An inquiry into the origin of the discoveries attributed to the moderns: wherein it is demonstrated that our most celebrated philosophers have, for most part, taken what they advance from the works of the ancients; and that many important truths in religion were known to the pagan sages / Translated from the French of the Revd. Mr. Dutens. With considerable additions communicated by the author.

  • Louis Dutens
Date:
1769
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the origin of the discoveries attributed to the moderns: wherein it is demonstrated that our most celebrated philosophers have, for most part, taken what they advance from the works of the ancients; and that many important truths in religion were known to the pagan sages / Translated from the French of the Revd. Mr. Dutens. With considerable additions communicated by the author. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Conclu fi on $ inciting us toateend to the fii ft fouroes of tiutfi. The ftudy of the mo¬ derns, not, however, to fie neglect¬ ed. fuch dear and folid teftimonies, as thofe great philofophers have given to thefe truths, againft y fome who with every advantage for attaining the end which every man ought to propofe to himfelf, fhut their eyes againft the light that every where furrounds them, and voluntarily walk in darknefs, rather than be obliged to be¬ hold the brightnefs of day. 342. Now, if it hath been demonftrated, that the writings of thofe great mafters contain thé greateft part of what is to be known, and that the mo ft celebrated difeoveries of the mo¬ derns have thence derived their origin -, is it not very reafonable that we fliould rather go to the fountain head of fcience, than confine ourfelves, intirely to the little ftreams that ilfne from it ! 343. In recommending the ftudy of the an¬ cients, I am far from thinking that the moderns are to be negleéted. I apprehend, on the con¬ trary, that it is of great ufe attentively to ccn- fider their labours, in order to remark what they have added to the knowledge of the an¬ cients by their experiments ; for without doubt there may be daily added fomething to know¬ ledge O). This makes it neceflary attentively [a) Je vois, dit Leibnitz, que quantité d’habiles] gens croient qu’il faut abolir la philofophie des Ecoles, & en fubflituer une tout autre à fa place ; mais après avoir tout pefé, je trouve que la philofophie des Anciens eft lolide, <5c qu’il faut fe fervir de celle des Modern.es pour l'enrichir &
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