A philosophical treatise on the passions ... / by T. Cogan.

  • Thomas Cogan
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A philosophical treatise on the passions ... / by T. Cogan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    confidcred. It has alfo been remarked, that the love of good, and folicitude to procure it, is not only the ruling principle of every fentient being, but it meets with the full approbation of every ratio- nal being. For nothing can excel that which is good, and nothing can be valuable, but as it has a tendency to promote it. Hence when we fpeak of love abftractedly, we call it the principle of love : for it is the principle by which the whole tenour of our conduct is directed; and it retains that appella- tion, as long as we fpeak of it as a general principle of action. When this principle is directed towards any parti- cular object it becomes an affection; that is, the mind becomes well difpofed or pleafingly affected towards that object: and whenever this love is more violent in its effects upon the fyflem, it is even deemed a paffion. The affection will be diverfified, and acquire va- rious characters, according to the nature of the ob- ject, its relations, or the peculiar qualities it may feem to poffefs. It may relate to ourfelves; to thofe with whom we are connected, by the clofefl bonds of nature or intimacy; to the whole of our fpecies; to thofe beings of inferior order in the cre- ation, which are rendered capable of poffeffing any portion of enjoyment; and even to things inani- mate* When
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