Thefollowingsheetswere,asthenoteontheoppositepageexpresses,printedsolongagoastheyear1780。Thedesign,inpursuanceofwhichtheywerewritten,wasnotsoextensiveasthatannouncedbythepresenttitle。Theyhadatthattimenootherdestinationthanthatofservingasanintroductiontoaplanofapenalcodeinterminus,designedtofollowthem,inthesamevolume。
Thebodyoftheworkhadreceiveditscompletionaccordingtothethenpresentextentoftheauthor\'sviews,when,intheinvestigationofsomeflawshehaddiscovered,hefoundhimselfunexpectedlyentangledinanunsuspectedcornerofthemetaphysicalmaze。Asuspension,atfirstnotapprehendedtobemorethanatemporaryone,necessarilyensued:suspensionbroughtoncoolness,andcoolness,aidedbyotherconcurrentcauses,ripenedintodisgust。
Imperfectionspervadingthewholemasshadalreadybeenpointedoutbythesincerityofsevereanddiscerningfriends;andconsciencehadcertifiedthejustnessoftheircensure。Theinordinatelengthofsomeofthechapters,theapparentinutilityofothers,andthedryandmetaphysicalturnofthewhole,suggestedanapprehension,that,ifpublishedinitspresentform,theworkwouldcontendundergreatdisadvantagesforanychance,itmightonotheraccountspossess,ofbeingread,andconsequentlyofbeingofuse。
But,thoughinthismannertheideaofcompletingthepresentworkslidinsensiblyaside,thatwasnotbyanymeansthecasewiththeconsiderationswhichhadledhimtoengageinit。Everyopening,whichpromisedtoaffordthelightshestoodinneedof,wasstillpursued:asoccasionarosetheseveraldepartmentsconnectedwiththatinwhichhehadatfirstengaged,weresuccessivelyexplored;insomuchthat,inonebranchorotherofthepursuit,hisresearcheshavenearlyembracedthewholefieldoflegislation。
Severalcauseshaveconspiredatpresenttobringtolight,underthisnewtitle,aworkwhichunderitsoriginalonehadbeenimperceptibly,butasithadseemedirrevocably,doomedtooblivion。
Inthecourseofeightyears,materialsforvariousworks,correspondingtothedifferentbranchesofthesubjectoflegislation,hadbeenproduced,andsomenearlyreducedtoshape:
and,ineveryoneofthoseworks,theprinciplesexhibitedinthepresentpublicationhadbeenfoundsonecessary,that,eithertotranscribethempiece-meal,ortoexhibitthemsomewherewheretheycouldbereferredtointhelump,wasfoundunavoidable。
Theformercoursewouldhaveoccasionedrepetitionstoobulkytobeemployedwithoutnecessityintheexecutionofaplanunavoidablysovoluminous:thelatterwasthereforeindisputablythepreferableone。
Topublishthematerialsintheforminwhichtheywerealreadyprinted,ortoworkthemupintoanewone,wasthereforetheonlyalternative:thelatterhadallalongbeenhiswish,and,hadtimeandtherequisitedegreeofalacritybeenatcommand,itwouldascertainlyhavebeenrealised。Cogentconsiderations,however,concur,withtheirksomenessofthetask,inplacingtheaccomplishmentofitatpresentatanunfathomabledistance。
Anotherconsiderationis,thatthesuppressionofthepresentwork,haditbeeneversodecidedlywished,isnolongeraltogetherinhispower。Inthecourseofsolonganinterval,variousincidentshaveintroducedcopiesintovarioushands,fromsomeofwhichtheyhavebeentransferredbydeathsandotheraccidents,intoothersthatareunknowntohim。Detached,butconsiderableextracts,haveevenbeenpublished,withoutanydishonourableviewsforthenameoftheauthorwasveryhonestlysubjoinedtothem,butwithouthisprivity,andinpublicationsundertakenwithouthisknowledge。
Itmayperhapsbenecessarytoadd,tocompletehisexcuseforofferingtothepublicaworkpervadedbyblemishes,whichhavenotescapedeventheauthor\'spartialeye,thatthecensure,sojustlybestowedupontheform,didnotextenditselftothematter。
Insendingitthusabroadintotheworldwithallitsimperfectionsuponitshead,hethinksitmaybeofassistancetothefewreadershecanexpect,toreceiveashortintimationofthechiefparticulars,inrespectofwhichitfailsofcorrespondingwithhismaturerviews。Itwillthencebeobservedhowinsomerespectsitfailsofquadratingwiththedesignannouncedbyitsoriginaltitle,asinothersitdoeswiththatannouncedbytheoneitbearsatpresent。
Anintroductiontoaworkwhichtakesforitssubjectthetotalityofanyscience,oughttocontainallsuchmatters,andsuchmattersonly,asbelongincommontoeveryparticularbranchofthatscience,oratleasttomorebranchesofitthanone。
Comparedwithitspresenttitle,thepresentworkfailsinbothwaysofbeingconformabletothatrule。
