28 Philosophy of the Hitman Mind. 



Schulze, Schmid, Jacob, "Will, Reimarus, and 

 Adelung, hold a distinguished place. On the 

 contrary, among its opponents, we find the names 

 of Herder, Plattner, Selle, and many others. 

 The controversy to which the Critical Philosophy 

 has given rise, as it has produced a multitude of 

 voluminous publications, so it will long be ranked 

 among the most curious and interesting of the age. 



In the latter half of the century under consider- 

 ation, a new doctrine concerning the human mind 

 was announced, which is entitled to some notice 

 in this place. This doctrine, it is believed, was 

 first adopted and advanced by M. Helvetius, a 

 celebrated French writer/ He was followed by 

 M. Condorcet/ and some others, also of France; 

 by means of whose writings it obtained consider- 

 able currency among the literati of that country, 

 and was afterwards embraced and defended, with 

 •much plausibility, by Mr. Godwin,' 1 ' and others, 

 of Great-Britain/ 



The advocates of this doctrine maintain the Per- 

 fectibility of Man. With regard to the nature of 

 the human mind they appear, in general, to em- 

 brace the system of materialism. 1 " They suppose 

 that the thinking principle of man is the result of 

 corporeal organization; that the difference in minds 

 results from the difference of this organization, and 

 inore especially from the subsequent circumstances 



3 A Treatise en Man, his Intellectual Faculties, and his Education. Trans- 

 lated by Hooper, a vols. 8vo. 1777. 



t Outlines of an Historical Vieiv of the Progress of the Human Mind. 8 VO. 



*19S- 



V Inquiry concerning Political Justice, second Edit. 2 Vols. 8vo. I796. 



w It is not meant to be asserted that all these writers agree with respect to 

 the details of their several systems ; but that they concur in asserting the om- 

 nipotence of education, and the perfectibility of man. 



iv Some of those who profess a belief in the perfectibility of man appear 

 to be in doubt with respect both to the immateriality and immortality of the 

 soul. They are so busied about the improvement of man in this world, 

 that they have little time, and less inclination to bestow a thought on his 

 destiny and prospects in that which is to come, 



