tomeannotmerelythatwhichispecuniary，butwhatevermayprocureuspleasureorwithdrawusfrompain，[_del’esprit_2，1，]says，[ib。2，2，]”thehumanemanishetowhomthesightofmisfortuneisinsupportable，andwhotorescuehimselffromthisspectacle，isforcedtosuccortheunfortunateobject。”Thisindeedistrue。Butitisonestepshortoftheultimatequestion。Thesegoodactsgiveuspleasure，buthowhappensitthattheygiveuspleasure?Becausenaturehathimplantedinourbreastsaloveofothers，asenseofdutytothem，amoralinstinct，inshort，whichpromptsusirresistiblytofeelandtosuccortheirdistresses，andprotestsagainstthelanguageofHelvetius，[ib。2，5，]”whatothermotivethanself-interestcoulddetermineamantogenerousactions?Itisasimpossibleforhimtolovewhatisgoodforthesakeofgood，astoloveevilforthesakeofevil。”TheCreatorwouldindeedhavebeenabunglingartist，hadheintendedmanforasocialanimal，withoutplantinginhimsocialdispositions。Itistruetheyarenotplantedineveryman，becausethereisnorulewithoutexceptions；
　　butitisfalsereasoningwhichconvertsexceptionsintothegeneralrule。Somemenarebornwithouttheorgansofsight，orofhearing，orwithouthands。Yetitwouldbewrongtosaythatmanisbornwithoutthesefaculties，andsight，hearing，andhandsmaywithtruthenterintothegeneraldefinitionofman。Thewantorimperfectionofthemoralsenseinsomemen，likethewantorimperfectionofthesensesofsightandhearinginothers，isnoproofthatitisageneralcharacteristicofthespecies。Whenitiswanting，weendeavortosupplythedefectbyeducation，byappealstoreasonandcalculation，bypresentingtothebeingsounhappilyconformed，othermotivestodogoodandtoeschewevil，suchasthelove，orthehatred，orrejectionofthoseamongwhomhelives，andwhosesocietyisnecessarytohishappinessandevenexistence；demonstrationsbysoundcalculationthathonestypromotesinterestinthelongrun；therewardsandpenaltiesestablishedbythelaws；andultimatelytheprospectsofafuturestateofretributionfortheevilaswellasthegooddonewhilehere。Thesearethecorrectiveswhicharesuppliedbyeducation，andwhichexercisethefunctionsofthemoralist，thepreacher，andlegislator；andtheyleadintoacourseofcorrectactionallthosewhosedisparityisnottooprofoundtobeeradicated。Somehavearguedagainsttheexistenceofamoralsense，bysayingthatifnaturehadgivenussuchasense，impellingustovirtuousactions，andwarningusagainstthosewhicharevicious，thennaturewouldalsohavedesignated，bysomeparticularear-marks，thetwosetsofactionswhichare，inthemselves，theonevirtuousandtheothervicious。Whereas，wefind，infact，thatthesameactionsaredeemedvirtuousinonecountryandviciousinanother。
　　Theansweristhatnaturehasconstituted_utility_tomanthestandardandbestofvirtue。Menlivingindifferentcountries，underdifferentcircumstances，differenthabitsandregimens，mayhavedifferentutilities；thesameact，therefore，maybeuseful，andconsequentlyvirtuousinonecountrywhichisinjuriousandviciousinanotherdifferentlycircumstanced。Isincerely，then，believewithyouinthegeneralexistenceofamoralinstinct。Ithinkitthebrightestgemwithwhichthehumancharacterisstudded，andthewantofitasmoredegradingthanthemosthideousofthebodilydeformities。Iamhappyinreviewingtherollofassociatesinthisprinciplewhichyoupresentinyoursecondletter，someofwhichI
　　hadnotbeforemetwith。TothesemightbeaddedLordKaims，oneoftheablestofouradvocates，whogoessofarastosay，inhisPrinciplesofNaturalReligion，thatamanowesnodutytowhichheisnoturgedbysomeimpulsivefeeling。Thisiscorrect，ifreferredtothestandardofgeneralfeelinginthegivencase，andnottothefeelingofasingleindividual。PerhapsImaymisquotehim，itbeingfiftyyearssinceIreadhisbook。