Asanintroductiontotheprinciplesofmorals,inadditiontotheanalysisitcontainsoftheextensiveideassignifiedbythetermspleasure,pain,motive,anddisposition,itoughttohavegivenasimilaranalysisofthenotlessextensive,thoughmuchlessdeterminate,ideasannexedtothetermsemotion,passion,appetite,virtue,vice,andsomeothers,includingthenamesoftheparticularvirtuesandvices。Butasthetrue,and,ifheconceivesright,theonlytrueground-workforthedevelopmentofthelattersetofterms,hasbeenlaidbytheexplanationoftheformer,thecompletionofsuchadictionary,sotostyleit,would,incomparisonofthecommencement,belittlemorethanamechanicaloperation。
Again,asanintroductiontotheprinciplesoflegislationingeneral,itoughtrathertohaveincludedmattersbelongingexclusivelytothecivilbranch,thanmattersmoreparticularlyapplicabletothepenal:thelatterbeingbutameansofcompassingtheendsproposedbytheformer。Inpreferencetherefore,oratleastinpriority,totheseveralchapterswhichwillbefoundrelativetopunishment,itoughttohaveexhibitedasetofpropositionswhichhavesincepresentedthemselvestohimasaffordingastandardfortheoperationsperformedbygovernment,inthecreationanddistributionofproprietaryandothercivilrights。Hemeanscertainaxiomsofwhatmaybetermedmentalpathology,expressiveoftheconnectionbetwixtthefeelingsofthepartiesconcerned,andtheseveralclassesofincidents,whicheithercallfor,orareproducedby,operationsofthenatureabovementioned。
Theconsiderationofthedivisionofoffences,andeverythingelsethatbelongstooffences,ought,besides,tohaveprecededtheconsiderationofpunishment:fortheideaofpunishmentpresupposestheideaofoffence:punishment,assuch,notbeinginflictedbutinconsiderationofoffence。
Lastly,theanalyticaldiscussionsrelativetotheclassificationofoffenceswould,accordingtohispresentviews,betransferredtoaseparatetreatise,inwhichthesystemoflegislationisconsideredsolelyinrespectofitsform:inotherwords,inrespectofitsmethodandterminology。
Intheserespectstheperformancefailsofcominguptotheauthor\'sownideasofwhatshouldhavebeenexhibitedinawork,bearingthetitlehehasnowgivenit。viz。thatofanIntroductiontothePrinciplesofMoralsandLegislation。Heknowshoweverofnootherthatwouldbelessunsuitable:norinparticularwouldsoadequateanintimationofitsactualcontentshavebeengiven,byatitlecorrespondingtothemorelimiteddesign,withwhichitwaswritten:viz。thatofservingasanintroductiontoapenalcode。
Yetmore。Dryandtediousasagreatpartofthediscussionsitcontainsmustunavoidablybefoundbythebulkofreaders,heknowsnothowtoregretthehavingwrittenthem,noreventhehavingmadethempublic。Undereveryhead,thepracticaluses,towhichthediscussionscontainedunderthatheadappearedapplicable,areindicated:noristhere,hebelieves,asinglepropositionthathehasnotfoundoccasiontobuilduponinthepenningofsomearticleorotherofthoseprovisionsofdetail,ofwhichabodyoflaw,authoritativeorunauthoritative,mustbecomposed。
Hewillventuretospecifyparticularly,inthisview,theseveralchaptersshortlycharacterizedbythewordsSensibility,Actions,Intentionality,Consciousness,Motives,Dispositions,Consequences。Evenintheenormouschapteronthedivisionofoffenses,which,notwithstandingtheforcedcompressiontheplanhasundergoneinseveralofitsparts,inmannertherementioned,occupiesnofewerthanonehundredandfourcloselyprintedquartopages,thetenconcludingonesareemployedinastatementofthepracticaladvantagesthatmaybereapedfromtheplanofclassificationwhichitexhibits。ThoseinwhosesighttheDefenceofUsuryhasbeenfortunateenoughtofindfavour,mayreckonasoneinstanceofthoseadvantagesthediscoveryoftheprinciplesdevelopedinthatlittletreatise。Intheprefacetoananonymoustractpublishedsolongagoasin1776,hehadhintedattheutilityofanaturalclassificationofoffenses,inthecharacterofatestfordistinguishinggenuinefromspuriousones。Thecaseofusuryisoneamonganumberofinstancesofthetruthofthatobservation。AnoteattheendofSect。xxxv。chap。xvi。ofthepresentpublication,mayservetoshowhowtheopinions,developedinthattract,owedtheirorigintothedifficultyexperiencedintheattempttofindaplaceinhissystemforthatimaginaryoffense。Tosomereaders,asameansofhelpingthemtosupportthefatigueofwadingthroughananalysisofsuchenormouslength,hewouldalmostrecommendthebeginningwiththosetenconcludingpages。
