ELEMENTS OF MENTAL PHILOSOPHY, EMBRACING THE TWO DEPARTMENTS OF THE INTELLECT AND THE SENSIBILITIES. BY THOMAS C. UPHAM, STUSEUM Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by THOMAS C. UPHAM, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Maine. PREFACE. In preparing the following work, I trust I have felt, in some degree, the responsibility which obviously ought to attach to such an attempt. It has been my object, aided by the views and researches which have characterized the labours of various philosophical sects, to give a condensed, but just and impartial, account of most of the leading principles of Mental Philosophy, so far as they appear to be ascertained and recognised at the present time. The Work, accordingly, is essentially Eclectic in its character; and, as such, can neither incur the discredit, nor claim the honour, of belonging exclusively to any of the great Philosophical Schools, although it does not hesitate to acknowledge its indebtedness to all. In connexion with a cordial application of the Eclectic principle, which has laid open to me the truth wherever it may be found, and under whatever name, I have felt it important to adhere as closely as possible to the rules of Inductive philosophizing, in opposition to that excess of bold conjecture and unchastened speculation which has too often perplexed and deformed mental inquiries. In this way I have hoped, with Divine assistance, to prepare a Work which, together with some important views that might, perhaps, properly be considered original, should select, arrange, and systematize the doctrines of a multitude of writers; and which, while it might commend itself with some degree of confidence to the philosopher, should, at the same time, be accordant, as sound Philosophy ever will be, with the principles and interests of correct morals and religion. The aspect of the times evidently demanded that the attempt should be made by somebody. There is no question that a Work of this kind, especially in connexion with the mental training of young persons, has for some time been greatly needed. But whether I have succeeded in meeting the reasonable expectations and wishes of the friends of literature, I must leave to others to decide. The reader will notice that the Work proceeds, after a brief discussion of the doctrine of Primary Truths, and a few other preparatory views, upon the basis of a threefold division of the mind, viz., the INTELLECT, the SENSIBILITIES, and the WILL. This general division, which, notwithstanding its obvious importance, has not generally been made prominent in philosophical writers, and has even been rejected by some, is strictly adhered to throughout. From this general division other subordinate arrangements and classifications, some of which are peculiar to the present Work, naturally and easily flow. And thus the reader will find the whole subject opening itself connectedly and symmetrically, and in such a manner as to present, in its completed outline, not merely a disjointed congeries of philosophical facts, but the regularity and beauty of a philosophical system. The general division of the Sensibilities is into the Natural and Moral. Under the head of the MORAL SENSIBILITIES, I have examined the subject of conscience at some length and in various points of view, and cannot but hope that some of the difficulties which have hitherto attended it have been removed; and that the whole subject is placed, to some extent, in a consistent and satisfactory light. In many other respects, particularly in the classification of the Emotions and the Desires, and their relation to each other, and in some of |