Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Philosophical Treatise on the Nature and Constitution of Man, Vol. 1
As regards the various works which have been consulted during the progress of this treatise, the author feels that he ought to State as exactly as he can, the extent to which he has made use of the thoughts and labours of others in this mode, and the manner in which he has turned them to account. To avow that he owes nothing to these able and learned writers, would be doing gross injustice to them. To assert that for everything of value which is here propounded, he is indebted to them, would be doing still grosser injustice to himself. To have attempted a mere epitome of their Opinions, would have been to present a chaos of sentiments which must have appeared as contradictory in principle as they were perplexing, and even valueless, as a source of instruction. The writer has accordingly scrutinized elaborately their various theories, and has availed himself of them much in the same way as a judge turns to account the reasoning of the different advocates who address his court, and the several phases presented by the evidence: not adopting their opposite and inconsistent views and conclusions, nor being misled by their arguments; but from the sum total of the reasoning and facts adduced before him, combined with his own investigation and experience, endeavouring to arrive at such an opinion upon the whole of the circumstances submitted to his consideration, as the entire subject may appear to warrant; and pronouncing such a decision as will meet the merits of the case, and be in con formity with the principles and practice of the law which it is his duty to administer.
What appeared to the author to constitute the cream or essence of the thoughts of these distinguished writers, he has extracted, and presented to the reader, as notes in the margin of this work; from which he may both Obtain instruction as regards the wisdom displayed, and also perceive the extent to which the author has availed himself of their ideas. On the one hand, it would have been presumptuous when treating on so important a subject, not to have inquired fully what the greatest minds, who have preceded him, thought on the same topic. On the other hand, it would have been dishonest to have taken advantage of their labours, by putting forth their sentiments and conclusions as his own.
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