　　Theleisureandsolitudeofmysituationherehasledmetotheindiscretionoftaxingyouwithalongletteronasubjectwhereonnothingnewcanbeofferedyou。Iwillindulgemyselfnofartherthantorepeattheassurancesofmycontinuedesteemandrespect。
　　BONAPARTEANDPLATO
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，July5，1814_
　　DEARSIR——SincemineofJan。24。yoursofMar。14。wasrecieved。ItwasnotacknolegedintheshortoneofMay18。byMr。
　　Rives，theonlyobjectofthathavingbeentoenableoneofourmostpromisingyoungmentohavetheadvantageofmakinghisbowtoyou。
　　Ilearnedwithgreatregrettheseriousillnessmentionedinyourletter：andIhopeMr。Riveswillbeabletotellmeyouareentirelyrestored。Butourmachineshavenowbeenrunningfor70。or80。
　　years，andwemustexpectthat，wornastheyare，hereapivot，thereawheel，nowapinion，nextaspring，willbegivingway：andhoweverwemaytinkerthemupforawhile，allwillatlengthsurceasemotion。
　　Ourwatches，withworksofbrassandsteel，wearoutwithinthatperiod。ShallyouandIlasttoseethecoursetheseven-foldwondersofthetimeswilltake?TheAttilaoftheagedethroned，theruthlessdestroyerof10。millionsofthehumanrace，whosethirstforbloodappearedunquenchable，thegreatoppressoroftherightsandlibertiesoftheworld，shutupwithinthecircuitofalittleislandoftheMediterranean，anddwindledtotheconditionofanhumbleanddegradedpensioneronthebountyofthosehehadmostinjured。Howmiserably，howmeanly，hasheclosedhisinflatedcareer！WhatasampleoftheBathoswillhishistorypresent！Heshouldhaveperishedontheswordsofhisenemies，underthewallsofParis。
　　`LeonpiagatoamorteCosifral’ireestremaSentemancarlavita，rugge，minaccia，efreme，Guardalasuaferita，ChefatremarmorendoNes’avilisceancor。Talvoltailcacciator。’
　　MetastAdriano。
　　ButBonapartewasalioninthefieldonly。Incivillifeacold-blooded，calculatingunprincipledUsurper，withoutavirtue，nostatesman，knowingnothingofcommerce，politicaleconomy，orcivilgovernment，andsupplyingignorancebyboldpresumption。IhadsupposedhimagreatmanuntilhisentranceintotheAssemblydescinqcens，18。Brumairean。8。FromthatdatehoweverIsethimdownasagreatscoundrelonly。Tothewondersofhisriseandfall，wemayaddthatofaCzarofMuscovydictating，_inParis_，lawsandlimitstoallthesuccessorsoftheCaesars，andholdingeventhebalanceinwhichthefortunesofthisnewworldaresuspended。Iownthat，whileIrejoice，forthegoodofmankind，tothedeliveranceofEuropefromthehavocwhichwouldhaveneverceasedwhileBonaparteshouldhavelivedinpower，Iseewithanxietythetyrantoftheoceanremaininginvigor，andevenparticipatinginthemeritofcrushinghisbrothertyrant。Whiletheworldisthusturnedupsidedown，onwhichsideofitarewe?Allthestrongreasonsindeedplaceusonthesideofpeace；theinterestsofthecontinent，theirfriendlydispositions，andeventheinterestsofEngland。Herpassionsaloneareopposedtoit。Peacewouldseemnowtobeaneasywork，thecausesofthewarbeingremoved。Herordersofcouncilwillnodoubtbetakencareofbythealliedpowers，and，warceasing，herimpressmentofourseamenceasesofcourse。ButIfearthereisfoundationforthedesignintimatedinthepublicpapers，ofdemandingacessionofourrightinthefisheries。WhatwillMassachusetssaytothis?Imeanhermajority，whichmustbeconsideredasspeaking，thro’theorgansithasappointeditself，astheIndexofit’swill。Shechosetosacrificethelibertyofourseafaringcitizens，inwhichwewereallinterested，andwiththemherobligationstotheCo-states；ratherthanwarwithEngland。Willshenowsacrificethefisheriestothesamepartialities?Thisquestionisinterestingtoheralone：fortothemiddle，theSouthernandWesternStatestheyareofnodirectconcern；ofnomorethanthecultureoftobacco，riceandcottontoMassachusets。