Books relating to John Locke
1 total work
Nicole's "Essais de Morale" consists of three discourses. "On the Being of a God and the Immortality of the Soul" seeks to show, by largely rhetorical arguments, that these central tenets of the Christian religion can be established by Reason. "Of the Weakness of Man" is an extended homily on the sin of pride and its manifestations. "Concerning the Way of Preserving Peace with Men" reminds us that there are usually wrongs on both sides in any quarrel, and exhorts us to search our own hearts and conduct before giving way to hatred and thoughts of revenge. Locke visited France in autumn 1672, made acquaintance with the "Essais", and was sufficiently interested and impressed to render them into English. Nicole's subjects - the role of Reason in religion, human weakness, and social harmony - were all clearly matters of perennial concern for Locke. His translation normally remains close to the original, with the exception of one passage from the second essay where a passage denouncing Protestantism is replaced by an equally forthright condemnation of Catholicism.