A Philosophical and Practical Treatise on the Will: Forming the Third Volume of a System of Mental Philosophy

Front Cover
Harper & brothers, 1843 - Will - 411 pages
 

Contents

Further proof from various writers on the mind
35
A knowledge of the Will implies a preliminary knowledge of the Intellect
37
Implies a preliminary knowledge also of the Sensibilities
38
CHAPTER II
40
The intellectual part the foundation or basis of the action of the other parts of the mind
41
The connexion of the understanding with the will
42
The connexion of the understanding with the will shown from its connexion with action
43
Further proof from an observation of the conduct of
45
Illustration of the statements of the preceding section
46
Of the nature of the connexion between the understanding and will
48
Of the opinions of Mr Locke on this point
49
An energetic will sometimes found in connexion with limited powers of intellect
58
POWER OF THE WILL
59
CHAPTER III
60
Of what are strictly included under the sensibilities
61
Acts of the intellect in immediate proximity with emotions
64
Emotions not in proximity with volitions
66
Emotions followed by desires and feelings of obligation
67
CHAPTER I
71
VOLITIONS OR VOLUNTARY STATES OF MIND 36 The necessity of that controlling power which exists in the will
78
Remarks on the nature of the will
80
Of the nature of the acts of the will or volitions
81
Volition never exists without some object 78
82
It exists only in reference to what we believe to be in our power
83
Volition relates to our own action and to whatever else may be dependent upon
84
Volitions involve a prospective element
87
Volitions may exist with various degrees of strength
88
Causes of the variation of the strength of the voluntary exercise
89
Further illustrations of the same subject
90
CHAPTER V
94
Probable cause of desires and volitions being confounded
95
The distinction of desires and volitions asserted by consciousness
96
Desires differ from volitions in fixedness and permanency
98
Further proof of this distinction from language
99
Sentiments of esteem and honour often imply this distinction
100
Of some strictures on the foregoing remarks of Reid
101
Volition may exist in respect to those complex acts which the mind can embrace as
103
If the distinction in question do not exist the foundation of morals becomes unsettled
105
Instances in illustration of the distinction in question
107
Other instances in illustration of proof
108
Proofs drawn from some facts in the constitution of the mind
109
Of the chastisements of the Supreme Being inflicted on those he loves
111
60
113
61
115
64
122
Section Page
123
66
124
CHAPTER II
130
Laws of the will inferred from the fact that in the administration
136
CHAPTER III
142
Of the reasonableness of the foregoing views
148
Other familiar instances of this foresight
154
Proof from the regularity observable in the commission of crime
161
94
163
95
164
96
165
98
168
Statement of other laws that are involved in the constitution
169
100
170
101
172
103
175
105
178
107
180
108
183
109
184
111
188
113
192
Proof of the distinction between liberty and power
193
115
194
Distinction of power and liberty shown from language
195
PART II
196
Origin of the idea of power in Original Suggestion
197
Occasions of the origin of the idea of power
198
The idea of power involves the reality of power
199
Things exist which are not made known by the senses
200
Of power as an attribute of the human mind
201
Further shown by a reference to the Divine Mind
202
CHAPTER VIII
203
LAWS OF THE WILL
204
The character of motives depends in part on the constitutional
207
Nature of the influence of motives
214
CHAPTER I
223
Energy of the will requisite in the men of revolutions
232
CHAPTER II
233
Of the circumstances under which this mental harmony may
236
Objected that the foregoing views are necessarily and in their very
242
Evidence of the freedom of the will from consciousness
249
Objected that the will is necessarily governed by the strongest
256
FREEDOM OF THE WILL IMPLIED IN MANS MORAL NATURE Section Page 156 Remarks on the nature or mode of the argument
257
Of the elements of mans moral nature
258
Evidence of freedom of the will from feelings of approval and dis approval
259
Proof of freedom from feelings of remorse
260
framed the abstract notions of right and wrong
261
Proof from feelings of moral obligation
263
Evidence from mens views of crimes and punishments
264
POWER OF THE WILL
265
Prevalent opinions of mankind on this subject
266
CHAPTER V
267
Evidence from the occasional suspension of the wills acts
268
Evidence of the freedom of the will from the control which every man has over his own motives of action
269
The freedom of the will further shown from the attempts of men to influence the conduct of their fellowmen
271
Argued further from the view taken in the Scriptures
273
