Beattie, James (1735-1803)

An Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth; in Opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism

Edinburgh

Printed for A. Kincaid & J. Bell. Sold, at London, by E. & C. Dilly

1770

"Thus far we have endeavoured to distinguish and ascertain the separate provinces of Reason and Common Sense. Their connection and mutual dependence, and the extent of their respective jurisdictions, we now proceed more particularly to investigate."

Thus far we have endeavoured to distinguish and ascertain the separate provinces of Reason and Common Sense. Their connection and mutual dependence, and the extent of their respective jurisdictions, we now proceed more particularly to investigate.--I ought perhaps to make an apology for these, and some other metaphorical expressions. And indeed it were to be wished, that in all matters of science, they could be laid aside; for the indiscreet use of them has done great harm, by leading philosophers to mistake verbal analogies for real ones; and often, too, by giving plausibility to nonsense, as well as by disguising and perplexing very plain doctrines with an affected pomp of high-sounding words and gaudy images. But in the philosophy of the human mind, it is impossible to keep clear of metaphor; because we cannot speak intelligibly of immaterial things, without continual allusions to matter, and its qualities. All I need to say further on this head is, that I mean not by these metaphors to impose upon the reader, and that I shall do my utmost to prevent their imposing upon myself.
(I.i, pp. 46-7)

Geography::Province Government::Jurisdiction

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10 entries in ESTC (1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1777, 1778).

Beattie, James. An Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth; in Opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism (Edinburgh: A Kincaid & J. Bell, 1770). <Link to ECCO>

Text from corrected and enlarged second edition of 1771. <Link to Google Books>

09/29/2011