Onegoodatleastmayresultfromthepresentpublication;viz。thatthemorehehastrespassedonthepatienceofthereaderonthisoccasion,thelessneedhewillhavesotodoonfutureones:
sothatthismaydotothose,theofficewhichisdone,bybooksofpuremathematics,tobooksofmixedmathematicsandnaturalphilosophy。Thenarrowerthecircleofreadersis,withinwhichthepresentworkmaybecondemnedtoconfineitself,thelesslimitedmaybethenumberofthosetowhomthefruitsofhissucceedinglaboursmaybefoundaccessible。Hemaythereforeinthisrespectfindhimselfintheconditionofthosephilosophersofantiquity,whoarerepresentedashavingheldtwobodiesofdoctrine,apopularandanoccultone:but,withthisdifference,thatinhisinstancetheoccultandthepopularwill,hehopes,befoundasconsistentasinthosetheywerecontradictory;andthatinhisproductionwhateverthereisofoccultnesshasbeenthepureresultofsadnecessity,andinnorespectofchoice。
Having,inthecourseofthisadvertisement,hadsuchfrequentoccasiontoalludetodifferentarrangements,ashavingbeensuggestedbymoreextensiveandmaturerviews,itmayperhapscontributetothesatisfactionofthereader,toreceiveashortintimationoftheirnature:therather,as,withoutsuchexplanation,references,madehereandtheretounpublishedworks,mightbeproductiveofperplexityandmistake。Thefollowingthenarethetitlesoftheworksbythepublicationofwhichhispresentdesignswouldbecompleted。Theyareexhibitedintheorderwhichseemedtohimbestfittedforapprehension,andinwhichtheywouldstanddisposed,werethewholeassemblagereadytocomeoutatonce:buttheorder,inwhichtheywilleventuallyappear,mayprobablyenoughbeinfluencedinsomedegreebycollateralandtemporaryconsiderations。
Partthe1st。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofcivil,moredistinctivelytermedprivatedistributive,orforshortness,distributive,law。
Partthe2nd。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofpenallaw。
Partthe3rd。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofprocedure:unitinginoneviewthecriminalandcivilbranches,betweenwhichnolinecanbedrawn,butaveryindistinctone,andthatcontinuallyliabletovariation。
Partthe4th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofreward。
Partthe5th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofpublicdistributive,moreconciselyaswellasfamiliarlytermedconstitutional,law。
Partthe6th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofpoliticaltactics:
oroftheartofmaintainingorderintheproceedingsofpoliticalassemblies,soastodirectthemtotheendoftheirinstitution:
viz。byasystemofrules,whicharetotheconstitutionalbranch,insomerespects,whatthelawofprocedureistothecivilandthepenal。
Partthe7th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersbetwixtnationandnation,or,touseanewthoughnotinexpressiveappellation,inmattersofinternationallaw。
Partthe8th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersoffinance。
Partthe9th。Principlesoflegislationinmattersofpoliticaleconomy。
Partthe10th。Planofabodyoflaw,completeinallitsbranches,consideredinrespectofitsform;inotherwords,inrespectofitsmethodandterminology;includingaviewoftheoriginationandconnexionoftheideasexpressedbytheshortlistofterms,theexpositionofwhichcontainsallthatcanbesaidwithproprietytobelongtotheheadofuniversaljurisprudence。
Theuseoftheprincipleslaiddownundertheaboveseveralheadsistopreparethewayforthebodyoflawitselfexhibitedinterminis;andwhichtobecomplete,withreferencetoanypoliticalstate,mustconsequentlybecalculatedforthemeridian,andadaptedtothecircumstances,ofsomeonesuchstateinparticular。
Hadheanunlimitedpowerofdrawingupontime,andeveryotherconditionnecessary,itwouldbehiswishtopostponethepublicationofeachparttothecompletionofthewhole。Inparticular,theuseofthetenparts,whichexhibitwhatappeartohimthedictatesofutilityineveryline,beingnootherthantofurnishreasonsfortheseveralcorrespondingprovisionscontainedinthebodyoflawitself,theexacttruthoftheformercanneverbepreciselyascertained,tilltheprovisions,towhichtheyaredestinedtoapply,arethemselvesascertained,andthatinterminis。