Practical importance of the doctrine of liberty
274
CHAPTER VI
277
Answered that they result necessarily from the evidence
278
Denial of the alleged contradiction
280
Admission of inexplicableness or mystery
281
Of the limited powers of the human mind
283
We find things which cannot be explained everywhere
284
Illustrated from the influence of one man over another
285
The opposite supposition attended with equal difficulty
286
Both views are to be fully received
287
The doctrine of the wills freedom equally important with that of its subjection to law
288
CHAPTER VII
289
Inability to define enthralment or slavery
291
The nature of mental enthralment illustrated by a reference to extorted promises
292
Illustration of the same subject from cases of torture
293
Historical illustrations of the subject
295
The will enthralled by the indulgence of the appetites
297
ling propensities
298
Enthralment of the will occasioned by predominant and overru 188 The will enthralled by inordinate ambition
300
The will enslaved by the indulgence of the passions
301
Inordinate intensity of the domestic affections
302
191 Of the slavery of the will in connexion with moral accountability
304
Page 309
310
The power of the will restricted and subordinate
323
Proof of power in the will from internal experience
324
Proved from the ability which we have to direct our attention to 207 Proof of power in the will from observation
325
Illustration of the subject from the command of temper
329
Further illustrations of this subject 328 329
330
Proved from the concealment of the passions on sudden and try ing occasions
331
Further instances of concealment and repression of the passions
333
Illustrated from the prosecution of some general plan
334
The subject illustrated from the course of the first settlers of NewEngland 334
336
Illustrated by the fortitude exhibited by Savages
337
CHAPTER III
338
Of a selfdetermining power of the mind
339
Of the objective or outward sphere of the minds activity
340
Of a selfdetermining power of the will
341
Of such a selfdetermining power of the will as involves the de pendence of the present volition on a former
343
Opinions of President Edwards on this subject
344
CHAPTER IV
345
Remarks on constitutional weakness of the will
346
CONSISTENCY OF CHARACTER Fago
347
Illustrations of the inconsistent character
365
Illustrations of the consistent character 363 365
366
Of individuals remarkable for consistency of character
367
Of the value of consistency in the religious character 239 Of the foundation or basis of consistency and inconsistency of character 367
368
Selfpossession an element of consistency of character
374
Consistency implies perseverance under changes of circumstances
375
Consistency implies a control over the passions
376
CHAPTER VI
378
A due balance of all the powers the most favourable state of things to the just exercise of the will
380
Of the culture of the appetites propensities and passions as aux iliary to the discipline of the will
382
Some instances and proofs of the foregoing statements
384
Importance of repressing the outward signs of the passions
387
Of enlightening the intellect in connexion with the discipline of the will 384 387
390
Further remarks on the same subject
392
Of aiding the will by a reference to the regard of others
394
Of aiding the will by a reference to the conscience 394
396
Of the aids furnished by the principle of imitation
397
Of aiding the will by placing ourselves in circumstances which do not admit of a retreat
399
Of the effects of habit in giving strength to the will
400
motive
401

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Page 403 - The condition of man, after the fall of Adam, is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God : wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.
Page 123 - ... her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power; both angels and men and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent, admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy.
Page 141 - LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Page 187 - Would you know the sentiments, inclinations, and course of life of the Greeks and Romans ? Study well the temper and actions of the French and English.
Page 123 - Of law there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world ; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power...
Page 143 - Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure...
Page 367 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Page 142 - Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight : but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Page 347 - A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome : Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 275 - For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

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