A Treatise of Human Nature - Volume 2

cause adapted to the passion by a distinct set of principles?

HERE, therefore, moral philosophy is in the same condition as natural philosophy was with regard to astronomy before the time of Copernicus. The ancients, though sensible of that maxim, that nature does nothing in vain, contrived such intricate systems of the heavens as seemed inconsistent with true philosophy, and gave place at last to something more simple and natural. To invent without hesitation a new principle for every new phenomenon, instead of adapting it to the old; to overload our hypotheses with a variety of this kind; are certain proofs that none of these principles is the correct one, and that we only desire, by a number of falsehoods, to cover our ignorance of the truth.

S E C T. IV.

THUS we have established two truths without any obstacle or difficulty: that it is from natural principles that this variety of causes excites pride and humility, and