第6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

  Inthisrespecttheyareonlyonaparwiththedictatesoftheloveofreputation:inanothertheyarebelowit。Thedictatesofreligionareinallplacesintermixedmoreorlesswithdictatesunconformabletothoseofutility,deducedfromtests,wellorillinterpreted,ofthewritingsheldforsacredbyeachsect:

  unconformable,byimposingpracticessometimesinconvenienttoaman\'sself,sometimespernicioustotherestofthecommunity。Thesufferingsofuncalledmartyrs,thecalamitiesofholywarsandreligiouspersecutions,themischiefsofintolerantlaws,objectswhichcanhereonlybeglancedat,notdetailedaresomanyadditionalmischiefsoverandabovethenumberofthosewhichwereeverbroughtintotheworldbytheloveofreputation。

  Ontheotherhand,itismanifest,thatwithrespecttothepowerofoperatinginsecret,thedictatesofreligionhavethesameadvantageoverthoseoftheloveofreputation,andthedesireofamity,asispossessedbythedictatesofbenevolence。

  XLI。Happily,thedictatesofreligionseemtoapproachnearerandnearertoacoincidencewiththoseofutilityeveryday。Butwhy?Becausethedictatesofthemoralsanctiondoso:andthosecoincidewithorareinfluencedbythese。Menoftheworstreligions,influencedbythevoiceandpracticeofthesurroundingworld,borrowcontinuallyanewandanewleafoutofthebookofutility:andwiththese,inordernottobreakwiththeirreligion,theyendeavour,sometimeswithviolenceenough,topatchtogetherandadorntherepositoriesoftheirfaith。

  XLII。Astotheself-regardinganddissocialmotives,theorderthattakesplaceamongthese,andtheprecedingone,inpointofextra-regardinginfluence,istooevidenttoneedinsistingon。Astotheorderthattakesplaceamongthemotives,oftheself-regardingclass,consideredincomparisonwithoneanother,thereseemstobenodifferencewhichonthisoccasionwouldbeworthmentioning。Withrespecttothedissocialmotive,itmakesadifferencewithregardtoitsextra-regardingeffectsfromwhichoftwosourcesitoriginates;whetherfromself-regardingorfromsocialconsiderations。Thedispleasureyouconceiveagainstamanmaybefoundedeitheronsomeactwhichoffendsyouinthefirstinstance,oronanactwhichoffendsyounootherwisethanbecauseyoulookuponitasbeingprejudicialtosomeotherpartyonwhosebehalfyouinterestyourself:whichotherpartymaybeofcourseeitheradeterminateindividual,oranyassemblageofindividuals,determinateorindeterminate。Itisobviousenough,thatamotive,thoughinitselfdissocial,may,byissuingfromasocialorigin,possessasocialtendency;andthatitstendency,inthiscase,islikelytobethemoresocial,themoreenlargedthedescriptionisofthepersonswhoseinterestsyouespouse。Displeasure,ventingitselfagainstaman,onaccountofamischiefsupposedtobedonebyhimtothepublic,maybemoresocialinitseffectsthananygood-will,theexertionsofwhichareconfinedtoanindividual。

  5。Conflictamongmotives。

  XLIII。Whenamanhasitincontemplationtoengageinanyaction,heisfrequentlyacteduponatthesametimebytheforceofdiversmotives:onemotive,orsetofmotives,actinginonedirection;

  anothermotive,orsetofmotives,actingasitwereinanoppositedirection。Themotivesononesidedisposinghimtoengageintheaction:thoseontheother,disposinghimnottoengageinit。Now,anymotive,theinfluenceofwhichtendstodisposehimtoengageintheactioninquestion,maybetermedanimpellingmotive:anymotive,theinfluenceofwhichtendstodisposehimnottoengageinit,arestrainingmotive。Buttheseappellationsmayofcoursebeinterchanged,accordingastheactisofthepositivekind,orthenegative。

  XLIV。Ithasbeenshown,thatthereisnosortofmotivebutmaygivebirthtoanysortofaction。Itfollows,therefore,thattherearenotwomotivesbutmaycometobeopposedtooneanother。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,themostcommoncaseisforittohavebeendictatedbyamotiveeitheroftheself-regarding,orofthedissocialclass。Insuchcasethemotiveofbenevolencehascommonlybeenacting,thoughineffectually,inthecharacterofarestrainingmotive。

  XLV。Anexamplemaybeofuse,toshowthevarietyofcontendingmotives,bywhichamanmaybeacteduponatthesametime。Crillon,aCatholicatatimewhenitwasgenerallythoughtmeritoriousamongCatholicstoextirpateProtestants,wasorderedbyhisking,CharlesIX。ofFrance,tofallprivatelyuponColigny,aProtestant,andassassinatehim:hisanswerwas,?

  Excuseme,Sire;butI\'llfighthimwithallmyheart?Here,then,wereallthethreeforcesabovementioned,includingthatofthepoliticalsanction,actinguponhimatonce。Bythepoliticalsanction,oratleastsomuchoftheforceofitassuchamandate,fromsuchasovereign,issuedonsuchanoccasion,mightbesupposedtocarrywithit,hewasenjoinedtoputColignytodeathinthewayofassassination:bythereligioussanction,thatis,bythedictatesofreligiouszeal,hewasenjoinedtoputhimtodeathinanyway:bythemoralsanction,orinotherwords,bythedictatesofhonour,thatis,oftheloveofreputation,hewaspermittedwhichpermission,whencoupledwiththemandatesofhissovereign,operated,heconceived,asaninjunctiontofighttheadversaryuponequalterms:bythedictatesofenlargedbenevolencesupposingthemandatetobeunjustifiablehewasenjoinednottoattempthislifeinanyway,buttoremainatpeacewithhim:supposingthemandatetobeunjustifiable,bythedictatesofprivatebenevolencehewasenjoinednottomeddlewithhimatanyrate。Amongthisconfusionofrepugnantdictates,Crillon,itseems,gavethepreference,inthefirstplace,tothoseofhonour:inthenextplace,tothoseofbenevolence。

