Hazard, Rowland Gibson 1801-1888

Two letters on causation and freedom in willing, addressed to John Stuart Mill with an appendix on the existence of matter, and our notions of infinite space by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
23 editions published between 1859 and 1956 in English and Undetermined and held by 493 WorldCat member libraries worldwide
"This book presents two letters by the author to John Stuart Mill. In these letters, Hazard discusses causation and freedom in willing. He also discusses the existence of matter, notions of infinite space, and other various philosophical topics" (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)

Freedom of mind in willing; or, Every being that wills a creative first cause by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
27 editions published between 1864 and 2000 in English and held by 340 WorldCat member libraries worldwide
"Physical science and material progress are now the absorbing objects of effort. To these all utility is ascribed, to the exclusion of the metaphysical, which lies under the imputation of being both uninteresting and useless. Why this opprobrium and whence the general neglect, the absolute indisposition, to inquire into the structure and conditions of our spiritual being, which, as the source of all our power and all our enjoyments, one might naturally suppose would most interest us, and at the same time, by its mystery, most excite our curiosity? That the discoveries in physics, so varied and so magnificent, have largely contributed to our material comforts, have feasted the intellect and even regaled the imagination, is undoubtedly one cause of this neglect of the science of mind. But there are other reasons, among which we may mention the real difficulties of the subject. These are of two distinct kinds; first, those of ascertaining the truths; and second, those of imparting them after they have been ascertained. The first of these are, in some respects, peculiar. We want to examine that which examines; we want the mind to be employed in observing its own action, i.e., we want it to be doing one thing when it is of necessity doing another. A further difficulty, even in the investigation of the phenomena of mind, arises from the fact that the language applied to metaphysical science is very imperfect as an instrument of thought. The science of mind has very little language of its own, and in adopting for it what has been formed and fitted to another department of knowledge, much confusion and error result. The ambiguity, or various meanings of the terms, so often mislead the investigator himself, that he is not infrequently obliged to relinquish the instrumental aid of words, and directly examine his original ideas and conceptions of the subjects of inquiry. The difficulty of imparting the results in a language so imperfect is obvious, and is increased when it has been discarded in reaching them. But, with all this in appreciation of its benefits and all its recognized difficulties, metaphysics has its peculiar attractions. The questions of every child, the yearnings of the adult, though in expression only occasionally gleaming through the settled gloom of discouragement and despondency, still manifest the fervid curiosity in regard to that mysterious invisible, which knows, thinks, feels and acts; and even in those too busy, too sluggish, or too hopeless to put forth an effort to gratify it. The reason of its being neglected lies not so much in its want of attraction, as in the prevailing idea of its inutility; and this idea, though now magnified by temporary causes, has a foundation in the fact, that no investigation of the nature of our faculties and powers, mental or physical, is essential to that use of them which our early existence demands. For this we have the requisite knowledge by intuition. We can use our powers without studying either anatomy or metaphysics. It is not, then, surprising that we should early direct our attention to the study of those extrinsic substances and phenomena of which more knowledge is obviously and immediately useful. The want of satisfactory results has also had its influence; and perhaps there is no question, the discussion of which has tended more to bring upon metaphysics the reproach of being unfruitful, than that of the "Freedom of the Will." The importance of removing this grand obstruction to the progress of ethics and theology, is appreciated only by those who in their researches have encountered it. They alone have caught glimpses of the radiant fields of speculation which lie beyond; and most men regard the speculations upon it, not only as having furnished no new truth, but as having obscured what was before known"--Préface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

