Essay on instinct, and its physical and moral relations / By Thomas Hancock.

  • Thomas Hancock
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essay on instinct, and its physical and moral relations / By Thomas Hancock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    440/574 (page 422)
    emotion! The process is as animated as if the law sprung at once from an internal lawgiver who had no subordinate commission to administer justice ; but proved his authority, by the rapidity of his decisions, to be derived from an original fountain of Truth. Hence, under all] its various forms in various coun- tries, if the fulfilment of an act of supposed duty be made matter of Conscience, remorse or satisfaction follows in the mind, as the necessary consequence of compliance or disobedience. } This simple fact indicates an original propensity to follow some path of duty. Our Senses may be de- ceived; our Reason may be deceived; and likewise our Moral perceptions may be obscured and distorted, But we do not deny that there may be correct obser- vation by the Senses, and that their testimony ought to be relied on; wedo not deny that there is a reason- ing faculty because we are liable to reason amiss: neither should we deny the existence of an internal monitor and guide of conduct, because there may be variations in one country from what are the received notions of duty in another. Notwithstanding every thing that has been said to the contrary, it has been the opinion of some of the wisest men, that there are some fundamental truths in all the various systems of faith in the world, which claim the approbation of mankind in every nation. It is presumed that no practical opinions are so entirely absurd and revolting to human nature, as not to be mixed up and im- plicated, if I may so speak, with these fundamental