The word “humanity,” he says, not only connotes the thought which he desires to express, but it suits his purpose also on account of its history. Among the upper classes of the Romans were some who were wont to temper the execution of justice with mercy when exercising power over their subjects; such a Roman citizen, Patrician, was humanus, humanissimus. Now, he thinks, that since with the Romans the word connoted the idea of mildness in the exercises of citizenship and law, that it would be well to take over the word and the idea. He makes reference also to the Greeks whose word, ἂνθρωπος, looking upward, he clothes in Plato’s words: “As he looks he reasons.” Therefore, says Herder, he does not fail to notice the human failings that lead to sympathy, consequently to humanity. The knowledge of our powers and inborn potentialities, of our calling and our duty arises from an intense study of mankind. He repeats that the Greeks and Romans led the way in this studium humanitatis. The only limit which Herder sets to what we shall be is to be found in the highest possible formation and completion of whatever belongs to the character of our race.
Many of the telling thoughts in these letters are scattered in isolated paragraphs running something like the following: Truth is the bond of humanity between friends. The purer the thoughts of men are, the more they agree. The true invisible church is one in all times, in all lands.
Franklin had a wonderful sense of humanity. He proceeds from the simple eternal laws of nature, from the most infallible practical rules—the needs and interests of mankind. Franklin recognized the value of the common people and thought to teach them by clothing his ideas in simplicity.
Companionship is the foundation of humanity and the communion of human souls, a mutual interchange of acquired ideas (thoughts) and of traits of understanding which increases the mass of human knowledge and skill infinitely. If humanity is no empty name, suffering mankind must rejoice at the advance in medical science. Human society founded on virtue must stand. The highest and most fruitful wisdom arises from the (common) people because they have felt need and suffering, they have been driven here and there, they have tasted the sweet fruit of trouble and they know how to care for others.
The kinship to the spirit and philosophy pervading Shaftesbury is here quite evident.
REFERENCES TO SHAFTESBURY
ROUSSEAU AND HERDER
IV, 369: In discussing his ideal book for the development of humanity, Herder finds that important points would be rules and exhortations for the development of body and soul; in this he says: ist Rousseau ein grosser Lehrer.
IV, 371: He will imitate Rousseau zealously; will read him, contemplate him, nationalize him.