentment. Upon Forgiveness of Injuries. Upon Self-Deceit. Upon the Love of Our Neighbour. Upon the Love of God. Upon the Ignorance of Man. By Joseph Butler, L. L. B. Preacher at the Rolls, and Rector of Stanhope in the Bishoprick of Durham. (London: Printed by W. Botham, for James and John Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1726). <Link to ESTC>

Reading in D. D. Raphael, ed. British Moralists. vol 1 of 2. (Oxford at the Clarendon Press, Oxford UP 1969). The OUP text is drawn from the 4th edition of 1749, which is available in Google Books.

10/25/2004

05/24/2006