None of them can go
beyond experience, or establish any principles which are not
founded on that authority. Moral philosophy has, indeed, this
peculiar disadvantage, which is not found in natural, that in
collecting its experiments, it cannot make them purposely, with
premeditation, and after such a manner as to satisfy itself
concerning every particular difficulty which may arise. When I am
at a loss to know the effects of one body upon another in any
situation, I need only put them in that situation, and observe what
results from it. But should I endeavour to clear up in the same
manner any[15] doubt in moral philosophy, by placing myself in the
same case with that which I consider, 'tis evident this reflection
and premeditation would so disturb the operation of my natural
principles, as must render it impossible to form any just
conclusion from the phenomenon. We must, therefore, glean up our
experiments in this science from a cautious observation of human
life, and take them as they appear in the common course of the
world, by men's behaviour in company, in affairs, and in their
pleasures. Where experiments of this kind are judiciously collected
and compared, we may hope to establish on them a science which
will not be inferior in certainty, and will be much superior in
utility, to any other of human comprehension."--(I. pp. 7-11.)
All science starts with hypotheses--in other words, with assumptions
that are unproved, while they may be, and often are, erroneous; but
which are better than nothing to the seeker after order in the maze of
phenomena.
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