Iamreallyatalosstoconjecturewhatourrefractorysisterwillsayonthisoccasion。Iknowwhat，asacitizenoftheUnion，Iwouldsaytoher。`Takethisquestionadreferendum。Itconcernsyoualone。IfyouwouldrathergiveupthefisheriesthanwarwithEngland，wegivethemup。Ifyouhadratherfightforthem，wewilldefendyourintereststothelastdropofourblood，chusingrathertosetagoodexamplethanfollowabadone。’AndIhopeshewilldeterminetofightforthem。WiththishoweveryouandIshallhavenothingtodo；oursbeingtrulythecasewherein`nontaliauxilio，necdefensoribusistisTempuseget。’QuittingthissubjectthereforeI
　　willturnoveranotherleaf。
　　Iamjustreturnedfromoneofmylongabsences，havingbeenatmyotherhomeforfiveweekspast。Havingmoreleisuretherethanhereforreading，IamusedmyselfwithreadingseriouslyPlato’srepublic。Iamwronghoweverincallingitamusement，foritwastheheaviesttask-workIeverwentthrough。Ihadoccasionallybeforetakenupsomeofhisotherworks，butscarcelyeverhadpatiencetogothroughawholedialogue。Whilewadingthro’thewhimsies，thepuerilities，andunintelligiblejargonofthiswork，Ilaiditdownoftentoaskmyselfhowitcouldhavebeenthattheworldshouldhavesolongconsentedtogivereputationtosuchnonsenseasthis?Howthesoi-disantChristianworldindeedshouldhavedoneit，isapieceofhistoricalcuriosity。ButhowcouldtheRomangoodsensedoit?
　　AndparticularlyhowcouldCicerobestowsucheulogiesonPlato?
　　Altho’CicerodidnotwieldthedenselogicofDemosthenes，yethewasable，learned，laborious，practisedinthebusinessoftheworld，andhonest。Hecouldnotbethedupeofmerestyle，ofwhichhewashimselfthefirstmasterintheworld。WiththeModerns，Ithink，itisratheramatteroffashionandauthority。Educationischieflyinthehandsofpersonswho，fromtheirprofession，haveaninterestinthereputationandthedreamsofPlato。Theygivethetonewhileatschool，andfew，intheirafter-years，haveoccasiontorevisetheircollegeopinions。Butfashionandauthorityapart，andbringingPlatotothetestofreason，takefromhimhissophisms，futilities，andincomprehensibilities，andwhatremains?Intruth，heisoneoftheraceofgenuineSophists，whohasescapedtheoblivionofhisbrethren，firstbytheeleganceofhisdiction，butchieflybytheadoptionandincorporationofhiswhimsiesintothebodyofartificialChristianity。Hisfoggymind，isforeverpresentingthesemblancesofobjectswhich，halfseenthro’amist，canbedefinedneitherinformordimension。Yetthiswhichshouldhaveconsignedhimtoearlyoblivionreallyprocuredhimimmortalityoffameandreverence。TheChristianpriesthood，findingthedoctrinesofChristlevelledtoeveryunderstanding，andtooplaintoneedexplanation，saw，inthemysticismsofPlato，materialswithwhichtheymightbuildupanartificialsystemwhichmight，fromit’sindistinctness，admiteverlastingcontroversy，giveemploymentfortheirorder，andintroduceittoprofit，powerandpre-eminence。ThedoctrineswhichflowedfromthelipsofJesushimselfarewithinthecomprehensionofachild；butthousandsofvolumeshavenotyetexplainedthePlatonismsengraftedonthem：andforthisobviousreasonthatnonsensecanneverbeexplained。Theirpurposeshoweverareanswered。Platoiscanonized；anditisnowdeemedasimpioustoquestionhismeritsasthoseofanApostleofJesus。Heispeculiarlyappealedtoasanadvocateoftheimmortalityofthesoul；
　　andyetIwillventuretosaythatweretherenobetterargumentsthanhisinproofofit，notamanintheworldwouldbelieveit。ItisfortunateforusthatPlatonicrepublicanismhasnotobtainedthesamefavorasPlatonicChristianity；orweshouldnowhavebeenallliving，men，womenandchildren，pellmelltogether，likebeastsofthefieldorforest。Yet`PlatoisagreatPhilosopher，’saidLaFontaine。ButsaysFontenelle`doyoufindhisideasveryclear’?
