Friends, | Betrayal, | Exclusiveness, | Effusiveness, | Isolation. | | | | Family, | Independence, | Self-sufficiency, | Self- | Loneliness. | | | obliteration,| | | | | State, | Spoils, | Treason, | Ambition, | Anarchy. | | | | Society, | Self-interest,| Meanness, | Officiousness, | Constraint. | | | | Self, | Pleasure, | Unscrupulousness, | Formalism, | Corruption. | | | | God, | Self-will, | Sin, | Hypocrisy, | Death. INTRODUCTION. Ethics is the science of conduct, and the art of life. Life consists in the maintenance of relations; it requires continual adjustment; it implies external objects, as well as internal forces. Conduct must have materials to work with; stuff to build character out of; resistance to overcome; objects to confront. These objects nature has abundantly provided. They are countless as the sands of the seashore, or the stars of heaven. In order to bring them within the range of scientific treatment we must classify them, and select for study those classes of objects which are most essential to life and conduct. Each chapter of this book presents one of these fundamental objects with which life and conduct are immediately concerned. A great many different relations are possible between ourselves and each one of these objects. Of these many possible relations some would be injurious to ourselves; some would be destructive of the object. Toward each object there is one relation, and one only, which at the same time best promotes the development of ourselves and best preserves the object's proper use and worth. The maintenance of this ideal union of self and object is our duty with reference to that object. Which shall come first and count most in determining this right relation, self or object, depends on the character of the object. In the case of inanimate objects, such as food, drink, dress, and property, the interests of the self are supreme. Toward these things it is our right and duty to be sagaciously and supremely selfish. When persons and mere things meet, persons have absolute right of way.