4. Which is the more valuable member of society a great Mechanician, or a great Poet? See CHANNING ON THE AGE. EMERSON'S ESSAYS. EDINBURGH REVIEW, vol. xlvi. p. 365. Do. Do. vol. xlvii. pp. 184—202. M'CULLOCH'S GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY. DO. POLITICAL ECONOMY. Passim. NOTE.-This question turns upon the comparative value of a Great Doer and a Great Thinker; and lies between the utility of Mechanics and Morals: of Physics and Metaphysics. It is the belief of many of the chief writers of the day, that our age is too mechanical, and needs to be spiritualised: this debate will open that question. 5. Which was the greater orator, Demosthenes or Cicero ? See LORD BROUGHAM'S ESSAY ON THE ELOQUENCE OF THE ANCIENTS. Collected Speeches, vol. iv. EDINBURGH REVIEW, vol. xxviii. p. 60. -vol. xxxiii. pp, 226-246. -vol. xxxvi. pp. 86-109. DR. ANTHON'S CICERO. With English Com mentary. NOTE. The discussion of this question must include references to style, aim, and effect: artistical, mental, and moral power. 6. Which is the more despicable character, the Hypocrite or the Liar? See LORD BACON'S ESSAY ON TRUTH. TILLOTSON, ON THE ADVANTAGES OF TRUTH AND SINCERITY. BISHOP HALL. Character of the Hypocrite. MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. Character of Pecksniff. 7. Has the Fear of Punishment, or the Hope of Reward, the greater Influence on Human Conduct? See ADAM SMITH'S THEORY OF THE MORAL SEN TIMENTS. MILL ON THE HUMAN MIND. BENTHAM'S SPRINGS OF ACTION. DUGALD STEWART ON THE MIND. BENTHAM'S RATIONALE OF REWARD AND PU NISHMENT. NOTE. This question involves considerations of great importance. It has to do with Education, Government, and Religion. The fear of punishment is the principle usually supposed to influence us, and upon this principle, for the most part, education, laws, and religious instruction are founded: but many of the wisest men are beginning to doubt this system. 8. Is Corporal Punishment justifiable? See EDGEWORTH'S PRACTICAL EDUCATION. WILDERSPIN'S EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG. HANSARD, "DEBATES ON FLOGGING IN THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, vol. xii. p. 420. 9. Was Brutus justified in killing Cæsar? See the Speech of Brutus in Shakspere's Julius SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH'S WORKS, vol. iii. -- Do. Do. vol. ii. p. 228. NOTE. This question must be tried by the morals of thetime when the act took place, and not by the present standard of morality. It is quite necessary to make this distinction. 10. Should Emulation be encouraged in Education? See EDGEWORTH'S PRACTICAL EDUCATION. GODWIN'S REFLECTIONS ON EDUCATION, COWPER'S TIROCINIUM. ADAM SMITH'S THEORY OF THE MORAL SENTI MENTS. See COLERIDGE'S LINES, entitled, "Love, Hope, and Patience in Education." HOBBES ON ENVY AND EMULATION. SYDNEY SMITH'S WORKS, vol. i. pp. 221-231.. NOTE.-The system of prize-giving in education has supporters and opponents, both so determined, that a discussion upon the subject cannot fail to be interesting and instructive. Philosophy and experience should both be referred to in the debate. 11. Which was the greater Poet, Milton or Homer ? See COLERIDGE ON THE GREEK POETS. CHANNING ON MILTON. BLAIR'S LECTURES. CAMPBELL ON MILTON. ROBERT HALL ON POETIC GENIUS. MACAULAY'S ESSAYS, vol. i. pp. 1–32. TURE, AND ART. "Epic Poetry;" and the authorities there quoted. NOTE. This debate will turn upon the facts that Homer is the more real, life-like, and human poet, whilst Milton is the more imaginative, sublime, and spiritual: the decision must depend upon which are the nobler qualities. 12. Is Military Renown a fit Object of Ambition? See CHANNING'S ESSAY ON WAR. CHANNING ON NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. See CHILDE HAROLD, Canto I. War. ROBERT MONGOMERY'S PICTURE OF WAR. 13. Is Ambition a Vice or a Virtue? See HUGHES'S ESSAY ON AMBITION in the "Guardian." LORD BACON'S ESSAY ON AMBITION. WOLSEY'S ADVICE TO CROMWELL. Play of PARADISE LOST. Satan's Address to the Sun. ADAM SMITH ON MISDIRECTED AMBITION. BISHOP WATSON'S SERMONS TO YOUNG PER SONS. M'CULLOCH'S POLITICAL ECONOMY, pp. 527530. 14. Has Novel-reading a Moral Tendency? See SIR W. SCOTT'S CRITICISM ON NOVELS AND ROMANCES. SCOTT'S TREATISE ON ROMANCE. THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, vol. xxiv. pp. 320, &c. AKENSIDE'S PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION. LORD JEFFREY'S ESSAYS, vol iii. p. 440. vol. iv. p. 517. GOLDSMITH'S CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, Letter LIII. NOTE.-It may seem that this question barely admits of discussion, for moral novels must, of course, have a moral tendency: but at least, the debate may serve to lead the debaters to a proper selection of novels. |