投资 · 西方古典
托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 184
托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资
The striking necessity of general laws for the formation of intellect will not in any respect be contradicted by one or two exceptions, and these evidently not intended for partial purposes, but calculated to operate upon a great part of mankind, and through many ages. Upon the idea that I have given of the formation of mind, the infringement of the general law of nature, by a divine revelation, will appear in the light of the immediate hand of God mixing new ingredients in the mighty mass, suited to the particular state of the process, and calculated to give rise to a new and powerful train of impressions, tending to purify, exalt, and improve the human mind. The miracles that accompanied these revelations when they had once excited the attention of mankind, and rendered it a matter of most interesting discussion, whether the doctrine was from God or man, had performed their part, had answered the purpose of the Creator, and these communications of the divine will were afterwards left to make their way by their own intrinsic excellence; and, by operating as moral motives, gradually to influence and improve, and not to overpower and stagnate the faculties of man.
出处:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 184 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录
白话
一般规律对心智形成至关重要,一两个例外不会推翻这一点,而且这些例外显然不是为了局部目的,而是要对很大一部分人、在许多时代起作用。按照我关于心智形成的看法,神启对自然普遍规律的突破,像是上帝直接插手,在伟大过程中加入新成分,适应过程特定阶段,引发一系列有力新印象,用来净化、提升和改进人心。伴随神启的奇迹一旦引起人类注意,使“这教义来自神还是人”成为最有趣的讨论,就完成了使命,之后神意的传达靠自身内在卓越,作为道德动机逐渐影响和改进人,而不是压倒和停滞人的能力。所以,面对信仰或权威,先让它接受讨论和检验,再靠自身价值慢慢起作用,比强行让人立刻全盘相信更有利于心智成长。
上下文
马尔萨斯《人口论》中讨论神启与自然规律的关系,认为奇迹完成唤醒作用后,教义靠自身价值逐渐影响人。
今日一问
你接受某个权威说法时,是让它经过讨论检验,还是要求自己立刻全盘相信?
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