N05663:49
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, vertue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]
printed by S. Kneeland, 1754
Part 1 › Section 2: Concerning the Determination of the Will.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. The apparent State of the Pleasure or Trouble that appears, with Respect to Distance of Time; being either nearer or farther off. 'Tis a Thing in it self agreeable to the Mind, to have Pleasure speedily; and disagreeable, to have it delayed: So that if there be two equal Degrees of Pleasure set in the Mind's View, and all other Things are equal, but only one is beheld as near, and the other far off; the nearer will appear most agreeable, and so will be chosen. Because, tho' the Agreeableness of the Objects be exactly equal, as viewed in Themselves, yet not as viewed in their Circumstances; one of them having the additional Agreeableness of the Circumstance of Nearness.
3. The apparent State of the Pleasure or Trouble that appears, with Respect to Distance of Time; being either nearer or farther off. 'Tis a Thing in it self agreable to the Mind, to have Pleasure speedily; and disagreable, to have it delayed: So that if there be two equal Degrees of Pleasure set in the Mind's View, and all other Things are equal, but only one is beheld as near, and the other far off; the nearer will appear most agreable, and so will be chosen. Because, tho' the Agreableness of the Objects be exactly equal, as view'd in Themselves, yet not as view'd in their Circumstances; one of them having the additional Agreableness of the Circumstance of Nearness.
II. Another Thing that contributes to the Agreeableness of an Object of Choice, as it stands in the Mind's View, is the Manner of the View. If the Object be something which appears connected with future Pleasure, not only will the Degree of apparent Pleasure have Influence, but also the Manner of the View, especially in two Respects.
II. Another Thing that contributes to the Agreableness of an Object of Choice, as it stands in the Mind's View, is the Manner of the View. If the Object be something which appears connected with future Pleasure, not only will the Degree of apparent Pleasure have Influence, but also the Manner of the View, especially in two Respects.