Brown, John (1715-1766)

Essays on the Characteristics

London

C. Davis

1751

"Another Source of mutual Misapprehension on this Subject hath been 'the Introduction of metaphorical Expressions instead of proper ones.' Nothing is so common among the Writers on Morality, as 'the Harmony of Virtue'—'the Proportion of Virtue.'"

Another Source of mutual Misapprehension on this Subject hath been 'the Introduction of metaphorical Expressions instead of proper ones.' Nothing is so common among the Writers on Morality, as 'the Harmony of Virtue'—'the Proportion of Virtue.' So the noble Writer frequently expresseth himself. But his favourite Term, borrowed indeed from the Ancients, is 'the Beauty of Virtue.'—Quae si videri posset mirabiles excitaret amores.—Of this our Author and his Followers, especially the most ingenious of them, are so enamoured, that they seem utterly to have forgot they are talking in Metaphor, when they describe the Charms of this sovereign Fair. Insomuch, that an unexperienced Person, who should read their Encomiums, would naturally fall into the Mistake of him, who asked the Philosopher, 'Whether the Virtues were not living Creatures' Now this figurative Manner, so essentially interwoven into philosophical Disquisition, hath been the Occasion of great Error. It tends to mislead us both with regard to the Nature of Virtue, and our Motives to the Practice of it. For first, it induceth a Persuasion, that Virtue is excellent without Regard to any of its Consequences: And secondly, that he must either want Eyes, or common Discernment, who doth not at first Sight fall in Love with this matchless Lady.
(p. 161-2)

Music::Harmony Visual Arts::Proportion

Reading

John Brown, Essays on the Characteristics, 2nd ed. (London: C. Davis, 1751)

07/26/2011