An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson].

  • Adam Ferguson
Date:
1789
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    t ■ the prefervation of human life, as the ftanaard of what is morally lawful, the faculties of pbyfic, as well as of morality, would probably divide on the fubjecl, and leave every individual, as at prefent, to find fome rule for himfelf. The cafuift, for the moft part, confiders the pradice of his own age and condition , as a ftandard for mankind. If in one age or condition , he condemn the life of a coach , in another he would have no lefs cenfured the wear, ing of fhoes; and the very perfon who exclaims again ft the firft, would probably not have fpared the fecond, if it had not been already familiar in ages before his own. A cenfor born in a cottage ? and accuftomed to fleep upon ftraw, does not pro- pofe that men fhould return to the woods and the caves for fhelter; he admits the reafonablenefs and the utility of what is already familiar ; and appre- hends an excefs and corruption , only in the lieweft refinement of the rifing generation. The clergy of Europe, have preached fucceftively againft every new fafhion, and every innovation in drefs. The modes of youth are a fubjecl of cenfure to the old; and modes of the laft age, in their turn, are matter of ridicule to the flippant, and the young. Of this there is not always a better account to be given , than that the old are difpofed to be fevere, and the young to be merry. d he argument againft many of the convenien- ces of life , drawn from the mere conflderation of their not being neceftary , was equally proper in the mouth of the favage , who'diffuaded from the firft applications ©f induftry, as it is in that B b 2 >
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