Butastheinfirmityofhumannaturerendersallplansprecariousintheexecution,inproportionastheyareextensiveinthedesign,andashehasalreadymadeconsiderableadvancesinseveralbranchesofthetheory,withouthavingmadecorrespondentadvancesinthepracticalapplications,hedeemsitmorethanprobable,thattheeventualorderofpublicationwillnotcorrespondexactlywiththatwhich,haditbeenequallypracticable,wouldhaveappearedmosteligible。Ofthisirregularitytheunavoidableresultwillbe,amultitudeofimperfections,which,iftheexecutionofthebodyoflawinterminishadkeptpacewiththedevelopmentoftheprinciples,sothateachparthadbeenadjustedandcorrectedbytheother,mighthavebeenavoided。Hisconducthoweverwillbethelessswayedbythisinconvenience,fromhissuspectingittobeofthenumberofthoseinwhichthepersonalvanityoftheauthorismuchmoreconcerned,thantheinstructionofthepublic:sincewhateveramendmentsmaybesuggestedinthedetailoftheprinciples,bytheliteralfixationoftheprovisionstowhichtheyarerelative,mayeasilybemadeinacorrectededitionoftheformer,succeedinguponthepublicationofthelatter。
Inthecourseoftheensuingpages,referenceswillbefound,asalreadyintimated,sometotheplanofapenalcodetowhichthisworkwasmeantasanintroduction,sometootherbranchesoftheabove-mentionedgeneralplan,undertitlessomewhatdifferentfromthose,bywhichtheyhavebeenmentionedhere。Thegivingthiswarningisallwhichitisintheauthor\'spowertodo,tosavethereaderfromtheperplexityoflookingoutforwhathasnotasyetanyexistence。Therecollectionofthechangeofplanwillinlikemanneraccountforseveralsimilarincongruitiesnotworthparticularizing。
Allusionwasmade,attheoutsetofthisadvertisement,tosomeunspecifieddifficulties,asthecausesoftheoriginalsuspension,andunfinishedcomplexion,ofthepresentwork。Ashamedofhisdefeat,andunabletodissembleit,heknowsnothowtorefacehimselfthebenefitofsuchanapologyasaslightsketchofthenatureofthosedifficultiesmayafford……
Thediscoveryofthemwasproducedbytheattempttosolvethequestionsthatwillbefoundattheconclusionofthevolume:
Whereinconsistedtheidentityandcompletenessofalaw?Whatthedistinction,andwheretheseparation,betweenapenalandacivillaw?Whatthedistinction,andwheretheseparation,betweenthepenalandotherbranchesofthelaw?
Togiveacompleteandcorrectanswertothesequestions,itisbuttooevidentthattherelationsanddependenciesofeverypartofthelegislativesystem,withrespecttoeveryother,musthavebeencomprehendedandascertained。Butitisonlyuponaviewofthesepartsthemselves,thatsuchanoperationcouldhavebeenperformed。Totheaccuracyofsuchasurveyonenecessaryconditionwouldthereforebe,thecompleteexistenceofthefabrictobesurveyed。Totheperformanceofthisconditionnoexampleisasyettobemetwithanywhere。Commonlaw,asitstylesitselfinEngland,judiciarylawasitmightaptlybestyledeverywhere。thatfictitiouscompositionwhichhasnoknownpersonforitsauthor,noknownassemblageofwordsforitssubstance,formseverywherethemainbodyofthelegalfabric:likethatfanciedether,which,indefaultofsensiblematter,fillsupthemeasureoftheuniverse。Shredsandscrapsofreallaw,stuckonuponthatimaginaryground,composethefurnitureofeverynationalcode。Whatfollows?梩hathewho,forthepurposejustmentionedorforanyother,wantsanexampleofacompletebodyoflawtoreferto,mustbeginwithmakingone。
Thereis,orratherthereoughttobe。alogicofthewill。aswellasoftheunderstanding:theoperationsoftheformerfaculty,areneitherlesssusceptible,norlessworthy,thenthoseofthelatter,ofbeingdelineatedbyrules。Ofthesetwobranchesofthatreconditeart,Aristotlesawonlythelatter:succeedinglogicians,treadinginthestepsoftheirgreatfounder,haveconcurredinseeingwithnoothereyes。Yetsofarasadifferencecanbeassignedbetweenbranchessointimatelyconnected,whateverdifferencethereis,inpointofimportance,isinfavourofthelogicofthewill。Sinceitisonlybytheircapacityofdirectingtheoperationsofthisfaculty,thattheoperationsoftheunderstandingareofanyconsequence。
Ofthislogicofthewill,thescienceoflaw,consideredinrespectofitsform,isthemostconsiderablebranch,梩hemostimportantapplication。Itis,totheartoflegislation,whatthescienceofanatomyistotheartofmedicine:withthisdifference,thatthesubjectofitiswhattheartisthastoworkwith,insteadofbeingwhathehastooperateupon。Noristhebodypoliticlessindangerfromawantofacquaintancewiththeonescience,thanthebodynaturalfromignoranceintheother。Oneexample,amongstathousandthatmightbeadducedinproofofthisassertion,maybeseeninthenotewhichterminatesthisvolume。
