sketches of the history of man book iii natural law and enlightenment classics Knud Haakonssen General Editor Henry Home, Lord Kames uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ii ii ii ii iinatural law and iienlightenment classics ii ii ii iiSketches of the ii ii iiHistory of Man iiConsiderably Enlarged by ii iithe Last Additions and iiCorrections of the Author ii ii iibook iii iiProgress of Sciences ii ii iiHenry Home, Lord Kames ii ii iiEdited and with an Introduction by iiJames A. Harris ii iiMajor Works of Henry Home, Lord Kames ii ii ii ii iiliberty fund iiIndianapolis ii ii uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu This book is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a foundation established to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. The cuneiform inscription that serves as our logo and as the design motif for our endpapers is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 b.c. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash. Frontispiece and cover (detail): Portrait of Henry Home, Lord Kames, by David Martin. Reproduced with permission of the National Galleries of Scotland. Introduction, annotations ᭧ 2007 by Liberty Fund, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 11 10 09 08 07 c 54321 11 10 09 08 07 p 54321 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kames, Henry Home, Lord, 1696–1782. Sketches of the history of man/Henry Home, Lord Kames; edited and with an introduction by James A. Harris. v. cm.—(Natural law and enlightenment classics) “Considerably enlarged by the last additions and corrections of the author.” Originally published in 4 v.: Edinburgh: A. Strahan and T. Cadell. 1788. Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: bk. 1. Progress of men independent of society— bk. 2. Progress of men in society—bk. 3. Progress of sciences. isbn 978-0-86597-500-2 (hardcover: set) isbn 978-0-86597-505-7 (pbk: set) 1. Civilization—History. 2. Human beings—History. I. Harris, James A., 1968– II. Title. cb25.k3 2007 901—dc22 2006028369 isbn 978-0-86597-503-3 (v. 3: hc) isbn 978-0-86597-508-8 (v. 3: sc) liberty fund, inc. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 contents sketches of the history of man book i: Progress of Men Independent of Society 53 book ii: Progress of Men in Society 337 book iii: Progress of Sciences 581 sketch i: Principles and Progress of Reason 583 sketch ii: Principles and Progress of Morality 701 sketch iii: Principles and Progress of Theology 790 appendix: Sketches Concerning Scotland 907 Latin Tags and Phrases 929 Bibliography 931 Index 945 book iii progress of sciences contents1 book iii. Progress of Sciences. Sk. 1. Principles and progress of reason, <xi> 190 Sect. 1. Principles of reason, 190 2. Progress of reason, 221 Appendix, 304 A brief account of Aristotle’s logic, With remarks, 309 Chap. 1. Of the first three treatises, 309 2. Remarks, 321 3. Account of the First Analytics, 351 4. Remarks, 363 5. Account of the remaining books of the Organon, 395 6. Reflections on the utility of logic, and the means of its improvement, 411 vol. iv. Sk. 2. Principles and progress of morality, 1 Part 1. Principles of morality, 2 Sect. 1. Human actions analysed, 2 1. The original page numbers from the 1788 edition are retained here. 579 580 original contents 2. Division of human actions into right, wrong, and indifferent, 10 3. Laws of nature respecting our moral conduct in society, 27 4. Principles of duty and of benevolence, 48 5. Laws respecting rewards and punishments, 52 6. Laws respecting reparation, 66 7. Final causes of the foregoing laws of nature, 78 8. Liberty and necessity considered with respect to morality, 94 Appendix, Upon chance and contingency, <ii> 120 Part 2. Progress of morality, 127 Sk. 3. Principles and progress of theology, 191 Chap. 1. Existence of a Deity, 192 2. Progress of opinions with respect to Deity, 215 3. Religious worship, 289 Sect. 1. Religious worship, 292 2. Morality considered as a branch of duty to our Maker, 354 appendix. Sketches concerning Scotland. Sk. 1. Scotch entails considered in moral and political views, 446 2. Government of royal boroughs in Scotland, 464 3. Plan for improving and preserving in order the high ways in Scotland, <1> 474 BOOK III Progress of Sciences preface Morality, Theology, and the Art of Reasoning, are three great branches of a learned education; and justly held to be so, being our only sure guides in passing through the intricate paths of life. They are indeed not essential to those termed men of the world: the most profound philosopher makes but an insipid figure in fashionable company; would be somewhat ridiculous at a court-ball; and an absolute absurdity among the gamesters at Ar-<187>thur’s, or