24 PHILOSOPHY. 



phical proposi'tions, without an ability to demo'nstrate them, 

 is not philosophy, but history only. Where such propositions, 

 however, are determinate and true, they may be usefully ap- 

 plied in practice, even by those who are ignorant of their de- 

 monstrations. 



Philosophy discovers and teaches those principles by means 

 of which happiness may be acquired, preserved, and increased. 

 Wisdom applies these principles to the benefit of individuals 

 and of society. Knowledge which is applicable to no useful 

 purpose cannot deserve the name of wisdom. The sources 

 of that knowledge of truth which leads to the possession of 

 happiness are reason and revelation. To instruct men in 

 those truths which God hath communicated to mankind by 

 revelation, is the province of theology. To teach them such 

 truths, connected with their happiness, as are capable of 

 being discovered by the powers of reason, is the province of 

 philosophy. 



The leading offices of philosophy may be easily deduced 

 from the general idea of its object. As the permanent en- 

 joyment of real good is the end to be attained, the business 

 of philosophy, therefore, will be to cultivate the understand- 

 ing, and direct its operations ; to correct and improve the 

 will and affections ; to inquire out the causes of natural ap- 

 pearances, and hence arrive .at the knowledge of the first 

 cause, under those characters and relations that are most 

 interesting to mankind ; to conduct men to such an acquaint- 

 ance with the properties of natural bodies, and their recipro- 

 cal actions, as shall enable them to apply the objects around 

 them to their own convenience ; and, finally, to assist them 

 in investigating the principles of social virtue, and thus pro- 

 vide themselves with such rules of conduct as arise from mu- 

 tual convenience and interest, from the natural sentiments 

 of justice and humanity, and from the voluntary engagements 

 of civil society. 



Questions. — 1. What is meant by philosophy ? 2. What three 

 kinds of knowledge should be joined as much as possible? 3. What 

 is the distinction between philosophy and wisdom ? 4. What is the 

 province of theology ? 5. Of philosophy ? 6. What are the leading 

 offices of philosophy ? Note. The three great objects of philosophy 

 are God, man, arid the universe. Philosophy is sometimes divided 

 into three parts, intellectual, moral, and physical, or natural. 



