The science temperance text-book : in relation to morals, chemistry, physiology, criticism, and history / [Frederic Richard Lees].

  • Frederic Richard Lees
Date:
1884-
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The science temperance text-book : in relation to morals, chemistry, physiology, criticism, and history / [Frederic Richard Lees]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/264 (page 14)
    § 9. Professor Peter Gassendi (1630), whom Gibbon calls “the most philosophic among the learned, and the most learned among the philosophic,” makes no foolish attempt to subordinate virtue to the notion of mere ‘ quantity,’ and to annul the essential conception of ‘ quality.’ It would not indeed be so absurd to overlook the question of time, to eat when one is not hungry or drink when one is not thirsty, as to imbibe that which is unwhole¬ some, and call the practice ‘ temperance ’ ! In ch. vi., on ‘ Happiness ’ (Mons. Bernier’s Translation), after laying down the principle that ‘ Moderation is a preservative,’ he says :—“ It is a great piece of wisdom to take heed, how and what we swallow for the sake of a little short-lived pleasure, the causes of so many diseases, so cruel and tedious, which weaken the body, and might easily be pre¬ vented merely by abstinence.” In his second Book, on ‘ Virtue,’ he rescues the assertion of Aristoteles from the stupid fallacy that his ‘ medium ’ is one of ‘ quantity ’—one into which the Stoics fell. .“ Aristotle expressly lays down that in the figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, the cypher 6 is the medium, because the fifth, from both ends : but in respect of ourselves the ‘ medium ’ is but a figure of speech— namely, that which is neither above nor beneath WHAT is fitting—the medium rationis, and which belongs only to the wise man to under¬ stand. It cannot be the same for all men even in good food, because the same quantity is not convenient to all alike. The rule of the Athletes does not prescribe two pounds to all, for it is too little for a Milo and too much for a Tyro. The middle of Aristotle is what is most proper [which depends on the correlated 1 properties ’]. He maintains, also, that there are certain actions [as theft and adultery] which do not admit of any medium, because there is always an unfit¬ ness in the very act ; and adds, ‘ Temperance seems to incline more to a privation from pleasure.’ “ Virtue is that state of mind which determines action by a constant operation of reason, so that what a person does, proceeds from a strong and constant resolution of doing what is best, grounded upon delibera¬ tion.” This aptly describes a Temperance pledge, but has no