The Active Powers

doi:10.1017/CHOL9780521867429.020

19 - The Active Powers

from II - The Science of Human Nature

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2008

Jerome Schneewind

Edited by

Knud Haakonssen

Show author details

Jerome Schneewind: Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University
Knud Haakonssen: Affiliation:
University of Sussex

Book contents

Get access

Summary

In 1751, in the Discours préliminaire for the great encyclopedia he and Denis Diderot were editing, Jean d’Alembert proclaimed a simple scheme for organising ‘the sciences of man’. The divisions of this science, he said,

are derived from the divisions of his faculties. The principal faculties of man are the understanding and the will; the understanding, which it is necessary to direct toward truth; the will, which must be made to conform to virtue. The one is the object of logic, the other is that of ethics.

D’Alembert’s dichotomy was not one of the novel ideas put forward in the Encyclopédie. It had forerunners in antiquity, and Descartes used a revised form of it. Locke seemed to use a similar classification, but he stated it in different terms, and for good reason. If we speak of understanding and will as faculties of mind, he said, we may be tempted to suppose that the words ‘stand for some real Beings in the Soul, that performed those Actions of Understanding and Volition’. But the idea that there are ‘distinct Agents’ in us breeds nothing but confusion. Locke chose to talk of the powers of the mind and, without making a fuss about it, sometimes classified them as active and passive (see, for instance, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, II.xxi.72).

Leibniz also objected to the ‘personification or mythology’ in which the will is imagined as ‘alone active and supreme … like a queen … whose minister of state is the understanding, while the passions are her courtiers’. Taken literally, the view would be incoherent, leading to an endless multiplication of faculties to explain how the will can take account of reasons produced by the understanding.

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge History of Eighteenth-Century Philosophy , pp. 557 - 607

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521867429.020 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Alembert, Jean le Rond d’. Preliminary Discourse to the Encyclopedia of Diderot, trans. Schwab, R. N. and Rex, W. E.. Indianapolis, IN, 1963.

Beck, Lewis White. Early German Philosophy: Kant and His Predecessors.Cambridge, MA, 1969.

Berkeley, George. A Treatise concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge [1710], in Works, vol. 2 (1949).

Berkeley, George. Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous [1713], in Works, vol. 2 (1949).

Bramhall, John. A Defence of True Liberty from Ante-cedent and Extrinsecall Necessity …London, 1655.

Butler, Joseph. Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel (1726), 2 vols., in Works (ed. Bernard, ), vol. 1.

Butler, Joseph. The Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Constitution and Course of Nature [1736], in Works

Butler, Joseph. Works, ed. Bernard, J. H., 2 vols. London, 1900.

Cassirer, Ernst. Kant’s Life and Thought, trans. Haden, J.. New Haven, CT, 1981.

Clarke, Samuel. A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God: More Particularly in Answer to Mr. Hobbs, Spinoza, and their Followers.London, 1705; facsim. Stuttgart-Ba. Cannstatt, 1964.

Clarke, Samuel. Remarks upon a Book, entitled, A Philosophical Enquiry concerning Human Liberty [1717], 4 vols., in Works, vol. 4.

Collins, Anthony. A Philosophical Inquiry concerning Human Liberty.London, 1717; repr. (3rd edn. 1735), ed. Priestley, J., Birmingham, 1790; facsim. Bristol, 1990.

Crusius, Christian August. Die philosophischen Hauptwerke [Leipzig, 1744–7], eds. Tonelli, G., Carboncini, S. and Finster, R.. Hildesheim, 1964–.

Cudworth, Ralph. A Treatise concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality.London, 1731; facsim. New York, NY, 1976.

d’Alembert, Jean Rond, Discours préliminaire de l’Encyclopédie (Paris, 1894)

Descartes, René. Les passions de l’âme.Paris, 1649.

Descartes, René. The Philosophical Writings of Descartes, trans. Cottingham, J., Stoothoff, R., and Murdoch, D., 3 vols. Cambridge, 1984–91.

Edwards, Jonathan. “Remarks on the Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion, in a letter to a minister of the Church of Scotland”, in The Works of Jonathan Edwards/Freedom of the Will, ed. Ramsey, P., New Haven, CT, 1957–, vol. 1.Google Scholar

Formey, Jean Henri Samuel. La belle Wolfienne, 6 vols. The Hague; facsim. Hildesheim, 1983.

