Elements of the philosophy of the human mind / by Dugald Stewart.

  • Dugald Stewart
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of the philosophy of the human mind / by Dugald Stewart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    any; the light which a philosophical analysis of the principles of the mind would necessarily throw on the subjects of intellectual and moral education. The nature and purposes of education. — The most essential objects of education are. the two following: First, to cultivate all the various principles of our nature, both speculative and active,* in such a manner as to bring them to the greatest per- fection of which they are susceptible ; and, secondly, by watch- ing over the impressions and associations which the mind re- ceives in early life, to secure it against the influence of prevail- ing errors ; and, as far as possible, to engage its prepossessions on the side of truth. It is only upon a philosophical analysis of the mind, that a systematical plan can be founded for the ac- complishment of either of these purposes. There are few individuals whose education has been con- ducted in every respect with attention and judgment. Almost every man of reflection is conscious, when he arrives at matu- rity, of many defects in his mental powers, and of many in- convenient habits, which might have been prevented or reme- died in his infancy or youth. Such a consciousness is the first step towards improvement; and the person who feels it, if he * [By the speculative principles of our nature, Stewart here means the various powers or faculties of the intellect or the understanding, in the nar- rowest sense of these terms; such as the faculties of perception, mcinonj, judgment, imagination, etc. All these powers we might conceive to be in full employment, though man should lead a life of mere contemplation or reverie, never putting forth any voluntary exertion whatsoever, either of mind or body. What Stewart calls the active principles of human nature might he more properly termed principles of action, or rather impulses to ac- tion,— such as the appetites, desires, affections, self-love, and conscience. These stimulate us to exertion; these point out ends to lie pursued, while the intellect furnishes, as it were, the means for their attainment. Reason the card, but passion is the gale. Stewart's phraseology here is faulty, for the intellectual powers, such as memory and imagination, may be just as active (that is, in as full exercise,) as the appetites or the conscience ; but the former do not stimulate man to voluntary exertion, unless they arc conjoined with some desire.]
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