The Origin of Ideas - Volume 1 by Antonio Rosmini Serbati

This is an ebook. The Original Publication was released on 1883 by ANTONIO ROSMINI SERBATI

Excerpt:

CHAPTER I I .

TWO PHILOSOPHIES : THE ONE VULGAR, AND THE OTHER SCIENTIFIC ; THEIR TWO DEFECTS.

29. Now, as the correct and genuine method of philosophical investigation is governed by two principles, SO whatever errors there may be in the theories which have hitherto be enpropounded on the human soul, they can only have arisen from one or other Of two causes— namely from transgressing either against the first principle or against the Second : against the first, by not assuming what is necessary for explaining all the facts recognised by observation ; against the second, by too easily introducing into the explanation things and suppositions which, for the end in view, are wholly superfluous.

30. It is no easy matter to avoid both these extremes; and we may fairly say that if philosophy were once firmly established on such a footing as to run perfectly clear of the two, it would be as near perfection as possible. For this would necessarily presuppose (I ) that the observation of the facts had already been carried to completion ; (2) that such facts as are characteristic— i.e. forming separate species— had been accurately distinguished from those which exhibit only accidental varieties, or mere repetitions of cases belonging to one and the same species : which, to say it "en passant", is an arduous task demanding no small degree of philosophical acumen and discrimination and (3) that a just and thorough perception had be en formed, on the one hand, of the nature of the difficulty to be overcome in order to explain the facts, and, on the other ,of the efficacy of the reasons with which it was proposed to meet that difficulty for unless both these Sides Of the question are balanced with great care one against the other , the consequence will be that, unawares to ourseIves ...