A discourse delivered before the Rhode-Island Historical Society, on the evening of Tuesday, January 18th, 1848 on the character and writings of Chief Justice Durfee by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( )
11 editions published between 1848 and 2010 in English and held by 337 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Economics and politics a series of papers upon public questions written on various occasions from 1840 to 1885 by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
8 editions published in 1889 in English and held by 246 WorldCat member libraries worldwide
"This volume contains the results of my grandfather's best thought upon public questions throughout his life. The first essay was written before he reached his fortieth year, when his mind was fully matured and in the first vigor of its working power. The dates of the successive speeches and papers show how constantly his attention was directed to human affairs with an ever widening interest. The fragmentary article on the Tariff which closes the volume was written in his eighty-fifth year, and was the last paper from his busy pen. The secret of this activity, this never-failing interest, is not hard to find. He was a seeker after truth, in ethics, in politics, in the conduct of life. A sentence in one of his speeches, written in his fiftieth year, nobly expresses his belief: "I have ever had too much faith in the practical workings of correct general principles to apprehend even individual injury from them. But, above all this, I believe there is that within me which prompts me fearlessly and faithfully to search out these general principles, and which, when they are found, impels me to give them utterance regardless of my own or any other narrow and temporary interests." The principles enunciated in the Railroad articles my grandfather lived to see accepted as lying at the root of railroad legislation. The Tariff articles also had their effect. The Financial articles, published at the close of the war, were issued in London. Some of them were translated into Dutch and published in Amsterdam, where they did much toward inspiring confidence in our resources. The clearness and keenness of my grandfather's vision made the dangers which menaced our country and our institutions very real to him and drew from him these cogent arguments, these earnest protests, and these burning appeals. "If by the blessing of Heaven, " he says, "there be aught of power within me, either for warning or for resistance, the will to exert it shall not be wanting"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

The liability of railway companies for remote fires proximate and remote cause by Francis Wharton ( )
3 editions published in 1878 in English and held by 201 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Our resources a series of articles on the financial and political condition of the United States by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
9 editions published between 1864 and 1976 in English and held by 143 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Essay on the philosophical character of Channing by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
4 editions published in 1845 in English and held by 124 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Causation and freedom in willing; together with Man a creative first cause, and kindred papers by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( )
11 editions published in 1889 in English and held by 122 WorldCat member libraries worldwide
"The two letters to John Stuart Mill, contained in this volume, were the result of the author's conversations and correspondence with that distinguished man. Of the other papers in this volume, those upon the "Existence of Matter," and "Our Notions of Infinite Space," were published as appendices to the "Letters to Mill." The subject of Infinite Space was one which possessed great attraction for the author. The letters to Mill, with their Appendices, were translated into German, and published in 1875. The reply to Huxley on "Animals not Automata" was published in the "Popular Science Monthly," in October, 1874. The letter on Causation to Dr. Francis Wharton was published in the latter's essay on "Proximate and Remote Cause" (The Liability of Railway Companies for Remote Fires) in 1878. The two discourses entitled "Man a Creative First Cause," were delivered at the Concord School of Philosophy, in July, 1882, and published in book form the following year." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

Essay on language : and other papers by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
7 editions published between 1857 and 1889 in English and held by 115 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Language its connexion with the present condition and future prospects of man by Rowland Gibson Hazard ( Book )
15 editions published between 1835 and 2009 in English and Undetermined and held by 99 WorldCat member libraries worldwide
"How far this book will add to the science heretofore accumulated on the subject of which it treats, the author's means of information do not permit him to know, but a more general intercourse with men than with books, has led him to observe that there is too little diffused information on the subject, and that much theoretical error and practical evil result from the want of it. As an illustration of this he might adduce many of the rancorous disputes which agitate society, in has arrived at truth, but simply which has adopted the better mode of expressing it--or in other words which has so expressed it, as to best harmonize with the system of truths before established, and most facilitate further acquisition--a matter of sufficient importance and difficulty to justify vigorous discussion and engage the highest talent. He believes that the influence of language on thought and its connexion with those results which are retained and go to form our opinions and beliefs, are not sufficiently understood even by many well informed on other subjects. If this essay shall throw any light on its relations with all the great objects of human interest and investigation, or if it shall have any effect in provoking thought and causing a more general attention to the subject--the utmost expectations of the writer will have been fulfilled, and he will be gratified with the reflection that a task which he has thus far performed with pleasure and benefit to himself, has not been without its utility to others"--Préface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)