  Hewouldhavefought,hadhisofferbeenaccepted;asitwasnot,heremainedatpeace。

  Hereamultitudeofquestionsmightarise。Supposingthedictatesofthepoliticalsanctiontofollowthemandateofthesovereign,ofwhatkindwerethemotiveswhichtheyaffordedhimforcompliance?Theansweris,oftheself-regardingkindatanyrate:inasmuchas,bythesupposition,itwasinthepowerofthesovereigntopunishhimfornon-compliance,orrewardhimforcompliance。DidtheyaffordhimthemotiveofreligionImeanindependentlyofthecircumstanceofheresyabovementionedtheansweris,Yes,ifhisnotionwas,thatitwasGod\'spleasureheshouldcomplywiththem;No,ifitwasnot。Didtheyaffordhimthemotiveoftheloveofreputation?Yes,ifitwashisnotionthattheworldwouldexpectandrequirethatheshouldcomplywiththem:No,ifitwasnot。Didtheyaffordhimthatofbenevolence?Yes,ifitwashisnotionthatthecommunitywoulduponthewholebethebetterforhiscomplyingwiththem:No,ifitwasnot。Butdidthedictatesofthepoliticalsanction,inthecaseinquestion,actuallyfollowthemandatesofthesovereign:inotherwords,wassuchamandatelegal?Thisweseeisamerequestionoflocaljurisprudence,altogetherforeigntothepresentpurpose。

  XLVI。Whatisheresaidaboutthegoodnessandbadnessofmotives,isfarfrombeingamerematterofwords。Therewillbeoccasiontomakeuseofithereafterforvariousimportantpurposes。

  Ishallhaveneedofitforthesakeofdissipatingvariousprejudices,whichareofdisservicetothecommunity,sometimesbycherishingtheflameofcivildissensions,atothertimes,byobstructingthecourseofjustice。Itwillbeshown,thatinthecaseofmanyoffences,theconsiderationofthemotiveisamostmaterialone:forthatinthefirstplaceitmakesaverymaterialdifferenceinthemagnitudeofthemischief:inthenextplace,thatitiseasytobeascertained;andthencemaybemadeagroundforadifferenceinthedemandforpunishment:butthatinothercasesitisaltogetherincapableofbeingascertained;andthat,wereitcapableofbeingeversowellascertained,goodorbad,itcouldmakenodifferenceinthedemandforpunishment:thatinallcases,themotivethatmayhappentogovernaprosecutor,isaconsiderationtotallyimmaterial:whencemaybeseenthemischievousnessoftheprejudicethatissoapttobeentertainedagainstinformers;andtheconsequenceitisofthatthejudge,inparticular,shouldbeproofagainsttheinfluenceofsuchdelusions。

  Lastly,Thesubjectofmotivesisonewithwhichitisnecessarytobeacquainted,inordertopassajudgmentonanymeansthatmaybeproposedforcombatingoffensesintheirsource。

  Butbeforethetheoreticalfoundationforthesepracticalobservationscanbecompletelylaid,itisnecessaryweshouldsaysomethingonthesubjectofdisposition:which,accordingly,willfurnishmatterfortheensuingchapter。

  chapter11AnIntroductiontothePrinciplesofMoralsandLegislationChapterXI

  HumanDispositionsinGeneralPart1

  I。Intheforegoingchapterithasbeenshownatlarge。thatgoodnessorbadnesscannot,withanypropriety,bepredicatedofmotives。Istherenothingthenaboutamanthatmayproperlybetermedgoodorbad,when,onsuchorsuchanoccasion;hesuffershimselftobegovernedbysuchorsuchamotive。Yes,certainly:

  hisdisposition。Nowdispositionisakindoffictitiousentity,feignedfortheconvenienceofdiscourse,inordertoexpresswhatthereissupposedtobepermanentinaman\'sframeofmind,where,onsuchorsuchanoccasion,hehasbeeninfluencedbysuedorsuchamotive,toengageinanact,which,asitappearedtohim,wasofsuchorsuchatendency。

  II。Itiswithdispositionaswitheverythingelse:itwillbegoodorbadaccordingtoitseffects:accordingtotheeffectsithasinaugmentingordiminishingthehappinessofthecommunity。Aman\'sdispositionmayaccordinglybeconsideredintwopointsofview:accordingtotheinfluenceithas,either,1。onhisownhappiness:

  or,2。onthehappinessofothers。Viewedinboththeselightstogether,orineitherofthemindiscriminately,itmaybetermed,ontheonehand,good;ontheother,bad;or,inflagrantcases,depraved。Viewedintheformeroftheselights,ithasscarcelyanypeculiarname,whichhasasyetbeenappropriatedtoit。Itmightbetermed,thoughbut,inexpressively,frailorinfirm,ontheonehand:soundorfirm,ontheother。Viewedintheotherlight,itmightbetermedbeneficent,ormeritorious,ontheonehand:perniciousormischievous,ontheother。Nowofthatbranchofaman\'sdisposition,theeffectsofwhichregardinthefirstinstanceonlyhimself,thereneedsnotmuchtobesaidhere。

  Toreformitwhenbad,isthebusinessratherofthemoralistthanthelegislator:norisitsusceptibleofthosevariousmodificationswhichmakesomaterialdifferenceintheeffectsoftheother。Again,withrespecttothatpartofit,theeffectswhereofregardothersinthefirstinstance,itisonlyinasfarasitisofamischievousnaturethatthepenalbranchoflawhasanyimmediateconcernwithit:inasfarasitmaybeofabeneficentnature,itbelongstoahithertobutlittlecultivated,andasyetunnamedbranchoflaw,whichmightbestyledtheremuneratory。