Gawlick, Günther, and Kreimendahl, Lothar. Hume in der deutschen Aufklärung. Umrisse einer Rezeptionsgeschichte. Stuttgart and Bad Cannstatt, 1987.

Henrich, Dieter. “Ü Kant’s früheste Ethik”. Kant-Studien 54 (1963):.Google Scholar

Henrich, Dieter. “Hutcheson und Kant”, Kant-Studien, 49 (1957–8):.Google Scholar

Holbach, Paul-HenriThiry, baron d’. Système de la nature, ou Des loix du monde physique et du monde moral, 2 vols. [London], 1770; ed. Diderot, , Paris, 1821 (facsim., ed. Belaval, Y., 2 vols., Hildesheim, 1996).

Hume, David. A Treatise of Human Nature [1739–40], eds. Norton, D. F. and Norton, M. J., in The Clarendon Edition, 2006.

Hutcheson, Francis. An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections. With Illustrations on the Moral Sense.London, 1728 (facsim. Menston, 1972 and in Works, vol. 2: 1971); 3rd edn., 1742 (facsim. Gainsville, FL, 1976); ed. Garrett, A., Indianapolis, IN, 2002.

Hutcheson, Francis. An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue; in Two Treatises.London and Dublin, 1725; 3rd edn., London, 1729; 4th edn., London, 1738; ed. Leidhold, W., Indianapolis, IN, 2004.

Hutcheson, Francis. Illustrations on the Moral Sense, ed. Peach, B.. Cambridge, MA, 1971.

Kames, HenryHome, Lord. Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion.Edinburgh, 1751 (facsim. New York, NY, 1983); 2nd edn. Edinburgh, 1758.

Kant, Immanuel. “De Medicina corporis, quae philosophorum est” [1786 or 1788], in Ak, vol. 15.Google Scholar

Kant, Immanuel. “Versuch über die Krankheiten des Kopfes” [1764], in Ak, vol. 2.Google Scholar

Kant, Immanuel. Anthropologie in pragmatischer Hinsicht [1798], in Ak, vol. 7.

Kant, Immanuel. Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View, trans. and ed. Gregor, M. J.. The Hague, 1974.

Kant, Immanuel. Concerning the Ultimate Ground of the Differentiation of Directions in Space, in Works/Theoretical Philosophy, 1755–1770, trans. Walford, D.. and Meerbote, R. (1992).

Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Practical Reason, trans. and ed. Gregor, M. J., in Works/Practical Philosophy (1996).

Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Pure Reason, trans. and eds. Guyer, P. and Wood, A. W., in Works (1998).

Kant, Immanuel. Critique of the Power of Judgment, trans. Guyer, P.. and Matthews, E., ed. Guyer, P., in Works (2000).

Kant, Immanuel. Der Streit der Fakultäten [1798], in Ak, vol. 7.

Kant, Immanuel. Die Religion innerhalb der Grenzen der bloβen Vernunft [1793], in Ak, vol. 6.

Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of The Metaphysics of Morals, trans. and ed. Gregor, M. J., in Works/Practical Philosophy (1996).

Kant, Immanuel. Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten [1785], in Ak, vol. 4.

Kant, Immanuel. Kant’s Latin Writings: Translations, Commentaries and Notes, trans. Beck, L. W., et al. New York, NY, 1986.

Kant, Immanuel. Kritik der praktischen Vernunft (1788), in Ak, vol. 5.

Kant, Immanuel. Kritik der Urtheilskraft [1790], in Ak, vol. 5.

Kant, Immanuel. Lectures on Metaphysics, trans. and eds Ameriks, K. and Naragon, S., in Works (1997).

Kant, Immanuel. Metaphysik der Sitten (1797–8), in Ak, vol. 6.

Kant, Immanuel. Metaphysische Anfangsgründe der Naturwissenschaft [1786], in Ak, vol. 4.

Kant, Immanuel. Principiorum primorum cognitionis metaphysica nova dilucidatio [1755], in Ak, vol. 1.

Kant, Immanuel. Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, trans. Giovanni, G., in Works/Religion and Rational Theology (1996).

Kant, Immanuel. The Conflict of the Faculties, trans. Gregor, M. J. and Anchor, R., in Works/Religion and Rational Theology (1996).

Kant, Immanuel. Vorlesungen über Metaphysik (1770–80), in Ak, vol. 28 and.