Suchthenwerethedifficulties:suchthepreliminaries:梐nunexampledworktoachieve,andthenanewsciencetocreate:anewbranchtoaddtooneofthemostabstruseofsciences。
Yetmore:abodyofproposedlaw,howcompletesoever,wouldbecomparativelyuselessanduninstructive,unlessexplainedandjustified,andthatineverytittle,byacontinuedaccompaniment,aperpetualcommentaryofreasons:whichreasons,thatthecomparativevalueofsuchaspointinoppositedirectionsmaybeestimated,andtheconjunctforce,ofsuchaspointinthesamedirectionmaybefelt。mustbemarshalled,andputundersubordinationtosuchextensiveandleadingonesasaretermedprinciples。Theremustbetherefore,notonesystemonly,buttwoparallelandconnectedsystems,runningontogether。theoneoflegislativeprovisions,theotherofpoliticalreasons,eachaffordingtotheothercorrectionandsupport。
Areenterprisesliketheseachievable?Heknowsnot。Thisonlyheknows,thattheyhavebeenundertaken,proceededin,andthatsomeprogresshasbeenmadeinallofthem。Hewillventuretoadd,ifatallachievable,neveratleastbyone,towhomthefatigueofattendingtodiscussions,asaridasthosewhichoccupytheensuingpages,wouldeitherappearuseless,orfeelintolerable。Hewillrepeatitboldlyforithasbeensaidbeforehim,truthsthatformthebasisofpoliticalandmoralsciencearenottobediscoveredbutbyinvestigationsassevereasmathematicalones,andbeyondallcomparisonmoreintricateandextensive。Thefamiliarityofthetermsisapresumption,butisamostfallaciousone,ofthefacilityofthematter。Truthsingeneralhavebeencalledstubbornthings:thetruthsjustmentionedaresointheirownway。Theyarenottobeforcedintodetachedandgeneralpropositions,unincumberedwithexplanationsandexceptions。Theywillnotcompressthemselvesintoepigrams。Theyrecoilfromthetongueandthepenofthedeclaimer。
Theyflourishnotinthesamesoilwithsentiment。Theygrowamongthorns;andarenottobeplucked,likedaisies,byinfantsastheyrun。Labour,theinevitablelotofhumanity,isinnotrackmoreinevitablethanhere。InvainwouldanAlexanderbespeakapeculiarroadforroyalvanity,oraPtolemy,asmootherone,forroyalindolence。ThereisnoKing\'sRoad,noStadtholder\'sGate,tolegislative,anymorethantomathematicscience。
chapter01AnIntroductiontothePrinciplesofMoralsandLegislationChapterI
OfThePrincipleOfUtility。
I。Naturehasplacedmankindunderthegovernanceoftwosovereignmasters,painandpleasure。Itisforthemalonetopointoutwhatweoughttodo,aswellastodeterminewhatweshalldo。
Ontheonehandthestandardofrightandwrong,ontheotherthechainofcausesandeffects,arefastenedtotheirthrone。
Theygovernusinallwedo,inallwesay,inallwethink:
everyeffortwecanmaketothrowoffoursubjection,willservebuttodemonstrateandconfirmit。Inwordsamanmaypretendtoabjuretheirempire:butinrealityhewillremain。subjecttoitallthewhile。Theprincipleofutilityrecognizesthissubjection,andassumesitforthefoundationofthatsystem,theobjectofwhichistorearthefabricoffelicitybythehandsofreasonandoflaw。Systemswhichattempttoquestionit,dealinsoundsinsteadofsense,incapriceinsteadofreason,indarknessinsteadoflight。
Butenoughofmetaphoranddeclamation:itisnotbysuchmeansthatmoralscienceistobeimproved。
II。Theprincipleofutilityisthefoundationofthepresentwork:
itwillbeproperthereforeattheoutsettogiveanexplicitanddeterminateaccountofwhatismeantbyit。Bytheprincipleofutilityismeantthatprinciplewhichapprovesordisapprovesofeveryactionwhatsoever。accordingtothetendencyitappearstohavetoaugmentordiminishthehappinessofthepartywhoseinterestisinquestion:or,whatisthesamethinginotherwordstopromoteortoopposethathappiness。Isayofeveryactionwhatsoever,andthereforenotonlyofeveryactionofaprivateindividual,butofeverymeasureofgovernment。
III。Byutilityismeantthatpropertyinanyobject,wherebyittendstoproducebenefit,advantage,pleasure,good,orhappiness,allthisinthepresentcasecomestothesamethingorwhatcomesagaintothesamethingtopreventthehappeningofmischief,pain,evil,orunhappinesstothepartywhoseinterestisconsidered:ifthatpartybethecommunityingeneral,thenthehappinessofthecommunity:ifaparticularindividual,thenthehappinessofthatindividual。
