An Examination of the Human Mind
Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1828. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good / No Jacket. Item #2304794
Rebound with cloth spine over paper-covered boards, (original?) spine label laid down, new end sheets.
vi, 502 pp. 8vo. The first part, all published, of three that were envisioned, of a significant work of mental philosophy by "perhaps the only Scot of his day who had a sufficient grasp of Hume's arguments to realize that Paley's rebuttals had loopholes…." — Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment. A Secessionist preacher, Ballantyne had studied with John Finlayson and Dugald Stewart at Edinburgh. The Examination, "his principal work … is in effect a critique of the Scottish philosophy from Hume to Thomas Brown." — Dictionary of 19th Century British Philosophers (Thoemmes 2002). Brown, as the thinker in many ways closest to Hume, comes in for particular attack for a philosophy that in Ballantyne's view failed to save religion [from Hume's arguments]. Ballantyne nevertheless saw Hume's science of human nature as setting the pattern that they must follow. He reduced the "principles of human nature" to four, which are the subjects of the four chapters of the book: sensitive, associating, voluntary, and motive. (ibid.). The Dictionary entry notes further that Ballantyne anticipated to some extent William's Hamilton's critique of Brown, and that the Examination had an influence on a number of 19th century British philosophers (James Douglas, George Gleig, J.D. Morrell, Cairns, et al.). McCosh says the work “is distinguished for its independence, and its rising above the philosophy of [Ballantyne's] time. — Scottish Philosophy
Price: $275.00