A dissertation on comets, extracted from the writings of the most eminent modern astronomers and philosophers. In a letter to a reverend professor. To which is prefixed the theory of a comet / by [according to the sentiments of] Sir Isaac Newton [and other ... astronomers].

Date:
[between 1700 and 1799]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on comets, extracted from the writings of the most eminent modern astronomers and philosophers. In a letter to a reverend professor. To which is prefixed the theory of a comet / by [according to the sentiments of] Sir Isaac Newton [and other ... astronomers]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/68 (page 13)
    ' ( *3 ) indent fuperftitious Opinion concerning Co¬ mets, has any juft Foundation, it confifts en¬ tirely in the Teftimony of Hiftorians, and other Writers of different Ages; fo that if this Teftimony be of no Weight, as I fhali by and by make more apparent, all the Suf¬ frages founded upon it muft vanifh at once. Pity we cannot look into the Minds of Men, at the Inftant they chufe an Opinion ! I am fure if this could be, we fhould reduce the Votes of Thoufands and Thoufands to the Authority of two or three Perfons, who hav¬ ing broach’d a Dodtrine, which they are fup- pofed to have examined thoroughly, impofe it on others by the Prejudice of their own Merit j and thefe again on others, who find it more agreeable to their natural Indolence to believe at once what is told them, than to be at the Pains of conlidering it themfelves. Thus the Number of credulous and idle Fol¬ lowers, by increaiing every Day, produces a new Engagement to bring more into an Opinion which they fee fo general, and which they perfuade themfelves would never have become fo, but for the Solidity of their Rea- fons who firft eftablifhed it. At laft a Man fees himfelf obliged to believe what all the World believes, for fear of paffing for a con- ' ceited Fellow, who thinks he knows more than any Body elfe, and contradicts the moil venerable Antiquity : It becomes meritorious to examine nothing, and rely wholly on Tradition. Judge yourfelf, if a hundred Millions of Men engaged in an Opinion by fuch Means, can make it a whit the more probable ; and^ if .1