  III。Amanthenissaidtobeofamischievousdisposition,when,bytheinfluenceofnomatterwhatmotives,heispresumedtobemoreapttoengage,orformintentionsofengaging,inactswhichareapparentlyofapernicioustendency,thaninsuchasareapparentlyofabeneficialtendency:ofameritoriousorbeneficentdispositionintheoppositecase。

  IV。Isaypresumed:for,bythesupposition,allthatappearsisonesingleaction,attendedwithonesingletrainofcircumstances:

  butfromthatdegreeofconsistencyanduniformitywhichexperiencehasshowntobeobservableinthedifferentactionsofthesameperson,theprobableexistencepastorfutureofanumberofactsofasimilarnature,isnaturallyandjustlyinferredfromtheobservationofonesingleone。Undersuchcircumstances,suchasthemotiveprovestobeinoneinstance,suchisthedispositiontobepresumedtobeinothers。

  V。Isayapparentlymischievous:thatis,apparentlywithregardtohim:suchastohimappeartopossessthattendency:forfromthemereevent,independentofwhattohimitappearsbeforehandlikelytobe,nothingcanbeinferredoneitherside。Iftohimitappearslikelytobemischievous,insuchcase,thoughintheupshotitshouldproveinnocent,orevenbeneficial,itmakesnodifference;thereisnotthelessreasonforpresuminghisdispositiontobeabadone:iftohimitappearslikelytobebeneficialorinnocent,insuchcase,thoughintheupshotitshouldprovepernicious,thereisnotthemorereasononthataccountforpresuminghisdispositiontobeagoodone。Andhereweseetheimportanceofthecircumstancesofintentionality,consciousness,unconsciousness,andmis-supposal。

  VI。Thetruthofthesepositionsdependsupontwoothers,bothofthemsufficientlyverifiedbyexperience:Theoneis,thatintheordinarycourseofthingstheconsequencesofactionscommonlyturnoutconformabletointentions。Amanwhosetsupabutcher\'sshop,anddealsinbeef,whenheintendstoknockdownanox,commonlydoesknockdownanox;thoughbysomeunluckyaccidenthemaychancetomisshisblowandknockdownaman:

  hewhosetsupagrocer\'sshop,anddealssugar,whenheintendstosellsugar,commonlydoessellsugar:thoughbysomeunluckyaccidenthemaychancetosellarsenicintheroomofit。

  VII。Theotheris,thatamanwhoentertainsintentionsofdoingmischiefatonetimeisapttoentertainthelikeintentionsatanother。

  VIII。Therearetwocircumstancesuponwhichthenatureofthedisposition,asindicatedbyanyact,isliabletodepend:1。Theapparenttendencyoftheact:2。Thenatureofthemotivewhichgavebirthtoit。Thisdependencyissubjecttodifferentrules,accordingtothenatureofthemotive。Instatingthem,Isupposeallalongtheapparenttendencyoftheacttobe,asitcommonlyis,thesameasthereal。

  IX。1。Wherethetendencyoftheactisgood,andthemotiveisoftheself-regardingkind。Inthiscasethemotiveaffordsnoinferenceoneitherside。Itaffordsnoindicationofagooddisposition:

  butneitherdoesitaffordanyindicationofabadone。

  Abakersellshisbreadtoahungrymanwhoasksforit。This,wesee,isoneofthoseactsofwhich,inordinarycases,thetendencyisunquestionablygood。Thebaker\'smotiveistheordinarycommercialmotiveofpecuniaryinterest。Itisplain,thatthereisnothinginthetransaction,thusstated,thatcanaffordtheleastgroundforpresumingthatthebakerisabetteroraworsemanthananyofhisneighbours。

  X。2。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,andthemotive,asbefore,isoftheself-regardingkind。Inthiscasethedispositionindicatedisamischievousone。

  Amanstealsbreadoutofabaker\'sshop:thisisoneofthoseofwhichthetendencywillreadilybeacknowledgedtobebad。

  Why,andinwhatrespectsitisso,willbestatedfartheron。Hismotive,wewillsay,isthatofpecuniaryinterest;thedesireofgettingthevalueofthebreadfornothing。Hisdisposition,accordingly,appearstobeabadone:foreveryonewillallowathievishdispositiontobeabadone。

  XI。3。Wherethetendencyoftheactisgood,andthemotiveisthepurelysocialoneofgood-will。Inthiscasethedispositionindicatedisabeneficentone。

  Abakergivesapoormanaloafofbread。Hismotiveiscompassion;

  anamegiventothemotiveofbenevolence,inparticularcasesofitsoperation。Thedispositionindicatedbythebaker,inthiscase,issuchaseverymanwillbereadyenoughtoacknowledgetobeagoodone。

  XII。4。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,andthemotiveisthepurelysocialoneofgood-will。Eveninthiscasethedispositionwhichthemotiveindicatesisdubious:itmaybeamischievousorameritoriousone,asithappens;accordingasthemischievousnessoftheactismoreorlessapparent。

  XIII。Itmaybethought,thatacaseofthissortcannotexist;andthattosupposeit,isacontradictioninterms。Fortheactisone,which,bythesupposition,theagentknowstobeamischievousone。Howthencanitbe,thatgood-will,thatis,thedesireofdoinggood,couldhavebeenthemotivethatledhimintoit?Toreconcilethis,wemustadverttothedistinctionbetweenenlargedbenevolenceandconfined。Themotivethatledhimintoit,wasthatofconfinedbenevolence。Hadhefollowedthedictatesofenlargedbenevolence,hewouldnothavedonewhathedid。

  Now,althoughhefollowedthedictatesofthatbranchofbenevolence,whichinanysingleinstanceofitsexertionismischievous,whenopposedtotheother,yet,asthecaseswhichcallfortheexertionoftheformerare,beyondcomparison,morenumerousthanthosewhichcallfortheexertionofthelatter,thedispositionindicatedbyhim,infollowingtheimpulseoftheformer,willoftenbesuchasinaman,ofthecommonrunofmen,maybeallowedtobeagoodoneuponthewhole。

