An ethical treatise on the passions : founded on the principles investigated in the Philosophical treatise / by T. Cogan.

  • Cogan, T. (Thomas), 1736-1818.
Date:
1807-1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An ethical treatise on the passions : founded on the principles investigated in the Philosophical treatise / by T. Cogan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    to the contemplative mind, and contribute little or nothing to the temporal, or worldly prosperity of mankind in general. The first species must be valued accordingto its influence in promotingsome temporary good; either by diminishing the evils and inconveniencics to which we are exposed, or by superadding some kind of gratification, which could not be otherwise enjoyed. But all these ad- vantages may still be considered as imperfect com- pensations, for those superior advantages which every other animal enjoys, vyithoUt the painful ex- ertions, imminent dangers, corroding cares, mis- takes, vexations, and disappointments, which so frequently accompany the pursuit of them. The bear, the ermine, the beaver, the sheep, enjoy, as their natural clothing, those very materials which demand all the exertions of art, ingenuity and industry, to be worked up into garments, in order to cover thp nakedness of man. Birds chaunt their melodious notes, without labouring through the gamut, or squandering years by the side of an ex- pensive music-master. The ape in the woods greatly exceeds, in agility, the most agile feats of the human species. We admire in the structure of the h'oneycomb, a style of building which we can- iVot imitate; and we may borrow many useful hints froHl the skill and ingenuity of various animals, in ^he (structure of their habitations. The keenest po/tsman cannot emulate the fox in the pursuit