3. we observe, first, how the rules that prescribe the distribution
of kindness in accordance with normal promptings of Family
Affections, Friendship, Gratitude, and Pity have a firm Utilitarian
basis: and how Utilitarianism is naturally referred to for an
explanation of the difficulties that arise in attempting to define
these rules. 430-439
4. A similar result is reached by an examination, singly and
together, of the different elements into which we have analysed the
common notion of Justice: 439-448
5. and in the case of other virtues. 448-450
6. Purity has been thought an exception: but a careful examination
of common opinions as to the regulation of sexual relations
exhibits a peculiarly complex and delicate correspondence between
moral sentiments and social utilities. 450-453
7. The hypothesis that the Moral Sense is ‘unconsciously
Utilitarian’ also accounts for the actual differences in different
codes of Duty and estimates of Virtue, either in the same age and
country, or when we compare different ages and countries. It is not
maintained that perception of rightness has always been consciously
derived from perception of utility: a view which the evidence of
history fails to support. 453-457
On the Utilitarian view, the relation between Ethics and Politics
is different for different parts of the legal code. 457-459
CHAPTER IV
THE METHOD OF UTILITARIANISM
1. Ought a Utilitarian, then, to accept the Morality of Common
Sense provisionally as a body of Utilitarian doctrine? Not quite;
for even accepting the theory that the Moral Sense is derived from
Sympathy, we can discern several causes that must have operated
to produce a divergence between Common Sense and a perfectly
Utilitarian code of morality. 460-467
2. At the same time it seems idle to try to construct such a code
in any other way than by taking Positive Morality as our basis. 467-471
3. If General Happiness be the ultimate end, it is not reasonable
to adopt “social health” or “efficiency” as the practically
ultimate criterion of morality. 471-474
CHAPTER V
THE METHOD OF UTILITARIANISM (_continued_)
1. It is, then, a Utilitarian’s duty at once to support generally,
and to rectify in detail, the morality of Common Sense: and the
method of pure empirical Hedonism seems to be the only one that he
can at present use in the reasonings that finally determine the
nature and extent of this rectification. 475-480
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account