MORAL PH 
in the deciflon in proportion as they feel the a&ivity of 
their own judgment. Such an exercife will not only im¬ 
prove this faculty, but will fupport the intereft for 
Morality in children, and facilitate the influence of the 
Moral Law upon their minds. But here we mull be 
caref ul not to torment the minds of youth by the recital 
of what are commonly called noble actions. By fuch re- 
prefentations we fhall never be able to ground in them a 
moral mode of thinking; on the contrary, by thus heat¬ 
ing their imaginations, we fliall difqualify them for the 
juft eftimalion of the moral worth of addons. 
Method muff therefore take the following courfe. We 
muff firlt make the judgment attentive to the legality of 
aftiovs; and endeavour to fliarpen it by merely afking in 
general, whether the aftion be conformable to the Moral 
Law or not; then, whether the law in the given cafe be 
obligatory; that is, whether it concern the Rights of Man, 
conlequently, whether the adtion can be enforced; or 
whether it can only be reafonably expected, as concerning 
merely the wants of man. The fecond queflion to which 
their attention mult be directed is, whether the adtion, 
in addition to its moral corredtnefs, has alfo a moral 
worth ; that is, whether it has been performed for the 
fake of the Law. This occupation, as it puts the judg¬ 
ment of the pupil himfelf into adtion, cannot fail to in¬ 
terelt him ; and he will begin to like that in w'liich he is 
confcious that his own judgment decides. But this is 
not fufficient to inltil into him moral fentiments : this 
wull only make him admire virtue. But, in order to ac- 
compliffi the end of moral inltrudtion, we mult fliow him 
the practicability of aBing from a pure reverence for 
the Law. For this purpofe we mult produce examples. 
Thefe will (how that it is poffible to determine ourfelves 
to action independently of all inclinations ; and will ex¬ 
cite a deflre in youth to emulate luch adtions, however 
difficult it may be. 
Conclusion. 
It mult now be evident to the attentive Reader, that 
a System of Pure Morality is at length difcovered, 
which is founded on Pure Pradtical Reaion ;♦ and that, 
from a complete analylis of this faculty, it is afeertained, 
that morality conftitutes a part of our rational nature, 
to which we can no more be indifferent than to any other 
natural predifpofltion. All former attempts to eredf 
Morals into a fyftem were but a fortuitous colledtion 
of principles, vritbout a knowledge of their fource; and 
therefore did not admit of being embodied in a perma¬ 
nent form. Reafon has now undergone a complete and 
critical inveftigation : but, prior to this, it was impoffi- 
ble that the woiks of Philofophers Ihould contain any 
thing relpedfing Morals deferving the name of a Science. 
The knowledge of this important fad may enable future 
generations to efcape from that labyrinth of confufion 
and uncertainty which has involved thofe that preceded 
them. The appearance of the “ CRITIC OF PURE 
REASON” will form a ISvw Era in Philofophy, and in¬ 
deed in the hiftory of man. From this era mult be dated 
the dilcovery of true Metaphysics, the foundation of 
Religion and Morality, refpeding which there will be 
henceforward but one univerfal fentirnent throughout 
the enlightened world. 
In the Critic of Practical Reason, here given, the 
fupremacy of this faculty over Speculative Reafon is made 
evident in the neceflity of the total fubjugation of all 
our inftinds and inclinations to the Morality which 
Practical Reason engenders. Hence the belief in 
the exiltence of God, the immortality of the foul, and a 
future ftate, is proved to be indifpenlable. 
ILOSOP II Y. 783 
Next in order to this feience will follow Ethics, or 
the Dodrine of Duties, which apply the univerfal prin¬ 
ciples^ Morality to the different lituations, relations, 
and rircumftances, in which man may be placed ; and 
furnilh a number of particular maxims and rules of con¬ 
duit, which may be divided into 
iltly. Duties to ourfelves. 
sdly. Duties to other men. 
3dly. Duties to God. 
A moral being alone can be the pcrfonal objed of a 
Duty: we have conlequently duties only towards ra¬ 
tional, i. e. moral, beings, of which there are finite beings 
and the Infinite Being. 
Ends, which are at the fame time Duties , being com¬ 
manded by Reafon, are, i. Man’s own perfedion. \. The 
happinefs of others. The firfi duty of Man towards him¬ 
felf is “ Live conformably to nature.” The fecond; Make 
thyfdf more perfebl than mere nature has made thee.” From 
the former arife the Duties of man towards man as an 
Animal.; from the fecond arife his Duties toward him¬ 
felf as a Moral Being. Thus does Pradical Reafon com¬ 
mand the cultivation of all our faculties to the higheft 
degree, in order to produce a Man in all refped fuitable 
to the end of his exiftence. In the Epitome of the 
Critic of Pure Practical Reafon, given in vol. xi. p. 620. 
the reader will find this fubjed treated more at large. 
Laftly, from Pradical Reafon fprings a Pure Moral 
Religion, which fhows God to be the Creator, Preferver, 
Legiflator, and final Judge, of the World ; elfablifhes the 
truth of the Immortality of the Soul and of a Future Life - r 
and difplays our immediate and mediate Duties towards 
God. 
In fubmitting this fourth treatife on the Philofophy 
of Kant to the reader, I cannot but refied with fincere 
pleafure upon that period, now two-and-twenty years ago, 
when I firlt ftudied this fyftem under Frederic Auguftus 
Nitfch, who originally imported the feeds of Transcen¬ 
dental Philosophy from its native country, to plant 
them in our loil ; and though, as is ufually the cafe, 
many of thofe feeds were fcattered by the wind, I truft 
that a fufficient number have taken root to maintain 
the growth of this vigorous and flourilhing plant, till 
the time fhall come when by its general cultivation 
England may be enabled to enrich other nations with 
the moft perfect fpecimens of its produce.. ProfelTbr 
Nitfch, who thus bellowed upon our country her firlt at¬ 
tainments in the department of Pure Science, has paid 
the debt of nature. I confefs it is fome reflexion upon 
England, that file did not fofter and proted this imme¬ 
diate dilciple of the Father of Philofophy ; but the neceffi- 
ties of this learned and illuftrious man unfortunately 
compelled him to feek that fubfiftence elfewhere which 
was withheld from him here. At Roflock, about the year 
1813, this valuable member of fociety and perfed mailer 
of the Philofophy he undertook to teach, entered upon 
his immortal career, as a reward for his earthly fervices. 
It is with the moft heartfelt fatisfadion that I add my 
mite of praile to his revered memory. But for him I 
might ever have remained in the dark regions of lophiftry 
and uncertainty. He has left behind him as a legacy to 
England, not however as a return for her kindnefs 
towards him, a Work entitled “ A General and intro¬ 
ductory View of Kant’s Principles concerning 
Man, the World, and the Deity; (publijhed by 
Downs, 240, Strand, 171)6.”) This is a fterling work; 
and, though at prefent very little known, I may venture 
to predid that,, as time rolls on and prejudices moulder 
away, this work, like the Elements of Euclid, will Hand 
forth as a lading monument of Pure Truth. T. W. 
[The above Article has been admitted at the requeft of feveral of our Subfcribers; and, as the Author has ac¬ 
companied it with his Name and Addrefs, the Editor hopes he fhall not be held entirely refponfible for, and bound 
to defend, all the opinions it contains. He will be ready to admit, under any convenient article, as Philosophy 
for inftance, whatever may be urged in reply, provided the communication be made in the lame fair and open manner.] 
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