APPENDIX. 6 9 



gins his theory with enquiring in what it confifls, and how we Account of 

 are led to form the idea of it. The leading principles of his 

 doctrine on this fubject are comprehended in the following pro- 

 pofitions. 



i. It is from our own experience alone, that we can form 

 any idea of what paffes in the mind of another perfon on any 

 particular occafion ; and the only way in which we can form 

 this idea, is by fuppofing ourfelves in the fame circumflances 

 with him, and conceiving how we fhould be affected if we 

 were fo fituated. It is impoffible for us, however, to conceive 

 ourfelves placed in any fituation, whether agreeable or other- 

 wife, without feeling an effect of the fame kind with what 

 would be produced by the fituation itfelf ; and of confequence 

 the attention we give at any time to the cireumftances of our 

 neighbour, muft affect us fomewhat in the fame manner, al- 

 though by no means in the fame degree, as if thefe circumr 

 fiances were our own. 



That this imaginary change of place with other men, is 

 the real fource of the interefl we take in their fortunes, Mr 

 Smith attempts to prove by various inftances. " When we 

 " fee a ftroke aimed, and jufl ready to fall upon the leg or arm 

 " of another perfon, we naturally fhrink and draw back our 

 " own leg or our own arm ; and when it does fall, we feel it 

 " in fome meafure, and are hurt by it as well as the fufferer. 

 The mob, when they are gazing at a dancer on the flack rope, 

 naturally writhe and twift and balance their own bodies, as 

 they fee him do, and as they feel that they themfelves mud 

 " do if in his fituation." The fame thing takes place, accord- 

 ing to Mr Smith, in every cafe in which our attention is- turn- 

 ed to the condition of our neighbour. " Whatever is the paf- 

 " fion which arifes from any object in the perfon principally 

 " concerned, an analogous emotion fprings up, at the thought 

 " of his fituation, in the breafl of every attentive fpectator.. 

 " In every paflion of which the mind of man is fufceptible, 



" the 



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