  XIV。Amanwithanumerousfamilyofchildren,onthepointofstarving,goesintoabaker\'sshop,stealsaloaf,dividesitallamongthechildren,reservingnoneofitforhimself。Itwillbehardtoinferthatthatman\'sdispositionisamischievousoneuponthewhole。Alterthecase,givehimbutonechild,andthathungryperhaps,butinnoimminentdangerofstarving:andnowletthemansetfiretoahousefullofpeople,forthesakeofstealingmoneyoutofittobuythebreadwith。Thedispositionhereindicatedwillhardlybelookeduponasagoodone。

  XV。Anothercasewillappearmoredifficulttodecidethaneither。Ravaillacassassinatedoneofthebestandwisestofsovereigns,atatimewhenagoodandwisesovereign,ablessingatalltimessovaluabletoastate,wasparticularlyprecious:

  andthattotheinhabitantsofapopulousandextensiveempire。Heistaken,anddoomedtothemostexcruciatingtortures。Hisson,wellpersuadedofhisbeingasincerepenitent,andthatmankind,incaseofhisbeingatlarge,wouldhavenothingmoretofearfromhim,effectuateshisescape。Isthisthenasignofagooddispositionintheson,orofabadone?Perhapssomewillanswer,ofabadone;for,besidestheinterestwhichthenationhasinthesufferingsofsuchacriminal,onthescoreoftheexample,thefuturegoodbehaviourofsuchacriminalismorethananyonecanhavesufficientgroundtobepersuadedof。

  XVI。Wellthen,letRavaillac,theson,notfacilitatehisfather\'sescape;butcontenthimselfwithconveyingpoisontohim,thatatthepriceofaneasierdeathhemayescapehistorments。Thedecisionwillnow,perhaps,bemoredifficult。Theactisawrongone,letitbeallowed,andsuchasoughtbyallmeanstobepunished:

  butisthedispositionmanifestedbyitabadone?

  Becausetheyoungmanbreaksthelawsinthisoneinstance,isitprobable,thatifletalone,hewouldbreakthelawsinordinaryinstances,forthesatisfactionofanyinordinatedesiresofhisown?

  Theanswerofmostmenwouldprobablybeinthenegative。

  XVII。5。Wherethetendencyoftheactisgood,andthemotiveisasemi-socialone,theloveofreputation。Inthiscasethedispositionindicatedisagoodone。

  Inatimeofscarcity,abaker,forthesakeofgainingtheesteemoftheneighbourhood,distributesbreadgratisamongtheindustriouspoor。Letthisbetakenforgranted:andletitbeallowedtobeamatterofuncertainty,whetherhehadanyrealfeelingforthesufferingsofthosewhomhehasrelieved,orno。Hisdisposition,forallthat,cannot,withanypretenceofreason,betermedotherwisethanagoodandbeneficentone。Itcanonlybeinconsequenceofsomeveryidleprejudice,ifitreceivesadifferentname。

  XVIII。6。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,andthemotive,asbefore,isasemi-socialone,theloveofreputation。Inthiscase,thedispositionwhichitindicatesismoreorlessgoodorbad:

  inthefirstplace,accordingasthetendencyoftheactismoreorlessmischievous:inthenextplaceaccordingasthedictatesofthemoralsanction,inthesocietyinquestion,approachmoreorlesstoacoincidencewiththoseofutility。Itdoesnotseemprobable,thatinanynation,whichisinastateoftolerablecivilization,inshort,inanynationinwhichsuchrulesasthesecancometobeconsulted,thedictatesofthemoralsanctionwillsofarrecedefromacoincidencewiththoseofutilitythatis,ofenlightenedbenevolencethatthedispositionindicatedinthiscasecanbeotherwisethanagoodoneuponthewhole。

  XIX。AnIndianreceivesaninjury,realorimaginary,fromanIndianofanothertribe。Herevengesituponthepersonofhisantagonistwiththemostexcruciatingtorments:thecasebeing,thatcrueltiesinflictedonsuchanoccasion,gainhimreputationinhisowntribe。Thedispositionmanifestedinsuchacasecanneverbedeemedagoodone,amongapeopleeversofewdegreesadvanced,inpointofcivilization,abovetheIndians。

  XX。AnoblemantocomebacktoEuropecontractsadebtwithapoortradesman。Thesamenobleman,presentlyafterwards,contractsadebt,tothesameamount,toanothernobleman,atplay。Heisunabletopayboth:hepaysthewholedebttothecompanionofhisamusements,andnopartofittothetradesman。

  Thedispositionmanifestedinthiscasecanscarcelybetermedotherwisethanabadone。Itiscertainly,however,notsobadasifhehadpaidneither。Theprincipleofloveofreputation,orasitiscalledinthecaseofthispartialapplicationofithonour,ishereopposedtotheworthierprincipleofbenevolence,andgetsthebetterofit。Butitgetsthebetteralsooftheself-regardingprincipleofpecuniaryinterest。Thedisposition,therefore,whichitindicates,althoughnotsogoodaoneasthatinwhichtheprincipleofbenevolencepredominates,isbetterthanoneinwhichtheprincipleofselfinterestpredominates。Hewouldbethebetterforhavingmorebenevolence:butwouldhebethebetterforhavingnohonour?Thisseemstoadmitofgreatdispute。

  XXI。7。Wherethetendencyoftheactisgood,andthemotiveisthesemi-socialoneofreligion。Inthiscase,thedispositionindicatedbyitconsideredwithrespecttotheinfluenceofitontheman\'sconducttowardsothersismanifestlyabeneficentandmeritoriousone。

