This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1794 Excerpt: ...and variety in objects, sublimity of thought and sentiment, derive their principal charms from the testimony they give u$ of the greatness of the human genius. An object, represented by a picture or statue, is more pleasing than when reflected in a piece of water. The invisible pencil that sketches out the design on ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1794 Excerpt: ...and variety in objects, sublimity of thought and sentiment, derive their principal charms from the testimony they give u$ of the greatness of the human genius. An object, represented by a picture or statue, is more pleasing than when reflected in a piece of water. The invisible pencil that sketches out the design on the liquid element flatters only the eye; but painting and sculpture, by animating the canvass and marble gratify at once our vanity and lelf-love, by a reflection, which ought rather to mortify our pride. For what can one man perform, that another cannot attain to, by means of ingenious art and unwearied industry? Besides the natural perfection which consists in the possession of those qualities that tend to our preservation, there is likewise a moral perfection annexed to those qualities which seem to promise a lasting happiness. But this idea is the creature of our own fancy, and is composed of the different materials that are wrought in us by education, temperament, society, and our own reflection: --Such indeed is the melancholy privilege of man, that the bewitching magic of this idea can give a lustre to what degrades our nature, and a pleasing aspect to what i tends to render us miserable. It even makes us sacrifice life to the most ridiculous prejudices, and exalts this frenzy into heroism. People in general are apt to form to themselves an idea of perfection in an assemblage of qualities which are entirely foreign to man j an absurd error this, easy to be detected by reason, and yet so mighty is its power and influence, that it prevails over the most reasonable persons. Confucius and Tjeno have placed perfection in the exercise of our faculties, adapted to the nature of our existence. We are by nature sociable and intelligent beings. We ..
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. 32mo. Fine binding. Clean, unmarked pages. Louis-Jean Levesque de Pouilly was a French enlightenment era philosopher. He was one of the first French philosophers to review the natural philosophy of Isaac Newton. In this book he establishes a theory of morality and system of ethics. Provenance: John D. Fischer, 1815.