IV。Theinterestofthecommunityisoneofthemostgeneralexpressionsthatcanoccurinthephraseologyofmorals:nowonderthatthemeaningofitisoftenlost。Whenithasameaning,itisthis。Thecommunityisafictitiousbody,composedoftheindividualpersonswhoareconsideredasconstitutingasitwereitsmembers。Theinterestofthecommunitythenis,whatisit?梩hesumoftheinterestsoftheseveralmemberswhocomposeit。
V。Itisinvaintotalkoftheinterestofthecommunity,withoutunderstandingwhatistheinterestoftheindividual。Athingissaidtopromotetheinterest,ortobefortheinterest,ofanindividual,whenittendstoaddtothesumtotalofhispleasures:or,whatcomestothesamething,todiminishthesumtotalofhispains。
VI。Anactionthenmaybesaidtobeconformabletothenprincipleofutility,or,forshortnesssake,toutility,meaningwithrespecttothecommunityatlargewhenthetendencyithastoaugmentthehappinessofthecommunityisgreaterthananyithastodiminishit。
VII。Ameasureofgovernmentwhichisbutaparticularkindofaction,performedbyaparticularpersonorpersonsmaybesaidtobeconformabletoordictatedbytheprincipleofutility,wheninlikemannerthetendencywhichithastoaugmentthehappinessofthecommunityisgreaterthananywhichithastodiminishit。
VIII。Whenanaction,orinparticularameasureofgovernment,issupposedbyamantobeconformabletotheprincipleofutility,itmaybeconvenient,forthepurposesofdiscourse,toimagineakindoflawordictate,calledalawordictateofutility:
andtospeakoftheactioninquestion,asbeingconformabletosuchlawordictate。
IX。Amanmaybesaidtobeapartizanoftheprincipleofutility,whentheapprobationordisapprobationheannexestoanyaction,ortoanymeasure,isdeterminedbyandproportionedtothetendencywhichheconceivesittohavetoaugmentortodiminishthehappinessofthecommunity:orinotherwords,toitsconformityorunconformitytothelawsordictatesofutility。
X。Ofanactionthatisconformabletotheprincipleofutilityonemayalwayssayeitherthatitisonethatoughttobedone,oratleastthatitisnotonethatoughtnottobedone。Onemaysayalso,thatitisrightitshouldbedone;atleastthatitisnotwrongitshouldbedone:thatitisarightaction;atleastthatitisnotawrongaction。Whenthusinterpreted,thewordsought,andrightandwrongandothersofthatstamp,haveameaning:whenotherwise,theyhavenone。
XI。Hastherectitudeofthisprinciplebeeneverformallycontested?
Itshouldseemthatithad,bythosewhohavenotknownwhattheyhavebeenmeaning。Isitsusceptibleofanydirectproof?
itshouldseemnot:forthatwhichisusedtoproveeverythingelse,cannotitselfbeproved:achainofproofsmusthavetheircommencementsomewhere。Togivesuchproofisasimpossibleasitisneedless。
XII。Notthatthereisoreverhasbeenthathumancreatureatbreathing,howeverstupidorperverse,whohasnotonmany,perhapsonmostoccasionsofhislife,deferredtoit。Bythenaturalconstitutionofthehumanframe,onmostoccasionsoftheirlivesmeningeneralembracethisprinciple,withoutthinkingofit:
ifnotfortheorderingoftheirownactions,yetforthetryingoftheirownactions,aswellasofthoseofothermen。Therehavebeen,atthesametime,notmanyperhaps,evenofthemostintelligent,whohavebeendisposedtoembraceitpurelyandwithoutreserve。Thereareevenfewwhohavenottakensomeoccasionorothertoquarrelwithit,eitheronaccountoftheirnotunderstandingalwayshowtoapplyit,oronaccountofsomeprejudiceorotherwhichtheywereafraidtoexamineinto,orcouldnotbeartopartwith。Forsuchisthestuffthatmanismadeof:inprincipleandinpractice,inarighttrackandinawrongone,therarestofallhumanqualitiesisconsistency。
XIII。Whenamanattemptstocombattheprincipleofutility,itiswithreasonsdrawn,withouthisbeingawareofit,fromthatveryprincipleitself。Hisarguments,iftheyproveanything,provenotthattheprincipleiswrong,butthat,accordingtotheapplicationshesupposestobemadeofit,itismisapplied。Isitpossibleforamantomovetheearth?Yes;buthemustfirstfindoutanotherearthtostandupon。
XIV。Todisprovetheproprietyofitbyargumentsisimpossible;but,fromthecausesthathavebeenmentioned,orfromsomeconfusedorpartialviewofit,amanmayhappentobedisposednottorelishit。Wherethisisthecase,ifhethinksthesettlingofhisopinionsonsuchasubjectworththetrouble,lethimtakethefollowingsteps,andatlength,perhaps,hemaycometoreconcilehimselftoit。
1。Lethimsettlewithhimself,whetherhewouldwishtodiscardthisprinciplealtogether;ifso,lethimconsiderwhatitisthatallhisreasoningsinmattersofpoliticsespeciallycanamountto?