  Abakerdistributesbreadgratisamongtheindustriouspoor。Itisnotthathefeelsfortheirdistresses:norisitforthesakeofgainingreputationamonghisneighbours。ItisforthesakeofgainingthefavouroftheDeity:towhom,hetakesforgranted,suchconductwillbeacceptable。Thedispositionmanifestedbysuchconductisplainlywhateverymanwouldcallagoodone。

  XXII。8。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,andthemotiveisthatofreligion,asbefore。Inthiscasethedispositionisdubious。Itisgoodorbad,andmoreorlessgoodorbad,inthe[8]

  firstplace,asthetendencyoftheactismoreorlessmischievous;inthenextplace,accordingasthereligioustenetsofthepersoninquestionapproachmoreorlesstoacoincidencewiththedictatesofutility。

  XXIII。Itshouldseemfromhistory,thateveninnationsinatolerablestateofcivilizationinotherrespects,thedictatesofreligionhavebeenfoundsofartorecedefromacoincidencewiththoseofutility;inotherwords,fromthoseofenlightenedbenevolence;thatthedispositionindicatedinthiscasemayevenbeabadoneuponthewhole。ThishoweverisnoobjectiontotheinferencewhichitaffordsofagooddispositioninthosecountriessuchasperhapsaremostofthecountriesofEuropeatpresentinwhichitsdictatesrespectingtheconductofamantowardsothermenapproachverynearlytoacoincidencewiththoseofutility。Thedictatesofreligion,intheirapplicationtotheconductofamaninwhatconcernshimselfalone,seeminmostEuropeannationstosavouragooddealoftheasceticprinciple:buttheobediencetosuchmistakendictatesindicatesnotanysuchdispositionasislikelytobreakoutintoactsofpernicioustendencywithrespecttoothers。Instancesinwhichthedictatesofreligionleadamanintoactswhichareperniciousinthislatterview,seematpresenttobebutrare:unlessitbeactsofpersecution,orimpoliticmeasuresonthepartofgovernment,wherethelawitselfiseithertheprincipalactororanaccompliceinthemischief。Ravaillac,instigatedbynoothermotivethanthis,gavehiscountryoneofthemostfatalstabsthatacountryeverreceivedfromasinglehand:buthappilytheRavaillacsarebutrare。

  Theyhavebeenmorefrequent,however,inFrancethaninanyothercountryduringthesameperiod:anditisremarkable,thatineveryinstanceitisthismotivethathasproducedthem。

  Whentheydoappear,however,nobody,Isuppose,butsuchasthemselves,willbefortermingadisposition,suchastheymanifest,agoodone。Itseemshardlytobedenied,butthattheyarejustsomuchtheworsefortheirnotionsofreligion;andthathadtheybeenlefttothesoleguidanceofbenevolence,andtheloveofreputation,withoutanyreligionatall,itwouldhavebeenbutsomuchthebetterformankind。Onemaysaynearlythesamething,perhaps,ofthosepersonswho,withoutanyparticularobligation,havetakenanactivepartintheexecutionoflawsmadeforthepunishmentofthosewhohavethemisfortunetodifferwiththemagistrateinmattersofreligion,muchmoreofthelegislatorhimself,whohasputitintheirpower。

  IfLouisXIV。hadhadnoreligion,Francewouldnothavelost800,000

  ofitsmostvaluablesubjects。Thesamethingmaybesaidoftheauthorsofthewarscalledholyones;whetherwagedagainstpersonscalledInfidelsorpersonsbrandedwiththestillmoreodiousnameofHeretics。InDenmark,notagreatmanyyearsago,asectissaidtohavearisen,who,byastrangeperversionofreason,tookitintotheirheads,that,byleadingtorepentance,murder,oranyotherhorridcrime,mightbemadetheroadtoheaven。Itshouldallalong,however,beobserved,thatinstancesofthislatterkindwerealwaysrare:andthatinalmostallthecountriesofEurope,instancesoftheformerkind,thoughonceabundantlyfrequent,haveforsometimeceased。

  Incertaincountries,however,persecutionathome,orwhatproducesadegreeofrestraint,whichisonepartofthemischiefsofpersecutionImeanthedispositiontopersecute,whensoeveroccasionhappens,isnotyetatanend:insomuchthatifthereisnoactualpersecution,itisonlybecausetherearenoheretics;

  andiftherearenoheretics,itisonlybecausetherearenothinkers。

  XXIV。9。Wherethetendencyoftheactisgood,andthemotiveasbefore

  isthedissocialoneofill-will。Inthiscasethemotiveseemsnottoaffordanyindicationoneitherside。Itisnoindicationofagooddisposition;butneitherisitanyindicationofabadone。

  Youhavedetectedabakerinsellingshortweight:youprosecutehimforthecheat。Itisnotforthesakeofgainthatyouengagedintheprosecution;forthereisnothingtobegotbyit:itisnotfrompublicspirit:itisnotforthesakeofreputation;forthereisnoreputationtobegotbyit:itisnotintheview:seeB。I。tit。[OffencesagainstReligion]ofpleasingtheDeity:itismerelyonaccountofaquarrelyouhavewiththemanyouprosecute。

  Fromthetransaction,asthusstated,theredoesnotseemtobeanythingtobesaideitherinfavourofyourdispositionoragainstit。Thetendencyoftheactisgood:butyouwouldnothaveengagedinit,haditnotbeenfromamotivewhichthereseemsnoparticularreasontoconcludewilleverpromptyoutoengageinanactofthesamekindagain。Yourmotiveisofthatsortwhichmay,withleastimpropriety,betermedabadone:

  buttheactisofthatsort,which,wereitengagedineversooften,couldneverhaveanyeviltendency;norindeedanyothertendencythanagoodone。Bythesupposition,themotiveithappenedtobedictatedbywasthatofill-will:buttheactitselfisofsuchanatureastohavewantednothingbutsufficientdiscernmentonyourpartinordertohavebeendictatedbythemostenlargedbenevolence。Now,fromaman\'shavingsufferedhimselftobeinducedtogratifyhisresentmentbymeansofanactofwhichthetendencyisgood,itbynomeansfollowsthathewouldbereadyonanotheroccasion,throughtheinfluenceofthesamesortofmotive,toengageinanyactofwhichthetendencyisabadone。Themotivethatimpelledyouwasadissocialone:

  butwhatsocialmotivecouldtherehavebeentorestrainyou?None,butwhatmighthavebeenoutweighedbyamoreenlargedmotiveofthesamekind。Now,becausethedissocialmotiveprevailedwhenitstoodalone,itbynomeansfollowsthatitwouldprevailwhenithadasocialonetocombatit。

