But this terror of contravening an unascertained and unascertainable
will, cannot coexist with reflection: it disappears with
civilization, and can no more be reproduced than the fear of ghosts
after childhood. It is discriminated from the doctrine of
Philosophical Necessity herein: that the last is an Optimism, and
therefore the suffering individual finds his good consulted in the
good of all, of which he is a part. But in Destiny, it is not the
good of the whole or the _best will_ that is enacted, but only _one
particular will_. Destiny properly is not a will at all, but an
immense whim; and this is the only ground of terror and despair in
the rational mind, and of tragedy in literature. Hence the antique
tragedy, which was founded on this faith, can never be reproduced.
But after the reason and faith have introduced a better public
and private tradition, the tragic element is somewhat circumscribed.
There must always remain, however, the hindrance of our private
satisfaction by the laws of the world. The law which establishes
nature and the human race, continually thwarts the will of ignorant
individuals, and this in the particulars of disease, want,
insecurity, and disunion.
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