2。Ifhewould,lethimsettlewithhimself,whetherhewouldjudgeandactwithoutanyprinciple,orwhetherthereisanyotherhewouldjudgeanactby?
3。Iftherebe,lethimexamineandsatisfyhimselfwhethertheprinciplehethinkshehasfoundisreallyanyseparateintelligibleprinciple;orwhetheritbenotamereprincipleinwords,akindofphrase,whichatbottomexpressesneithermorenorlessthanthemereavermentofhisownunfoundedsentiments;thatis,whatinanotherpersonhemightbeapttocallcaprice?
4。Ifheisinclinedtothinkthathisownapprobationordisapprobation,annexedtotheideaofanact,withoutanyregardtoitsconsequences,isasufficientfoundationforhimtojudgeandactupon,lethimaskhimselfwhetherhissentimentistobeastandardofrightandwrong,withrespecttoeveryotherman,orwhethereveryman\'ssentimenthasthesameprivilegeofbeingastandardtoitself?
5。Inthefirstcase,lethimaskhimselfwhetherhisprincipleisnotdespotical,andhostiletoalltherestofhumanrace?
6。Inthesecondcase,whetheritisnotanarchial,andwhetheratthisratetherearenotasmanydifferentstandardsofrightandwrongastherearemen?andwhethereventothesameman,thesamething,whichisrightto-day,maynotwithouttheleastchangeinitsnaturebewrongto-morrow?andwhetherthesamethingisnotrightandwronginthesameplaceatthesametime?andineithercase,whetherallargumentisnotatanend?andwhether,whentwomenhavesaid,揑likethis?and揑
don\'tlikeit?theycanuponsuchaprinciplehaveanythingmoretosay?
7。Ifheshouldhavesaidtohimself,No:forthatthesentimentwhichheproposesasastandardmustbegroundedonreflection,lethimsayonwhatparticularsthereflectionistoturn?ifonparticularshavingrelationtotheutilityoftheact,thenlethimsaywhetherthisisnotdesertinghisownprinciple,andborrowingassistancefromthatveryoneinoppositiontowhichhesetsitup:
orifnotonthoseparticulars,onwhatotherparticulars?
8。Ifheshouldbeforcompoundingthematter,andadoptinghisownprincipleinpart,andtheprincipleofutilityinpart,lethimsayhowfarhewilladoptit?
9。Whenhehassettledwithhimselfwherehewillstop,thenlethimaskhimselfhowhejustifiestohimselftheadoptingitsofar?
andwhyhewillnotadoptitanyfarther?
10。Admittinganyotherprinciplethantheprincipleofutilitytobearightprinciple,aprinciplethatitisrightforamantopursue;
admittingwhatisnottruethatthewordrightcanhaveameaningwithoutreferencetoutility,lethimsaywhetherthereisanysuchthingasamotivethatamancanhavetopursuethedictatesofit:ifthereis,lethimsaywhatthatmotiveis,andhowitistobedistinguishedfromthosewhichenforcethedictatesofutility:
ifnot,thenlastlylethimsaywhatitisthisotherprinciplecanbegoodfor?