  XXV。10。Wherethetendencyoftheactisbad,andthemotiveisthedissocialoneofmalevolence。Inthiscasethesedispositionitindicatesisofcourseamischievousone。

  Themanwhostolethebreadfromthebaker,asbefore,diditwithnootherviewthanmerelytoimpoverishandafflicthim:

  accordingly,whenhehadgotthebread,hedidnoteat,orsellit;

  butdestroyedit。Thatthedisposition,evidencedbysuchatransaction,isabadone,iswhateverybodymustperceiveimmediately。

  Part2

  XXVI。Thusmuchwithrespecttothecircumstancesfromwhichthemischievousnessormeritoriousnessofaman\'sdispositionistobeinferredinthegross:wecomenowtothemeasureofthatmischievousnessormeritoriousness,asresultingfromthosecircumstances。Nowwithmeritoriousactsanddispositionswehavenodirectconcerninthepresentwork。Allthatpenallawisconcernedtodo,istomeasurethedepravityofthedispositionwheretheactismischievous。Tothisobject,therefore,weshallhereconfineourselves。

  XXVII。Itisevident,thatthenatureofaman\'sdispositionmustdependuponthenatureofthemotivesheisapttobeinfluencedby:inotherwords,uponthedegreeofhissensibilitytotheforceofsuchandsuchmotives。Forhisdispositionis,asitwere,thesumofhisintentions:thedispositionheisofduringacertainperiod,thesumorresultofhisintentionsduringthatperiod,If,oftheactshehasbeenintendingtoengageinduringthesupposedperiod,thosewhichareapparentlyofamischievoustendency,bearalargeproportiontothosewhichappeartohimtobeofthecontrarytendency,hisdispositionwillbeofthemischievouscast:ifbutasmallproportion,oftheinnocentorupright。

  XXVIII。Nowintentions,likeeverythingelse,areproducedbythethingsthataretheircauses:andthecausesofintentionsaremotives。If,onanyoccasion,amanformseitheragoodorabadintention,itmustbebytheinfluenceofsomemotive。

  XXIX。Whentheact,whichamotivepromptsamantoengagein,isofamischievousnature,itmay,fordistinction\'ssake,betermedaseducingorcorruptingmotive:inwhichcasealsoanymotivewhich,inoppositiontotheformer,actsinthecharacterofarestrainingmotive,maybestyledatutelary,preservatory,orpreservingmotive。

  XXX。Tutelarymotivesmayagainbedistinguishedintostandingorconstant,andoccasional。Bystandingtutelarymotives,I

  meansuchasactwithmoreorlessforceinall,oratleastinmostcases,tendingtorestrainamanfromanymischievousactshemaybepromptedtoengagein;andthatwithaforcewhichdependsuponthegeneralnatureoftheact,ratherthanuponanyaccidentalcircumstancewithwhichanyindividualactofthatsortmayhappentobeaccompanied。Byoccasionaltutelarymotives,Imeansuchmotivesasmaychancetoactinthisdirectionornot,accordingtothenatureoftheact,andoftheparticularoccasiononwhichtheengaginginitisbroughtintocontemplation。

  XXXI。Nowithasbeenshown,thatthereisnosortofmotivebywhichamanmaynotbepromptedtoengageinactsthatareofamischievousnature;thatis,whichmaynotcometoactinthecapacityofaseducingmotive。Ithasbeenshown,ontheotherhand,thattherearesomemotiveswhichareremarkablylesslikelytooperateinthiswaythanothers。Ithasalsobeenshown,thattheleastlikelyofallisthatofbenevolenceorgood-will:

  themostcommontendencyofwhich,ithasbeenshown,istoactinthecharacterofatutelarymotive。Ithasalsobeenshown,thatevenwhenbyaccidentitactsinonewayinthecharacterofaseducingmotive,stillinanotherwayitactsintheoppositecharacterofatutelaryone。Themotiveofgood-will,inasfarasitrespectstheinterestsofonesetofpersons,maypromptamantoengageinactswhichareproductiveofmischieftoanotherandmoreextensiveset:butthisisonlybecausehisgood-willisimperfectandconfined:nottakingintocontemplationtheinterestsofallthepersonswhoseinterestsareatstake。Thesamemotive,weretheaffectionitissuedfrommoreenlarged,wouldoperateeffectually,inthecharacterofaconstrainingmotive,againstthatveryacttowhich,bythesupposition,itgivesbirth。Thissamesortofmotivemaytherefore,withoutanyrealcontradictionordeviationfromtruth,berankedinthenumberofstandingtutelarymotives,notwithstandingtheoccasionsinwhichitmayactatthesametimeinthecharacterofaseducingone。

  XXXII。Thesameobservation,nearly,maybeappliedtothesemi-socialmotiveofloveofreputation。Theforceofthis,likethatoftheformer,isliabletobedividedagainstitself。Asinthecaseofgood-will,theinterestsofsomeofthepersons,whomaybetheobjectsofthatsentiment,areliabletobeatvariancewiththoseofothers:sointhecaseofloveofreputation,thesentimentsofsomeofthepersons,whosegoodopinionisdesired,maybeatvariancewiththesentimentsofotherpersonsofthatnumber。Nowinthecaseofanact,whichisreallyofamischievousnature,itcanscarcelyhappenthatthereshallbenopersonswhateverwhowilllookuponitwithaneyeofdisapprobation。

