WRITINGS OF DR. SMITH.

XXI

much converfant in thel'e abhract difquifitions, ’byprefenting to them the leading principles of thefyftem in one conneited view, without thofe in-terruptions of the attention which necelfarily arifefrom the author’s various and happy illuftrations,and from the many eloquent digrelhons which a-nimate and adorn his compofition.

The fundamental principle of Mr. Smith’stheory is that the primary objects of our moralperceptions are the aitions of other men; and thatour moral judgments with refpeit to our owncon duel are only applications to ourfelves of deci-fions which we have already palled on the con duelof our neighbour. His work accordingly coniiftsof two parts. In the former, he explains in whatmanner we learn to judge of the conduit of ourneighbour; in the latter, in what manner, byapplying thefe judgments to ourfelves, we acquirea. fenfe of duty.

Our moral judgments, both with refpeit to ourown conduct and that of others, include two dif-tinit perceptions: firfl , A perception of conduitas right or wrong: and ,fecondly , A perception ofthe merit or demerit of the agent. To that qua-lity of conduit which moralifts, in general, ex-prefs by the word Reititude, Mr. Smith givesthe name of Propriety; and he begins his theorywith inquiring in what it confifts, and how weare led to form the idea of it. The leading