第1章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Le",免费读到尾

  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。

点击下载App,搜索"An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Le",免费读到尾