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  • The Freemasons' Quarterly Review
  • Sept. 30, 1854
  • Page 17
  • LEIBNIZ AND SPINOZA.
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The Freemasons' Quarterly Review, Sept. 30, 1854: Page 17

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    Article LEIBNIZ AND SPINOZA. ← Page 13 of 25 →
Page 17

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Leibniz And Spinoza.

this act takes place or not depends upon my Avill . Probably no one Avill deny this ; but this is no proof that my will is free ; it is only a proof that , under existing circumstances , I am free to obey the dictates of my will . If I reflect a moment , I shall find influences at work upon this will which I consider so free , AA'hich appear to act almostif not quitedespotically . My power to

, , act is one thing , my power to AA'ill is another . Many external causes may excite me to leaA r e my present position ; my studies may have wearied me , the genial air from Avithout may invite me , a friend may call , I may be summoned to dinner ; in all these cases my will causes my removal , but that Avill is determined by circumstances over which I have no control . No man

acts without a motiA'e ; this may be set down as an axiom ; he may not always be able to exhibit that motive to another , —nay , very often he is unconscious of it himself ; it is no uncommon thing for a man to be mistaken in his OAVU motives , and to find out his mistake , and in many eases to alter his line of conduct in consequence of his discovery ; but however subtle and hard

to discover the motive may be , certain it is that every action of every human being has its sufficing motive . We frequently become conscious of this Avhen Ave find tAvo conflicting motives in our hearts , AA'hen the mind is called upon to decide , to Aveigh

the pretensions of the two , and to ascertain the probable consequences of such or such a course of action . In this decision the judgment and the feelings will both be called into play , and finally the strongest motive will prevail . NOAV , in saying the strongest motive , it is by no means implied that the most sound , the most prudent , the most logical motive shall have the

advantage , but simply that motive Avhich has the greatest poAver on the intellect , feelings , and passions of the person upon Avhom it is to act , so that a motive which shall be extremely poAverful with one individual will have no influence AA'hatever on another . Neither , when we speak of a sufficing motive , is it to be imagined that anything like a singleness of motive is implied ; the

motives of almost every action are complex , and no small part of human prudence lies in the discoA'ering how they are compounded , and Avhat kind of actions may be expected to arise from them ; the principle , then , is that the strongest motive will govern the conduct . Take an exceedingly common and exceedingly complex case .

A man , A ., meditates proposing marriage to a Avoman , B . His OAVU Avill is to decide whether he shall make the proposal or not ; but the will is an active , and not an intellectual faculty ; how is his Avill to be decided ? B . has Avealth , position , influence ; all these things act upon the mind of A ., VOL . II . 2 c

“The Freemasons' Quarterly Review: 1854-09-30, Page 17” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 25 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fqr/issues/fqr_30091854/page/17/.
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Title Category Page
THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. Article 1
LEIBNIZ AND SPINOZA. Article 5
OPHIOLOGY AND SERPENT SYMBOLISM. Article 30
MADELAINE. Article 39
A SERVIAN WEDDING. Article 51
GENTLE SMILES. Article 55
WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. Article 56
CRITICAL NOTICES OF THE LITERATURE OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS, Article 73
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 91
FREEMASONRY AT MAURITIUS. Article 92
MASONIC MENDICITY. Article 93
ON THE JURISDICTION OF GEN. G. ENCAMPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES Article 97
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 99
LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE. Article 100
METROPOLITAN. Article 101
PROVINCIAL. Article 103
ISLE OF WIGHT. Article 110
ROYAL ARCH. Article 135
IRELAND. Article 136
SCOTLAND. Article 137
INDIA. Article 138
COLONIAL. Article 141
Obituary. Article 148
BIRTH. Article 150
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 150
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Page 17

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Leibniz And Spinoza.

this act takes place or not depends upon my Avill . Probably no one Avill deny this ; but this is no proof that my will is free ; it is only a proof that , under existing circumstances , I am free to obey the dictates of my will . If I reflect a moment , I shall find influences at work upon this will which I consider so free , AA'hich appear to act almostif not quitedespotically . My power to

, , act is one thing , my power to AA'ill is another . Many external causes may excite me to leaA r e my present position ; my studies may have wearied me , the genial air from Avithout may invite me , a friend may call , I may be summoned to dinner ; in all these cases my will causes my removal , but that Avill is determined by circumstances over which I have no control . No man

acts without a motiA'e ; this may be set down as an axiom ; he may not always be able to exhibit that motive to another , —nay , very often he is unconscious of it himself ; it is no uncommon thing for a man to be mistaken in his OAVU motives , and to find out his mistake , and in many eases to alter his line of conduct in consequence of his discovery ; but however subtle and hard

to discover the motive may be , certain it is that every action of every human being has its sufficing motive . We frequently become conscious of this Avhen Ave find tAvo conflicting motives in our hearts , AA'hen the mind is called upon to decide , to Aveigh

the pretensions of the two , and to ascertain the probable consequences of such or such a course of action . In this decision the judgment and the feelings will both be called into play , and finally the strongest motive will prevail . NOAV , in saying the strongest motive , it is by no means implied that the most sound , the most prudent , the most logical motive shall have the

advantage , but simply that motive Avhich has the greatest poAver on the intellect , feelings , and passions of the person upon Avhom it is to act , so that a motive which shall be extremely poAverful with one individual will have no influence AA'hatever on another . Neither , when we speak of a sufficing motive , is it to be imagined that anything like a singleness of motive is implied ; the

motives of almost every action are complex , and no small part of human prudence lies in the discoA'ering how they are compounded , and Avhat kind of actions may be expected to arise from them ; the principle , then , is that the strongest motive will govern the conduct . Take an exceedingly common and exceedingly complex case .

A man , A ., meditates proposing marriage to a Avoman , B . His OAVU Avill is to decide whether he shall make the proposal or not ; but the will is an active , and not an intellectual faculty ; how is his Avill to be decided ? B . has Avealth , position , influence ; all these things act upon the mind of A ., VOL . II . 2 c

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