Adventures in Philosophy AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY Select a Category... Ancient Philosophy Medieval Philosophy Modern Philosophy Recent Philosophy American Philosophy Islamic Philosophy Jewish Philosophy Political Philosophy Eastern Philosophy Introduction & Directory American Philosophy Index
Academy Resources Glossary of Philosophical Terms Timeline of Philosophy A Timeline of American Philosophy Diagram: Development of Philosophic Thought Diagram: Divisions of Philosophy The Philosophy Resource Center The Religion Resource Center Books about American Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		On Self-Delusion by John Adams   Nothing in the science of human nature is more curious or deserving of critical attention than the principle, referred to by moralists, as self-deceit. This principle is the spurious offspring of self-love. It is, perhaps, the greatest source and the worst part of the vices and calamities of mankind. The most distorted minds are ingenious in contriving excuses for their crimes. They will explain that compulsion, necessity, the strength or suddenness of temptation, or the violence of passion caused them to commit the crime. These excuses also serve to assuage their consciences and to make them, by degrees, even more insensible. Indeed it must be confessed...that those eyes, which have been given us to see, are willingly suffered, to be obscured, and those consciences, which by the commission of the Almighty God have a rightful authority over us, are often deposed by prejudices, appetites, and passions; disagreeable qualities that ought to have an inferior position in our intellectual and moral systems... Let not writers and statesmen deceive themselves. The springs of conduct and opinion are not always clear and pure, nor are those of our political antagonists so polluted and corrupt, as they would have the world believe.   Excerpted from The Writings of John Adams The Political Writings of John Adams: Representative Selections     Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine... Academy Showcase Specials Introduction & Directory American Philosophy Index
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