An introduction to the study of moral evidenceGambier, 1806 - 12 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
ad age admit afford apply aqua regia arise ascer ascertain attended bability bable believed Bishop Butler circum circumstances conclusion conduct confirmed connexion considered correct credibility cumstances deceive decide decision deduced degree of assent demonstration dence detected determine direct disputant disregarded doctrine of chances enquire error established event examination expe experience facts fallacies false falsehood favour greater gulated happen Hence importance inferences influence injurious instance interest jects judge judgment kind of evidence kind of moral knowledge known mankind ment mixed mathematics monstration moral certainty moral evidence nature necessary neral object opinions ourselves particular party perly personal observation possible practice presume presumption principles probability profes proof proposed proposition proved question racter regulated relates relations of ideas rience riety rule safely scarcely shews side sophism species of evidence stances subjects sufficient tain testi testimony thing tion true truth uniform weight witness
Popular passages
Page xii - Thus, the proposition, that the three angles of a triangle are not equal to two right angles...
Page 86 - Caesar, or of any other man. For suppose a number of common facts so and so circumstanced, of which one had no kind of proof, should happen to come into one's thoughts, every one would, without any possible doubt, conclude them to be false. And the like may be said of a single common fact.
Page 21 - ... but necessary under the gospel, as well as under the law. In which discourse he defines an oath in these words, or to this effect : 'An oath is a solemn appeal to God, as a witness of the truth of what we say.
Page 85 - There is a very strong presumption against common speculative truths, and against the most ordinary facts, before the proof of them, which yet is overcome by almost any proof. There is a presumption of millions to one against the story of Caesar, or of any other man.
Page 98 - If any of these books were disputed at first, but on examination were admitted, they are confirmed by their trial.
Page 155 - We are told in scripture, that " for every idle •' word we must give an account in the day of
Page xii - may produce a variety of degrees of assents, from suspicion to moral certainty. For, here, the degree of assent depends upon the degree in which the evidence on one side preponderates, or exceeds that on the other. And as this preponderancy may vary almost infinitely, so likewise may the degrees of assent. For a few of these degrees, though but for a few, names have been invented.
Page 154 - ... the means; or, that it is lawful to do evil, that good may come.
Page xii - For a few of these, though but for a few, names have been" invented. Thus, •when the evidence on one side preponderates a very little, there is ground for suspicion, or conjecture. Presumption, persuasion, belief, conclusion, conviction, moral certainty, doubt, . wavering, distrust, disbelief, are words which imply an increase or decrease of this preponderancy. Some of these words also admit of epithets, which denote a further increase or di.
Page 150 - Among the calamities of war may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates, and credulity encourages.