King, William. An Essay on the Origin of Evil, trans. Law, E.. London, 1731, revised edns. 1732, 1739, 1758, 1781.

Kuehn, Manfred. Scottish Common Sense in Germany, 1768–1800: A Contribution to the History of Critical Philosophy. Kingston and Montreal, 1987.

La Mettrie, Julien Offray. Oeuvres philosophiques, 2 vols. Berlin, 1774 (facsim. Hildesheim, 1988); 3 vols., Amsterdam. 1774.

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. New Essays on Human Understanding, trans. and eds. Remnant, P. and Bennett, J.. Cambridge, 1981.

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. Nouveaux essais sur l’entendement humain [1765], eds. Robinet, A. and Schepers, H., in Sämtl. Schriften, Reihe 6, vol. 6.

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. On Nature Itself, or On the Inherent Force and Actions of Created Things [1698], trans. and ed. Loemker, L., in Philosophical Papers (1969).

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. Philosophical Papers and Letters, trans. and ed. Leomker, L. E., 2 vols. Chicago, IL, 1956; 2nd edn. in 1 vol., Dordrecht, 1969.

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil, trans. Huggard, E. M., ed. Farrer, A.. London, 1951; La Salle, IL, 1985.

Locke, John. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Nidditch, P. H., in The Clarendon Edition (1975).

Locke, John. An Examination of P. Malebranche’s Opinion of Seeing All Things in God, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke, London, 1706; in Works (1810), vol. 9.

Long, James. An Enquiry into the Origin of the Human Appetites and Affections [1747], facsim., in Four Early Works on Motivation, ed. McReynolds, P.. Gainesville, FL, 1969.

Malebranche, Nicolas. Discourse on Metaphysics [1688], trans. Doney, W.. New York, NY, 1980.

Malebranche, Nicolas. The Search after Truth, trans. Lennon, T. M. and Olscamp, P. J.. Columbus, OH, 1980.

Mandeville, Bernard. The Fable of the Bees: or, Private Vices, Publick Benefits [1714], 2nd edn. London, 1723; 6th edn. London, 1732; ed. Kaye, F. B., 2 vols., Oxford, 1924; facsim. Indianapolis, IN, 1988.

Price, Richard. A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals [1758], ed. Raphael, D. D.. Oxford, 1974.

Priestley, Joseph. Priestley’s Writings on Philosophy, Science and Politics, ed. Passmore, J. A.. New York, NY, 1965.

Priestley, Joseph. The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated [1777], in The Theological and Miscellaneous Works, vol. 3, sect. 1.

Priestley, Joseph. The Theological and Miscellaneous Works, ed. Rutt, J. T., 25 in 26 vols. London, 1817–32; facsim. New York, NY, 1972.

Raphael, D. D. and Macfie, A. L., in Works (1976).

Reid, Thomas. Essays on the Active Powers of Man [1788], in Philosophical Works, vol. 2.

Reid, Thomas. Philosophical Works, ed. Hamilton, W., 2 in 1 vols., 8th edn., Edinburgh, 1895; facsim. Hildesheim, 1983.

Ryle, Gilbert. The Concept of Mind. London, 1949.

Schmucker, Josef. Die Ursprünge der Ethik Kants in seinen vorkritischen Schriften und Reflexionen. Meisenheim am Glan, 1961.

Shaftesbury, Anthony AshleyCooper, Earl. Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, 3 vols. London, 1711; ed. Robertson, J. M., 2 vols., London, 1900; repr. 2 in 1 vols. Indianapolis, IN, 1964.

Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759]

Tetens, Johann Nicolas. Die philosophischen Werke, 2 vols. Leipzig, 1777; facsim. Hildesheim, 1979.

Tucker, Abraham. The Light of Nature Pursued [1768], 4 vols. Cambridge, MA, 1831.

Vienne, Jean Michel. “Malebranche and Locke: The Theory of Moral Choice, a Neglected Theme”, in Nicolas Malebranche: His Philosophical Critics and Successors, ed. Brown, S.. Assen and Maastricht, 1991.Google Scholar

Wolff, Christian. Psychologia empirica [1732] (Frankfurt, 1738), in Werke, Abt. II, vol. 5 (1968).

Wolff, Christian. Vernünfftige Gedancken von Gott, der Welt und der Seele des Menschen, auch allen Dingen überhaupt [1719–20] (facsim. repr. of 11th edn., 1757)

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.