650 MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 



Ferguson endeavours to reconcile all these systems of morals, by compre- 

 hending them in his own classification. With Hobbes and Hume he admits the 

 power of self-interest or utility, and makes it enter into morals as the law of 

 Self-preservation. Hutcheson's theory of universal benevolence, and Smith's 

 idea of sympathy, he combines under the law of Society. But as these laws of 

 Self-preservation and Society are the means rather than the end of human 

 destiny, they are subordinate to a supreme end, and this supreme end is Per- 

 fection. 



It was in this Idea of Perfection, then, that Ferguson placed the principle of 

 moral approbation, and considered it as the law which every intelligent being 

 forms to himself, by which to judge of every sentiment of esteem or contempt, 

 and every expression of commendation or censure. 



The philosophic speculations of Ferguson have been carefully criticised by 

 Cousin, who thus expresses himself with reference to this theory of Perfection : — 

 " We find in his method the wisdom and circumspection of the Scottish school, 

 with something more masculine and decisive in the results. The principle of 

 jjerfection is anew one, at once more rational and comprehensive than benevolence 

 and sympathy, and which, in our view, places Ferguson as a moralist above all 

 his predecessors."* 



In treating, in the latter part of his course, on the fundamental law of morality, 

 and its applications and sanctions, Ferguson observes, that some of these sanc- 

 tions may be enforced, whereas others may be left to operate on the free will of 

 the agent. Obligations and sanctions which may be enforced form the subject of 

 Jurisprudence ; those which cannot be enforced, are the applications of morality 

 to the Duties of men. 



In treating of Jurisprudence, Ferguson explains the laws relating to peace and 

 war, and follows Grotius in acknowledging the law of self-defence to be the only 

 just foundation for employing force or stratagem in the case of independent or 

 unconnected individuals. 



The Duties of men Ferguson divides into two classes, — those which may be 

 considered as prohibitory, forbidding the commission of wrongs, and those which 

 regard conscience, and can only be recommended by way of persuasion. The 

 duties which involve in regard to others the right of constraint or prohibition 

 are the foundations of natural law ; and in this way Ferguson enters upon the 

 last portion of his subject, which is Politics. 



Ferguson treats of Politics under the heads of Population, Manners, and 

 Wealth, and Civil Liberty. In this department, he follows Montesquieu and 

 Hume, and eloquently pleads the cause of well-regulated liberty and free 

 government. His views in 1792 were, however, somewhat modified from those 



* Philosophic Ecossaise, 3d ed,, p. 512. 



