The Scottish philosophy : a vindication and reply / by John Cairns.

  • Cairns, John, active 1856.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Scottish philosophy : a vindication and reply / by John Cairns. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    study the meaning and bearings of Professor Ferrier's system, and to advance against it no argument that could not be thoroughly supported, as well as to avoid everything in tone and style needlessly painful to that gentleman and his adherents. I have often and earnestly revieAved the whole question since, and in the light of what Professor Ferrier's defenders have brought forward ; and I must declare that I have not found a single representation or argument, and hardly a turn of expression that I could have wished to modify. It is not my intention to reply to imputations on my character and motives, or to refute the asper¬ sions of those who have represented me as conde¬ scending to “ electioneering tricks/' subserving “ party purposes/' and seeking “ to raise an ephemeral popu¬ larity by building it on the ruins of a character. I leave these statements to those who choose to believe them, or whose interest it is to have them believed. If the momentous issues involved in the election are not acknowledged as sufficient to justify an honour¬ able man in taking part in it from honourable motives, no further vindication would be of any avail. I only notice one prevalent accusation, which, as it does injustice to Professor Ferrier as well as my¬ self, I am anxious to repel. It has been asserted by those whose theory of the relation of moral causes and effects is always of the lowest and most ignoble character, that my opposition to Professor Ferrier's appointment has arisen from a personal quarrel. This