chapter02AnIntroductiontothePrinciplesofMoralsandLegislationChapterII
OfPrinciplesAdversetothatofUtilityI。Iftheprincipleofutilitybearightprincipletobegovernedby,andthatinallcases,itfollowsfromwhathasbeenjustobserved,thatwhateverprinciplediffersfromitinanycasemustnecessarilybeawrongone。Toproveanyotherprinciple,therefore,tobeawrongone,thereneedsnomorethanjusttoshowittobewhatitis,aprincipleofwhichthedictatesareinsomepointorotherdifferentfromthoseoftheprincipleofutility:
tostateitistoconfuteit。
II。Aprinciplemaybedifferentfromthatofutilityintwoways:I。
Bybeingconstantlyopposedtoit:thisisthecasewithaprinciplewhichmaybetermedtheprincipleofasceticism。2。Bybeingsometimesopposedtoit,andsometimesnot,asitmayhappen:thisisthecasewithanother,whichmaybetermedtheprincipleofsympathyandantipathy。
III。BytheprincipleofasceticismImeanthatprinciple,which,liketheprincipleofutility,approvesordisapprovesofanyaction,accordingtothetendencywhichitappearstohavetoaugmentordiminishthehappinessofthepartywhoseinterestisinquestion;butinaninversemanner:approvingofactionsinasfarastheytendtodiminishhishappiness;disapprovingoftheminasfarastheytendtoaugmentit。
IV。Itisevidentthatanyonewhoreprobatesanytheleastparticleofpleasure,assuch,fromwhateversourcederived,isprotantoapartizanoftheprincipleofasceticism。Itisonlyuponthatprinciplesandnotfromtheprincipleofutility,thatthemostabominablepleasurewhichthevilestofmalefactorseverreapedfromhiscrimewouldbetobereprobated,ifitstoodalone。
Thecaseis,thatitneverdoesstandalone;butisnecessarilyfollowedbysuchaquantityofpainor,whatcomestothesamething,suchachanceforacertainquantityofpainthat,thepleasureincomparisonofit,isasnothing:andthisisthetrueandsole,butperfectlysufficient,reasonformakingitagroundforpunishment。
V。Therearetwoclassesofmenofverydifferentcomplexions,bywhomtheprincipleofasceticismappearstohavebeenembraced;theoneasetofmoralists,theotherasetofreligionists。
Differentaccordinglyhavebeenthemotiveswhichappearstohaverecommendedittothenoticeofthesedifferentparties。Hope,thatistheprospectofpleasure,seemstohaveanimatedtheformer:hope,thealimentofphilosophicpride:thehopeofhonourandreputationatthehandsofmen。Fear,thatistheprospectofpain,thelatter:fear,theoffspringofsuperstitiousfancy:thefearoffuturepunishmentatthehandsofaspleneticandrevengefulDeity。Isayinthiscasefear:foroftheinvisiblefuture,fearismorepowerfulthanhope。Thesecircumstancescharacterizethetwodifferentpartiesamongthepartisansoftheprincipleofasceticism;thepartiesandtheirmotivesdifferent,theprinciplethesame。
VI。Thereligiousparty,however,appeartohavecarrieditfartherthanthephilosophical:theyhaveactedmoreconsistentlyandlesswisely。Thephilosophicalpartyhavescarcelygonefartherthantoreprobatepleasure:thereligiouspartyhavefrequentlygonesofarastomakeitamatterofmeritandofdutytocourtpain。
Thephilosophicalpartyhavehardlygonefartherthanthemakingpainamatterofindifference。Itisnoevil,theyhavesaid:
theyhavenotsaid,itisagood。Theyhavenotsomuchasreprobatedallpleasureinthelump。Theyhavediscardedonlywhattheyhavecalledthegross;thatis,suchasareorganical,orofwhichtheoriginiseasilytraceduptosuchasareorganical:theyhaveevencherishedandmagnifiedtherefined。Yetthis,however,notunderthenameofpleasure:tocleanseitselffromthesordesofitsimpureoriginal,itwasnecessaryitshouldchangeitsname:thehonourable,theglorious,thereputable,thebecoming,thehonestum,thedecorumitwastobecalled:inshort,anythingbutpleasure。
VII。Fromthesetwosourceshaveflowedthedoctrinesfromitwhichthesentimentsofthebulkofmankindhaveallalongreceivedatinctureofthisprinciple;somefromthephilosophical,somefromthereligious,somefromboth。Menofeducationmorefrequentlyfromthephilosophical,asmoresuitedtotheelevationoftheirsentiments:thevulgarmorefrequentlyfromthesuperstitious,asmoresuitedtothenarrownessoftheirintellect,undilatedbyknowledgeandtotheabjectnessoftheircondition,continuallyopentotheattacksoffear。Thetinctures,however,derivedfromthetwosources,wouldnaturallyintermingle,insomuchthatamanwouldnotalwaysknowbywhichofthemhewasmostinfluenced:andtheywouldoftenservetocorroborateandenlivenoneanother。Itwasthisconformitythatmadeakindofalliancebetweenpartiesofacomplexionotherwisesodissimilar:anddisposedthemtouniteuponvariousoccasionsagainstthecommonenemy,thepartizanoftheprincipleofutility,whomtheyjoinedinbrandingwiththeodiousnameofEpicurean。
VIII。Theprincipleofasceticism,however,withwhateverwarmthitmayhavebeenembracedbyitspartizansasaruleofPrivateconduct,seemsnottohavebeencarriedtoanyconsiderablelength,whenappliedtothebusinessofgovernment。Inafewinstancesithasbeencarriedalittlewaybythephilosophicalparty:witnesstheSpartanregimen。Thoughthen,perhaps,itmaybeconsideredashavingbeenameasureofsecurity:andanapplication,thoughaprecipitateandperverseapplication,oftheprincipleofutility。Scarcelyinanyinstances,toanyconsiderablelength,bythereligious:forthevariousmonasticorders,andthesocietiesoftheQuakers,Dumplers,Moravians,andotherreligionists,havebeenfreesocieties,whoseregimennomanhasbeenastrictedtowithouttheinterventionofhisownconsent。