Man is affected by four classes of physical agents; namely, climate, food, soil, and the general aspect of nature Operation of these agents on the accumulation of wealth From Hindustan From Egypt. Operation of physical laws in Brazil Influence of the general aspects of nature upon the imagination and the understanding PAGE 92-98 107-108 Under some aspects, nature is more prominent than man, under others man more than nature In the former case the imagination is more stimulated than the The imagination is excited by earthquakes and volcanoes Also by an unhealthy climate, making life precarious From these causes the civilizations exterior to Europe are mainly influenced by the imagination, those in Europe by the under- This proposition illustrated by a comparison between Hindustan Further illustration from Central America 113-115 115-118 In the last chapter, two leading facts have been established, which broadly separate Europe from other parts of the world Hence it appears that of the two classes of mental and physical AND INTELLECTUAL LAWS, AND INQUIRY INTO THE EFFECT PRODUCED BY EACH ON THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY. The historical method of studying mental laws is superior to the The progress of society is twofold, moral and intellectual 153-158 The standard of action having varied in every age, the causes of 160-161 The diminution of religious persecution is owing to the progress of The diminution of the warlike spirit is owing to the same cause As civilization advances, men of intellect avoid becoming soldiers. 2. The discoveries made by political economists 3. The application of steam to purposes of travelling 168-171 Recapitulation of preceding arguments. Moral feelings influence individuals, but do not affect society in This being as yet little understood, historians have not collected Reasons why the present history is restricted to England Comparison of the history of England with that of France With that of the United States of America PAGE 211-215 . 215-216 Necessity of ascertaining the fundamental laws of intellectual pro- Much may be gained in that respect from studying the histories of Germany, America, France, Spain, and Scotland Deductive spirit in Scotland. Illustration from the early history of Christianity Influence of literature on the progress of society The best legislation abrogates former legislation. The interference of politicians with trade has injured trade Legislators have caused smuggling with all its attendant crimes By other laws they have hindered the advance of knowledge England has been less interfered with in these ways than other The earliest histories are ballads . One cause of error in history was the invention of writing A change of religion in any country also tends to corrupt its early But the most active cause of all was the influence of the clergy Illustration of this from the history of Charlemagne by Turpin But credulity was still prevalent, as is seen in Comines This absurd way of writing history was the natural result of the state of the age The spirit of doubt was a necessary precursor of improvement Scepticism and spirit of inquiry on other subjects 315-318 Great advantage of this This tendency displayed in Chillingworth Chillingworth compared with Hooker and Jewel Subsequent movement in the same direction, and increasing indif- ference to theological matters Under James I. and Charles I. this opposition to authority assumes Under Charles II. it takes a frivolous form at court It causes the establishment of the Royal Society Impetus now given to physical science, and attempts of the clergy The clergy are naturally hostile to physical science because it les- Illustration of this by the superstition of sailors and agriculturists He encouraged Hobbes, and neglected the ablest of the clergy The clergy, to recover their ground, allied themselves with James II. 361-362 This alliance was dissolved by the Declaration of Indulgence The clergy then united with the dissenters, and brought about the Importance of the Revolution But the clergy regretted it, and repented of their own act Hence a schism in the church Fresh encouragement thus given to scepticism 379 380-381 After the Revolution the ablest men confined themselves to secular Theology separated from morals and from politics Knowledge begins to be diffused, and takes a popular form. This tendency was aided by George I. and George II. `. . 382-383 He opposed the views of George III., and was neglected by him. 419-424 442 Incompetence of other statesmen, and the king's hatred of great men Deterioration of the House of Lords This also reacted upon England And produced arbitrary laws against the liberties of England. Gloomy political prospects of England late in the eighteenth cen- tury 451-452 452-456 To which, and to the increasing power of public opinion, England 456-459 |