jockeys at New- market. But, these cogent objections notwithstanding, I venture to pronounce such studies to be not altogether unsuitable to a gentleman. Man is a creature full of curiosity; and to gratify that appetite, many roam through the world, submitting to heat and cold, nay to hunger and thirst, without a sigh. Could indeed that troublesome guest be expelled, we might hug ourselves in ignorance; and, like true men of the world, undervalue knowledge that cannot procure money, nor a new sensual pleasure. But, alas! the expulsion is not in the power of every one; and those who must give vent to their curiosity, will naturally employ it upon studies that make them good members of society, and endear them to every person of virtue. And were we even men of the world in such perfection, as to regard nothing but our own interest; yet does not ignorance lay us open to the crafty and de- signing? and does not the art of reasoning guard many an honest man from being misled by subtile sophisms? With respect to right and wrong, not even passion is more dangerous than error. And as to religion, better it were to settle in a conviction that there is no God, than to be in <188> a state of wavering and fluctuation; sometimes indulging every loose desire, as if we were not ac- 581 582 preface countable beings; and sometimes yielding to superstitious fears, as if there were no god but the devil. To a well-disposed mind, the existence of a supreme be- nevolent Deity, appears highly probable: and if by the study of theology that probability be improved into a certainty, the conviction of a supreme Deity who rules with equity and mildness, will be a source of constant enjoyment, which I boldly set above the titillating pleasures of external sense. Possibly there may be less present amusement in abstract studies, than in newspapers, in party- pamphlets, or in Hoyl upon Whist: but let us for a moment anticipate futurity, and imagine that we are reviewing past transactions,—how pleasant the ret- rospect of those who have maintained the dignity of their nature, and employ’d their talents to the best purposes! Contradictory opinions that have influence on practice, will be regretted by every person of a sound heart; and as erroneous opinions are commonlytheresult of imperfect education, I would gladly hope, that a remedy is not altogether out of reach. At the revival of arts and sciences, the learned languages <189> were our sole study, because in them were locked up all the treasures of useful knowl- edge. This study has long ago ceased to be the chief object of education; and yet the original plan is handed down to us with very little variation. Wishing to contribute to a more perfect system of education, I present to the public the following Sketches. The books that have been published on morality, theology, and the art of reasoning, are not eminent either for simplicity, or for perspicuity. To introduce these into the subjects mentioned, is my aim; with what success, is with deference submitted to the judgement of others. The historical part, hitherto much neglected, is necessary as a branch of my general plan; and I am hopeful, that, beside instruction, it will contribute to recreation, which, in ab- stract studies, is no less necessary than pleasant. <190> u sketch i u Principles and Progress of Reason section i Principles of Reason. Affirmation is that sort of expression which the speaker uses, when he de- sires to be believed. What he affirms is termed a proposition. Truth and error are qualities of propositions. A proposition that says a thing is what it is in reality, is termed a true proposition. A proposition that says a thing is what it is not in reality, is termed an erroneous proposition. Truth is so essential in conducting affairs, that man would be a disjointed being were it not agreeable to him. Truth accordingly is agreeable to every human being, and falsehood or error disagreeable. <191> The pursuit of truth is no less pleasant than the pursuit of any other good.*1 Our knowledge of what is agreeable and disagreeable in objectsisderived from the sense of beauty, handled in Elements of Criticism. Our knowl- edge of right and wrong in actions, is derived from the moral sense, to be handled in the sketch immediately following. Our knowledge of truth and error is derived from various sources. Our external senses are one source of knowledge: they lay open to us external subjects, their qualities, their actions, with events produced by these actions. The internal senses are another source of knowledge: they lay open to us things passing in the mind; thinking, for example, deliber- * It has been wisely observed, that truth is the same to the understanding that music is to the ear, or beauty to the eye.