CONTENTS.

PART I.

General PRINCIPLES of RIGHT.

OF

CHAP. I.

F the nature of man confidered with regard to right of the understanding, and what

ever is relative to this faculty,

page 1

Sect. 1. Defign of this work: what is meant
by natural law.

2. We must deduce the principles of this
Science from the nature and ftate of

man.

3. Definition of man; what his nature is.
4. Different actions of man: which are
thofe that are the object of right?

5. Principal faculties of the foul.

6. The understanding; truth.

7. Principle. The understanding is natu-
rally right.

8. In what manner perception, attention,
and examen, are formed.

ibid.

3

4

5

ibid.

6

7

Sect.

Sect.

9.

Evidence; Probability.

page 8

10. Of the fenfes, the imagination, and me

mory.

11. The perfection of the understanding
confifts in the knowledge of truth.

Two obftacles to this perfection, ig

norance and error.

12. Different forts of error.

1. Error of

the law, and of the fact. 2. Volun

tary and involuntary. 3. Effential
and accidental.

CHA P. II.

ibid.

ΙΘ

Continuation of the principles relative to the nature of man. Of will and liberty.

page 13

Sect. 1. The will. What happiness and good

confift in.

2. Instincts, inclinations, paffions.

3. Liberty: in what it confifts.

4. Ufe of liberty in our judgments in re-
Spect to truth.

5. Liberty has its exercife, even in regard
to things that are evident.

Objection.

Anfwer.

6. Ufe of liberty with regard to good and

evil.

7. With regard to indifferent things.
8. Why the exercife of liberty is reftrained
to non-evident truths, and particu-
lar goods.

Sect.

9.

The proof of liberty drawn from our
inward fenfe, is fuperior to any

other.

page 23

10. How comes it that liberty has been con-
tested.

11. Actions are voluntary, and involunta-
ry; free, neceffary, and constrained.

26

27

12. Our faculties help one another recipro-
cally.

30

13. Of reafon and virtue.

ibid.

31

32

14. Caufes of the diverfity we obferve in
the conduct of men.

15. Reafon bas it always in her power to
remain mistress.

CHA P. III.

That man thus conftituted, is a creature capable of moral direction, and accountable for his actions.

Sect. 1. Man is capable of direction in regard

page 33

to his conduct.

ibid.

2. He is accountable for his actions: they
can be imputed to him.

34

35

3. Principle of imputability. We must not
confound it with imputation.

CHA P. IV.

Further inquiry into what relates to human nature,

by confidering the different ftates of man.

Sect. 1. Definition. Divifion.

2. Primitive and original states.

p. 36

ibid.

37

1, State of man with regard to God. ibid.

Sect. 3. 2. State of fociety.

page 37

4. 3. State of folitude. 4. Peace: war.

5. State of man with regard to the goods
of the earth.

38

39

Marriage.

40

4.

7. 3. Weakness of man at his birth.
Natural dependance of children on
their parents.

8. The fate of property.

9.

Civil ftate and government.

10. The civil state and property of goods

give rife to feveral adventitious
ftates.

1

11. True idea of the natural state of man.
12. Difference between original and adven-

titious ftates.

ibid.

41

ibid.

42

ibid.

43

CHA P. V.

That man ought to fquare his conduct by rule; the

method of finding out this rule; and the foundations of right in general.

Sect. 1. Definition of a rule.

page 44

ibid.

45

46

2. It is not convenient, that man should

live without a rule.

3. A rule fuppofes an end, an aim.

4. The ultimate end of man is happiness.
5. 'Tis the fyftem of providence.

ibid.

47

6. The defire of happiness is effential to
man, and infeparable from reafon. ibid.
7. Self-love is a principle that has nothing
vicious in itself.

48

Sect.

Sect. 8. Man cannot attain to happiness but by

General rules of conduct prescribed by reason. Of the nature and first foundations of obligation. p. 52

Sect. 1. Reafon gives us feveral rules of con

duct.

2. First rule. To make a right diftinction
of goods and evils.

3. Second rule. True happiness cannot
confift in things that are inconfiftent

with the nature and state of man.

4. Third rule. To compare the prejent

and the future together.

Fourth rule.

Fifth rule.

5. Sixth rule. To give the goods that ex-
cel most, the preference.

6. Seventh rule. In fome cafes poffibility
only, and by a much stronger reafon
probability, ought to determine us.
7. Eighth rule. To have a relish for true
goods.
8. Our mind acquiefces naturally to these
maxims; and they ought to influence
our conduct.

9. Of obligation generally confidered.
10. Obligation may be more or lefs ftrong.

59

ibid.

53

55

56

ibid.

ibid.

57

58

60

61

63

Sect.