"The parts and proportions of the mind, their mutual relation and dependency, the connection and frame of those passions which constitute the soul or temper, may easily be understoof by anyone who thinks it worth his while to study this inward anatomy."
— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for A. Bell
Date
1699, 1714
Metaphor
"The parts and proportions of the mind, their mutual relation and dependency, the connection and frame of those passions which constitute the soul or temper, may easily be understoof by anyone who thinks it worth his while to study this inward anatomy."
Metaphor in Context
The parts and proportions of the mind, their mutual relation and dependency, the connection and frame of those passions which constitute the soul or temper, may easily be understoof by anyone who thinks it worth his while to study this inward anatomy. It is certain that the order or symmetry of this inward part is, in itself, no less real and exact that that of the body. However, it is apparent that few of us endeavour to become anatomists of this sort. Nor is anyone ashamed of the deepest ignorance in such a subject. For though the greatest misery and ill is generally owned to be from disposition and temper, though it is allowed that temper may often change and that it actually varies on many occasions, much to our disadvantage, yet how this matter is brought about we inquire not. We never trouble ourselves to consider thoroughly by what means or methods our inward constitution comes at any time to be impaired or injured. The solutio continui, which bodily surgeons talk of, is never applied in this case by surgeons of another sort. The notion of a whole and parts is not apprehended in this science. We know not what the effect is of straining any affection, indulging any wrong passion or relaxing any proper and natural habit or good inclination. Nor can we conceive how a particular action should have such a sudden influence on the whole mind as to make the person an immediate sufferer. We suppose rather that a man may violate his faith, commit any wickedness unfamiliar to him before, engage in any vice or villainy, without the least prejudice to himself or any misery naturally following from the ill action.
(p. 194-5)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
A complicated publication history. At least 10 entries in ESTC (1699, 1711, 1714, 1733, 1744, 1751, 1757, 1758, 1773, 1790).
See An Inquiry Concerning Virtue, in Two Discourses; Viz. I. of Virtue, and the Belief of a Deity. II. of the Obligations to Virtue. (London: Printed for A. Bell, 1699). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
See also "An Inquiry Concerning Virtue or Merit" in Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times. In Three Volumes. (London: John Darby, 1711). <Link to ESTC>
Some text drawn from EEBO and ECCO, most from Anthony Ashley Cooper, Third Earl of Shaftesbury. Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, ed. Lawrence E. Klein (Cambridge: CUP, 2001). Klein's text is based on the British Library's copy of the second edition of 1714. [Texts to be collated.]
See An Inquiry Concerning Virtue, in Two Discourses; Viz. I. of Virtue, and the Belief of a Deity. II. of the Obligations to Virtue. (London: Printed for A. Bell, 1699). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
See also "An Inquiry Concerning Virtue or Merit" in Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times. In Three Volumes. (London: John Darby, 1711). <Link to ESTC>
Some text drawn from EEBO and ECCO, most from Anthony Ashley Cooper, Third Earl of Shaftesbury. Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, ed. Lawrence E. Klein (Cambridge: CUP, 2001). Klein's text is based on the British Library's copy of the second edition of 1714. [Texts to be collated.]
Theme
Mind-Body Dualism
Date of Entry
03/20/2007
