OUTLINES OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY.

Of these OUTLINES, (which are, in fact, synopses of two, or more properly of three, courses of Lectures,) only the Introduction, treating of Philosophy in general, and Part First, treating of the Intellectual Powers, are here given; these being exclusively relative to Mr. Stewart's psychological work, "Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind." The other two Parts, that regarding Ethical, and that regarding Political Science, are prefixed to Vol. VI. and to Vol. vii., the subjects of which they appropriately introduce, as summaries. These three fragments, be it observed, exhaust the whole of the Outlines of Moral Philosophy as an independent work; and they are given in the present edition with considerable additions.-Editor.

VOL. II.

PREFACE.

My principal object, in this Publication, is to exhibit such a view of the arrangement of my Lectures, as may facilitate the studies of those to whom they are addressed. In a course which employs more than five months, and which necessarily includes a great variety of disquisitions, it is difficult for a hearer to retain a steady idea of the train of thought leading from one subject to another; and, of consequence, the Lectures, by assuming the appearance of detached discourses, are in danger of losing the advantages arising from connexion and method. The following Outlines will, I hope, not only obviate this inconvenience, but will allow me, in future, a greater latitude of illustration and digression, than I could have indulged myself in with propriety, so long as my students were left to investigate the chain of my doctrines by their own reflections.

In the execution of this design, I have attempted, at the same time, to state, under each head, a few fundamental principles, which I was either anxious to impress on the memory of my hearers; or which I thought might be useful to them, by relieving their attention during the discussion of a long or a difficult argument.

The branch of Moral Philosophy which relates to the Principles of Politics being less abstract than the others, I have contented myself with a simple enumeration of the most important articles treated of in the third part of my course. It is scarcely necessary for me to mention, that, in this enumeration, I have not aimed at anything approaching to systematical arrangement; and that, in illustrating the titles it contains, I

am obliged, by the term prescribed to my academical labours, to confine myself to very general sketches. As soon as my other engagements allow me sufficient leisure for such an undertaking, I shall attempt a separate Course of Lectures on this very extensive and difficult subject.

With respect to my general plan, those who are in the smallest degree conversant with ethical writers, will perceive, that, in its formation, I have been guided almost entirely by the train of my own speculations. In following the order which these prescribed, I was far from proceeding on the supposition that it was likely to possess, in the opinion of the public, advantages over the arrangements already proposed: but it appeared to me reasonable to think, that a plan resulting from my own habits of thought would probably be better executed in my hands, than any one, how perfect soever, suggested by the views of another.

COLLEGE OF Edinburgh,
Nov. 8, 1793.

DUGALD STEWART.

P.S.-Having, of late, carried into execution (at least in part) the design announced in the foregoing Preface, by a separate Course of Lectures on Political Economy, I have omitted in this edition of my Outlines, the articles which I formerly enumerated under that general title; substituting in their stead a few others, calculated to illustrate the peculiar and intimate connexion between this department of Politics and the more appropriate objects of Ethics. The observations which these articles are meant to introduce, may be useful, at the same time, in preparing the minds of students for disquisitions, the details of which can scarcely fail to appear uninviting to those who are not aware of the important conclusions to which they are subservient.

Nov. 2, 1801.