  Itcanscarcelyeverhappen,therefore,thatanactreallymischievousshallnothavesomepartatleast,ifnotthewhole,oftheforceofthismotivetoopposeit;nor,therefore,thatthismotiveshouldnotactwithsomedegreeofforceinthecharacterofatutelarymotive。This,therefore,maybesetdownasanotherarticleinthecatalogueofstandingtutelarymotives。

  XXXIII。Thesameobservationmaybeappliedtothedesireofamity,thoughnotinaltogetherequalmeasure。For,notwithstandingthemischievousnessofanact,itmayhappen,withoutmuchdifficulty,thatallthepersonsforwhoseamityamanentertainsanyparticularpresentdesirewhichisaccompaniedwithexpectation,mayconcurinregardingitwithaneyeratherofapprobationthanthecontrary。Thisisbuttooapttobethecaseamongsuchfraternitiesasthoseofthieves,smugglers,andmanyotherdenominationsofoffenders。This,however,isnotconstantly,norindeedmostcommonlythecase:

  insomuch,thatthedesireofamitymaystillberegarded,uponthewhole,asatutelarymotive,wereitonlyfromtheclosenessofitsconnexionwiththeloveofreputation。Anditmayberankedamongstandingtutelarymotives,since,whereitdoesapply,theforcewithwhichitacts,dependsnotupontheoccasionalcircumstancesoftheactwhichitopposes,butuponprinciplesasgeneralasthoseuponwhichdependtheactionoftheothersemi-socialmotives。

  XXXIV。Themotiveofreligionisnotaltogetherinthesamecasewiththethreeformer。Theforceofitisnot,liketheirs,liabletobedividedagainstitself。Imeaninthecivilizednationsofmoderntimes,amongwhomthenotionoftheunityoftheGodheadisuniversal。Intimesofclassicalantiquityitwasotherwise。IfamangotVenusonhisside,Pallaswasontheother:ifÆoluswasforhim,Neptunewasagainsthim。Æneas,withallhispiety,hadbutapartialinterestatthecourtofheaven。Thatmatterstandsuponadifferentfootingnow-a-days。Inanygivenperson,theforceofreligion,whateveritbe,isnowallofitononeside。Itmaybalance,indeed,onwhichsideitshalldeclareitself:anditmaydeclareitself,aswehaveseenalreadyinbuttoomanyinstances,onthewrongaswellasontheright。Ithasbeen,atleasttilllately,perhapsisstill,accustomedsomuchtodeclareitselfonthewrongside,andthatinsuchmaterialinstances,thatonthataccountitseemednotpropertoplaceit,inpointofsocialtendency,onalevelaltogetherwiththemotiveofbenevolence。

  Whereitdoesact,however,asitdoesinbyfarthegreatestnumberofcases,inoppositiontotheordinaryseducingmotives,itacts,likethemotiveofbenevolence,inanuniformmanner,notdependingupontheparticularcircumstancesthatmayattendthecommissionoftheact;buttendingtoopposeit,merelyonaccountofitsmischievousness;andtherefore,withequalforce,inwhatsoevercircumstancesitmaybeproposedtobecommitted。This,therefore,mayalsobeaddedtothecatalogueofstandingtutelarymotives。

  XXXV。Astothemotiveswhichmayoperateoccasionallyinthecharacteroftutelarymotives,these,ithasbeenalreadyintimated,areofvarioussorts,andvariousdegreesofstrengthinvariousoffenses:dependingnotonlyuponthenatureoftheoffence,butupontheaccidentalcircumstancesinwhichtheideaofengaginginitmaycomeincontemplation。Noristhereanysortofmotivewhichmaynotcometooperateinthischaracter;asmaybeeasilyconceived。Athief,forinstance,maybepreventedfromengaginginaprojectedschemeofhouse-breaking,bysittingtoolongoverhisbottleloveofthepleasuresofthepalate,byavisitfromhisdoxy,bytheoccasionhemayhavetogoelsewhere,inordertoreceivehisdividendofaformerbootypecuniaryinterest;andsoon。

  XXXVI。Therearesomemotives,however,whichseemmoreapttoactinthischaracterthanothers;especiallyasthingsarenowconstituted,nowthatthelawhaseverywhereopposedtotheforceoftheprincipalseducingmotives,artificialtutelarymotivesofitsowncreation。Ofthemotivesheremeantitwillbenecessarytotakeageneralview。Theyseemtobereducibletotwoheads;viz。1。Theloveofease;amotiveputintoactionbytheprospectofthetroubleoftheattempt;thatis,thetroublewhichitmaybenecessarytobestow,inovercomingthephysicaldifficultiesthatmayaccompanyit。2。Self-preservation,asopposedtothedangerstowhichamanmaybeexposedintheprosecutionofit。

  XXXVII。Thesedangersmaybeeither,1。Ofapurelyphysicalnature:

  or,2。Dangersresultingfrommoralagency;inotherwords,fromtheconductofanysuchpersonstowhomtheact,ifknown,maybeexpectedtoproveobnoxious。Butmoralagencysupposesknowledgewithrespecttothecircumstancesthataretohavetheeffectofexternalmotivesingivingbirthtoit。

  Nowtheobtainingsuchknowledge,withrespecttothecommissionofanyobnoxiousact,onthepartofanypersonswhomaybedisposedtomaketheagentsufferforit,iscalleddetection;andtheagentconcerningwhomsuchknowledgeisobtained,issaidtobedetected。Thedangers,therefore,whichmaythreatenanoffenderfromthisquarter,depend,whatevertheymaybe,ontheeventofhisdetection;andmay,therefore,beallofthemcomprisedunderthearticleofthedangerofdetection。

