Robert Morris (writer)
Robert Morris (February 1703 – 12 November 1754) was an English architectural theorist, writer, and surveyor active in the eighteenth century. He contributed significantly to the Palladian revival through influential treatises and pattern books such as Lectures on Architecture (1734–1736) and Rural Architecture (1750), which helped disseminate classical design principles in Britain and colonial America. Though few buildings are securely attributed to him, he participated in architectural and surveying work at sites including Inveraray Castle and Culverthorpe Hall. Beyond architecture, Morris anonymously authored philosophical writings and was an early proponent of ethical vegetarianism, most notably through his 1746 treatise A Reasonable Plea for the Animal Creation, which advanced arguments for animal moral consideration.
Quotes
[edit]A Reasonable Plea for the Animal Creation (1746)
[edit]Full text online at the Internet Archive (London: M. Cooper, 1746).
- A Flie, a Mite, or other Insect, are in the same great Chain of Beings; and I but help to fill up the Rank of the Divin Works, I am no more than they. Look upon the Mechanism of a Spider with a Microscopic Eye, upon the Architecture of the Bee, &c. let Man consider the Fineness of their Texture and Composure, and with what Exactness they are form'd, and he will find in himself nothing to be vain of. If I boast of any thing, it is only of being join'd with you in this great Concatenation of Things, and moving with you in one of its Revolutions—My Friend, when we are worn out, and drop insensibly into the Grave, we only leave the Space to be filled up in the next successive Moment, perhaps by some other Race of Creatures, who compleat the Harmony of Wonders in this Structure of the Universe.
- ...Blood and Flesh with a voracious Appetite we devour, and glut ourselves with slaughter'd Animals, perhaps endued with Reason equal to ourselves; it may be we cannot affirm, that they possess one so perfect as ours, but that Perfection is acquir'd by Discipline, which the Generality of Brutes want. They have not Seminaries of Literature, nor Cambridge, Oxford, nor Eaton or Westminster, where Arts and Sciences are taught by Rules. — No, Nature is their only School-Mistress, and they learn her Instructions with wonderful Promptness and Sagacity. The Elements founded by the infinite Creator serve them as a Book, to teach them all the Knowledge which is necessary for their Well-being here.
- pp. 22–23
- …I believe it inconsistent with Humanity to eat Flesh, inconsistent with our Nature, or the Intentions of God in our first Formation, to imbrue our Teeth in the Blood of the Animals. They have the same Sense of Pleasure and Pain as we have, and we put them to an equal Torture with us by a Wound given to them; if so, it is at best a Cruelty to destroy them. I would fain know of you, that if I believe it criminal to eat Flesh, and continue so to do, whether I do not live in a Sin against Conscience, against Nature, which is the greatest of Sins; if by her I am convicted, if that faithful Monitor sets it before me as criminal to feed on the animal Creation, I seem to need no other Remonstrance.
- p. 23
- Man is but one Link in the great Concatenation of Beings, and to ufurp an Authority over any other part of the Chain is indeed Pride, rank Pride, and Haughtiness of Soul.
- p. 31
- Before we enter immediately upon the intended Controversy about the Right of eating Animals; I would beg Leave first to endeavour to unprejudice your Mind, by shewing the Primitive and Religious Notions of eating Flesh: They established their Reasons upon a fundamental Law in Nature, the original Justice of the World, which teaches us not to do that to another which we would not have another do to us. Now since 'tis evident that no Man would willingly become the Food of Beasts; therefore by the same Rule, he ought not to prey on them.
- p. 32
- [E]very thing which partakes of Sense, has also Reason; 'tis the Mind alone that sees, hears, &c. the Body of itself being blind, deaf, and void of all Sense. Therefore since Beasts see and hear, and perform all other Actions of Sense as we do; I hope it will not be unreasonable to assert they have a Seat of Reason.
- p. 33
- We have no Right of Property from Nature. When Men were first made, no Boundaries were set to his Possession; Right and Wrong were not known; no Man assumed a Right by Nature, and what was effected was by Power. If we could claim no Right to the Bodies of Animals, we had no Power to destroy. The Sparrow and the Fish of the Sea are in common to all, no Man claims a particular Right to them, therefore has no Power by Nature over them to kill.
- p. 52
- If I have any Virtues in me, or if there be such a distinguishing Characteristick in Man, they are chiefly a universal Love of my Fellow-creatures, placed here in concert with me to compleat the Harmony of the Universe.
External links
[edit]
Encyclopedic article on Robert Morris on Wikipedia
Media related to Robert Morris on Wikimedia Commons
Works related to Author:Robert Morris (1703-1754) on Wikisource
