[24] Αἴσθησις is here used as an analogous noun, to denote the faculty
which, in respect of moral matters, discharges the same function that
bodily sense does in respect of physical objects. It is worth while to
notice how in our colloquial language we carry out the same analogy. We
say of a transaction, that it “looks ugly,” “sounds oddly,” is a “nasty
job,” “stinks in our nostrils,” is a “hard dealing.”
BOOK III
[1] A man is not responsible for being [Greek: theratos], because
“particular propensions, from their very nature, must be felt, the
objects of them being present, though they cannot be gratified at all,
or not with the allowance of the moral principle.” But he is
responsible for being [Greek: eutheratos], because, though thus formed,
he “might have improved and raised himself to an higher and more secure
state of virtue by the contrary behaviour, by steadily following the
moral principle, supposed to be one part of his nature, and thus
withstanding that unavoidable danger of defection which necessarily
arose from propension, the other part of it. For by thus preserving his
integrity for some time, his danger would lessen, since propensions, by
being inured to submit, would do it more easily and of course and his
security against this lessening danger would increase, since the moral
principle would gain additional strength by exercise, both which things
are implied in the notion of virtuous habits.” (From the chapter on
Moral Discipline m the Analogy, sect. iv.) The purpose of this
disquisition is to refute the Necessitarians; it is resumed in the
third chapter of this Book.
[2] Virtue is not only the duty, but (by the laws of the Moral
Government of the World) also the interest of Man, or to express it in
Bishop Butler’s manner, Conscience and Reasonable self-love are the two
principles in our nature which of right have supremacy over the rest,
and these two lead in point of fact the same course of action. (Sermon
II.)
[3] Any ignorance of particular facts affects the rightness not of the
[Greek: praxis], but of the [Greek: pragma], but ignorance of _i.e._
incapacity to discern, Principles, shows the Moral Constitution to have
been depraved, _i.e._ shows Conscience to be perverted, or the sight of
Self-love to be impaired.
[4] [Greek: eneka] primarily denotes the relation of cause and effect
all circumstances which in any way contribute to a cert result are
[Greek: eneka] that result.
From the power which we have or acquire of deducing future results from
present causes we are enabled to act towards, with a view to produce,
these results thus [Greek: eneka] comes to mean not causation merely,
but _designed_ causation and so [Greek: on eneka] is used for Motive,
or final cause.
It is the primary meaning which is here intended, it would be a
contradiction in terms to speak of a man’s being ignorant of his own
Motive of action.