  XXXVIII。Thedangerdependingupondetectionmaybedividedagainintotwobranches:1。Thatwhichmayresultfromanyoppositionthatmaybemadetotheenterprisebypersonsonthespot;

  thatis,attheverytimetheenterpriseiscarryingon:2。

  Thatwhichrespectsthelegalpunishment,ortoothersuffering,thatmayawaitatadistanceupontheissueoftheenterprise。

  XXXIX。Itmaybeworthcallingtomindonthisoccasion,thatamongthetutelarymotives,whichhavebeenstyledconstantones,therearetwoofwhichtheforcedependsthoughnotsoentirelyastheforceoftheoccasionaloneswhichhavebeenorjustmentioned,yetinagreatmeasureuponthecircumstanceofdetection。

  These,itmayberemembered,are,theloveofreputation,andthedesireofamity。Inproportion,therefore,asthechanceofbeingdetectedappearsgreater,thesemotiveswillapplywiththegreaterforce:withthelessforce,asitappearsless。

  Thisisnotthecasewiththetwootherstandingtutelarymotives,thatofbenevolence,andthatofreligion。

  XL。Wearenowinaconditiontodetermine,withsomedegreeofprecision,whatistobeunderstoodbythestrengthofatemptation,andwhatindicationitmaygiveofthedegreeofmischievousnessinaman\'sdispositioninthecaseofanyoffence。

  Whenamanispromptedtoengageinanymischievousact,wewillsay,forshortness,inanoffense,thestrengthofthetemptationdependsupontheratiobetweentheforceoftheseducingmotivesontheonehand,andsuchoftheoccasionaltutelaryones,asthecircumstancesofthecasecallforthintoaction,ontheother。Thetemptation,then,maybesaidtobestrong,whenthepleasureoradvantagetobegotfromthecrimeissuchasintheeyesoftheoffendermustappeargreatincomparisonofthetroubleanddangerthatappeartohimtoaccompanytheenterprise:slightorweak,whenthatpleasureoradvantageissuchasmustappearsmallincomparisonofsuchtroubleandsuchdanger。Itisplainthestrengthofthetemptationdependsnotupontheforceoftheimpellingthatisoftheseducing

  motivesaltogether:forlettheopportunitybemorefavourable,thatis,letthetrouble,oranybranchofthedanger,bemadelessthanbefore,itwillbeacknowledged,thatthetemptationismadesomuchthestronger:andontheotherhand,lettheopportunitybecomelessfavourable,or,inotherwords,letthetrouble,oranybranchofthedanger,bemadegreaterthanbefore,thetemptationwillbesomuchtheweaker。

  Now,aftertakingaccountofsuchtutelarymotivesashavebeenstyledoccasional,theonlytutelarymotivesthatcanremainarethosewhichhavebeentermedstandingones。Butthosewhichhavebeentermedthestandingtutelarymotives,arethesamethatwehavebeenstylingsocial。Itfollows,therefore,thatthestrengthofthetemptation,inanycase,afterdeductingtheforceofthesocialmotives,isasthesumoftheforcesoftheseducing,tothesumoftheforcesoftheoccasionaltutelarymotives。

  XLI。Itremainstobeinquired,whatindicationconcerningthemischievousnessordepravityofaman\'sdispositionisaffordedbythestrengthofthetemptation,inthecasewhereanyoffensehappenstohavebeencommitted。Itappears,then,thattheweakerthetemptationis,bywhichamanhasbeenovercome,themoredepravedandmischievousitshowshisdispositiontohavebeen。Forthegoodnessofhisdispositionismeasuredbythedegreeofhissensibilitytotheactionofthesocialmotives:inotherwords,bythestrengthoftheinfluencewhichthosemotiveshaveoverhim:now,thelessconsiderabletheforceisbywhichtheirinfluenceonhimhasbeenovercome,themoreconvincingistheproofthathasbeengivenoftheweaknessofthatinfluence。

  Again,Thedegreeofaman\'ssensibilitytotheforceofthesocialmotivesbeinggiven,itisplainthattheforcewithwhichthosemotivestendtorestrainhimfromengaginginanymischievousenterprise,willbeastheapparentmischievousnessofsuchenterprise,thatis,asthedegreeofmischiefwithwhichitappearstohimlikelytobeattended。Inotherwords,thelessmischievoustheoffenceappearstohimtobe,thelessaversehewillbe,asfarasheisguidedbysocialconsiderations,toengageinit;themoremischievous,themoreaverse。Ifthenthenatureoftheoffenseissuchasmustappeartohimhighlymischievous,andyetheengagesinitnotwithstanding,itshows,thatthedegreeofhissensibilitytotheforceofthesocialmotivesisbutslight;andconsequentlythathisdispositionisproportionablydepraved。Moreover,thelessthestrengthofthetemptationwas;themoreperniciousanddepraveddoesitshowhisdispositiontohavebeen。Forthelessthestrengthofthetemptationwas,thelesswastheforcewhichtheinfluenceofthosemotiveshadtoovercome:theclearerthereforeistheproofthathasbeengivenoftheweaknessofthatinfluence。

  XLII。Fromwhathasbeensaid,itseems,that,forjudgingoftheindicationthatisaffordedconcerningthedepravityofaman\'sdispositionbythestrengthofthetemptation,comparedwiththemischievousnessoftheenterprise,thefollowingrulesmaybelaiddown:

  Rule1。Thestrengthofthetemptationbeinggiven,themischievousnessofthedispositionmanifestedbytheenterprise,isas。theapparentmischievousnessoftheact。

  Thus,itwouldshowamoredepraveddisposition,tomurderamanforarewardofaguinea,orfalselytochargehimwitharobberyforthesamereward,thantoobtainthesamesumfromhimbysimpletheft:thetroublehewouldhavetotake,andtheriskhewouldhavetorun,beingsupposedtostandonthesamefootingintheonecaseasintheother。

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