A Brief Text Book Of Logic And Mental Philosophy

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1891 Edition.

Father Coppens, we think, has produced a book which will meet all the requirements of the English student of philosophy. It embodies a thorough course of Logic and Metaphysics, expressed in clear, concise language, and is printed with a care for those details- division of questions, diversity of type, accentuation of paragraphs, etc.- which go to make up a text-book, and cannot fail to arrest and fix the attention of the reader. Needless to say, the Encyclical of the Holy Father has been the inspiration of the learned author, and the philosophy of St. Thomas permeates the whole work. We feel assured it will meet with a hearty welcome in all our schools and colleges.- Ave Maria. Facsimile edition.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Preface THIS "Brief Text-Book of Moral Philosophy" is a companion volume to the author's "Brief Text-Book of Logic and Mental Philosophy," lately published and already extensively used in Academies and other educational institutions. The author's aim is to present to students and readers -- to such, especially, as are unfamiliar with the Latin language -- a brief yet clear outline of the system of Ethics taught in Catholic Colleges, Seminaries and Universities. This system is based on the philosophy of Aristotle. Questions of Ethics, which in former times were left to the close scientific treatment of specialists, are at the present day freely discussed among all classes of society -- in newspapers and popular magazines, in the workshop and in the parlor. Extravagant notions of individual and social rights are circulated, while the rash speculations of so-called scientists are sapping in many minds the very foundations of morality. Never before has there been a more urgent call on the part of the people for the lucid exposition and the correct application of sound moral principles. In this sad confusion of thought, no small utility will be found in a clear, simple, systematic explanation of the ethical doctrines taught by the greatest minds of the past ages, and lately most highly recommended by our Supreme Pontiff, the illustrious Leo. XIII. Such an exposition the author has endeavored to present in this little volume. THE AUTHOR. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, OMAHA, NEB. March 12, 1895 Introduction 1. Moral Philosophy is the science of the moral order, or of the right and wrong of human acts. It is called Ethics from the Greek word êthê which, like the Latin word mores, signifies morals. Since its object is not merely speculative knowledge, but the true direction of human acts, Ethics is also styled Practical Philosophy. 2. Ethics, we say, directs human acts. However, not all the acts of a man are called human acts, but only such as are under the control of his free will. Whatever he does necessarily -- i. e., whatever he cannot help doing -- results from the physical laws of nature, and, as such, is willed and directed by the Author of nature. For instance, a man may fall like a stone, or grow like a plant, or perceive a sound like a brute animal, without any power on his part to prevent himself from falling or growing or hearing, if the required conditions are present. These are acts of the man, but they are not acts of what is distinctively human -- namely, his intellect and his will. The term human act is restricted in philosophy to those acts which a man does knowingly and willingly -- which he has the power either to do or not to do. 3. To be qualified for the direction of human acts, Philosophy must derive its conclusions by reasoning from first principles; it must take into account the nature of man, and The natures of all the causes that influence human action. Much of this we have considered in Metaphysics, or Mental Philosophy. Ethics is thus founded on Metaphysics: Moral Philosophy assumes as its principles the conclusions established in Mental Philosophy.