An introduction to the study of moral evidence1824 - 80 pages |
Common terms and phrases
admit affirmed afford analogy appear applied aqua fortis aqua regia arguments ascer ascertain assertion attended bability bility capable circum circumstances conclusion conduct confirmed connexion consequently consider correct cumstances deceive decision deduced demonstration dence depends determine direct disposition doctrine of chances doubt error Euclid's Elements event examination exist experience facts false falsehood favour frequently greater ground happen Hence importance infer influence inquire instance interest jects judge judgment knowledge known Malta mankind ment mind moral certainty moral evidence motive nature necessary neral object opinions ourselves particular party perhaps personal observation practice prejudice presumed presumption principles proba probability proof properties proposed proposition proved question racter reason reasoning by analogy regard regulated relates respecting rience rule safely scarcely shew side sion species of evidence spects stances subjects sufficient sumption tain testi testimony thing tion treaty of Amiens true truth uniform weight witness
Popular passages
Page 5 - Thus, the proposition, that the three angles of a triangle are not equal to two right angles...
Page 35 - ... 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 210 - ... searching his premises when he was apprehended, a great number of counterfeit coins had been found in a drawer by themselves, and others packed up in different parcels with good money ; and on further search, some aqua regia, several files, a pair of moulds, and many other implements for coining, had been discovered in a flask. On this evidence he was convicted, and sentenced to die. But, a few days before he was to be executed, one Williams, a seal engraver, was killed by a fall from his horse....
Page 319 - 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.
Page 57 - But, next to positive proof, circumstantial evidence or the doctrine of presumptions must take place: for when the fact itself cannot be demonstratively evinced, that which comes nearest to the proof of the fact is the proof of such circumstances which either necessarily, or usually, attend such facts; and these are called presumptions, which are only to be relied upon till the contrary be actually proved.
Page 164 - 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 210 - Williams, a seal engraver, met with his death by an accident; his wife miscarried from the fright, and sensible she could not live, she sent for the wife of Du Moulin, and revealed to her that Williams, her husband, had been one of four whom she named, who had for many years lived by counterfeiting gold coin; that one of these persons had hired himself as a servant to Du Moulin; and being provided by the gang with false keys, had disposed of very considerable...
Page 209 - Never to convict a man for stealing the goods of a person unknown, merely because he will give no account how he came by them, unless an actual felony be proved of such goods: and, 2. Never to convict any person of murder or manslaughter, till at least the body be found dead; on account of two instances he mentions, where persons were executed for the murder of others, who were then alive, but missing.
Page 164 - 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 188 - Besides these more obvious temptations to prevarication, there is another, which, though it may lie somewhat deeper, yet experience teaches us to be rooted in human nature. I mean that sort of obstinacy, or false shame, which makes men so unwilling to retract what they have once advanced, whether in matter of opinion, or of fact. The general character of the man is also in this, as in all other human testimony, a circumstance of the greatest moment.