　　`Ohno！heisofanobscurityimpenetrable。’`Doyounotfindhimfullofcontradictions?’`Certainly，’repliedLaFontaine，`heisbutaSophist。’Yetimmediatelyafter，heexclaimsagain，`OhPlatowasagreatPhilosopher。’SocrateshadreasonindeedtocomplainofthemisrepresentationsofPlato；forintruthhisdialoguesarelibelsonSocrates。
　　ButwhyamIdosingyouwiththeseAnte-diluviantopics?
　　BecauseIamgladtohavesomeonetowhomtheyarefamiliar，andwhowillnotrecievethemasifdroppedfromthemoon。Ourpost-revolutionaryyoutharebornunderhappierstarsthanyouandI
　　were。Theyacquirealllearningintheirmothers’womb，andbringitintotheworldready-made。Theinformationofbooksisnolongernecessary；andallknolegewhichisnotinnate，isincontempt，orneglectatleast。Everyfollymustrunit’sround；andso，I
　　suppose，mustthatofself-learning，andselfsufficiency；ofrejectingtheknolegeacquiredinpastages，andstartingonthenewgroundofintuition。WhensoberedbyexperienceIhopeoursuccessorswillturntheirattentiontotheadvantagesofeducation。
　　Imeanofeducationonthebroadscale，andnotthatofthepetty_academies_，astheycallthemselves，whicharestartingupineveryneighborhood，andwhereoneortwomen，possessingLatin，andsometimesGreek，aknolegeoftheglobes，andthefirstsixbooksofEuclid，imagineandcommunicatethisasthesumofscience。Theycommittheirpupilstothetheatreoftheworldwithjusttasteenoughoflearningtobealienatedfromindustriouspursuits，andnotenoughtodoserviceintheranksofscience。Wehavesomeexceptionsindeed。Ipresentedonetoyoulately，andwehavesomeothers。ButthetermsIusearegeneraltruths。Ihopethenecessitywillatlengthbeseenofestablishinginstitutions，hereasinEurope，whereeverybranchofscience，usefulatthisday，maybetaughtinit’shighestdegrees。Haveyoueverturnedyourthoughtstotheplanofsuchaninstitution?Imeantoaspecificationoftheparticularsciencesofrealuseinhumanaffairs，andhowtheymightbesogroupedastorequiresomanyprofessorsonlyasmightbringthemwithintheviewsofajustbutenlightenedeconomy?Ishouldbehappyinacommunicationofyourideasonthisproblem，eitherlooseordigested。Buttoavoidmybeingrunawaywithbyanothersubject，andaddingtothelengthandennuiofthepresentletter，IwillherepresenttoMrs。Adamsandyourselftheassuranceofmyconstantandsincerefriendshipandrespect。
　　EMANCIPATIONANDTHEYOUNGERGENERATION
　　_ToEdwardColes_
　　_Monticello，August25，1814_