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Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics By: Alexander Bain (1818-1903) |
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by ALEXANDER BAIN, M.A., Author of "Mental Science: A Compendium of Psychology;" "The
Senses and the Intellect;" "The Emotions and the Will;" "A
Manual ooof Rhetoric;" Professor of Logic in the University
of Aberdeen, etc., etc., etc. 1869 PREFACE
The present Dissertation falls under two divisions. The first division, entitled The Theory of Ethics, gives an account of
the questions or points brought into discussion, and handles at length
the two of greatest prominence, the Ethical Standard, and the Moral
Faculty. The second division on The Ethical Systems is a full detail of all
the systems, ancient and modern, by conjoined Abstract and Summary.
With few exceptions, an abstract is made of each author's exposition
of his own theory, the fulness being measured by relative importance;
while, for better comparing and remembering the several theories, they
are summarized at the end, on a uniform plan. The connection of Ethics with Psychology is necessarily intimate; the
leading ethical controversies involve a reference to mind, and can be
settled only by a more thorough understanding of mental processes. Although the present volume is properly a continuation of the Manual
of Psychology and the History of Philosophy, recently published, and
contains occasional references to that treatise, it may still be
perused as an independent work on the Ethical Doctrines and Systems.
A.B. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. THE THEORY OF ETHICS. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY VIEW OF ETHICAL QUESTIONS. I. The ETHICAL STANDARD. Summary of views. II. PSYCHOLOGICAL questions.
1. The Moral Faculty.
2. The Freedom of the Will; the sources of Disinterested conduct. III. The BONUM, SUMMUM BONUM, or Happiness. IV. The CLASSIFICATION OF DUTIES, and the Moral Code. V. Relationship of Ethics to POLITICS. VI. Relation to Theology.
CHAPTER II. THE ETHICAL STANDARD. 1. Ethics, as a department of Practice, is defined by its End. 2. The Ethical End is the welfare of society, realized through rules
of conduct duly enforced. 3. The Rules of Ethics are of two kinds. The first are imposed under
a penalty. These are Laws proper, or Obligatory Morality. 4. The second are supported by Rewards; constituting Optional
Morality, Merit, Virtue, or Nobleness. 5. The Ethical End, or Morality, as it has been , is founded partly
in Utility, and partly in Sentiment. 6. The Ethical End is limited, according to the view taken of Moral
Government, or Authority: Distinction between Security and
Improvement. 7. Morality, in its essential parts, is 'Eternal and Immutable;' in
other parts, it varies with custom. 8. Enquiry as to the kind, of proof that an Ethical Standard is
susceptible of. The ultimate end of action must be referred to
individual judgment. 9. The judgment of Mankind is, with some qualifications, in favour of
Happiness as the supreme end of conduct. 10. The Ethical end that society is tending to, is Happiness, or
Utility. 11. Objections against Utility. I. Happiness is not the sole aim of
human pursuit. 12. II. The consequences of actions are beyond calculation. 13. III. The principle of Utility contains no motives to seek the
happiness of others.
CHAPTER III. THE MORAL FACULTY. 1. Question whether the Moral Faculty be simple or complex. 2. Arguments in favour of its being simple and intuitive: First, Our
moral judgments are immediate and instantaneous. 3. Secondly, It is a faculty common to all mankind. 4. Thirdly, It is different from any other mental phenomenon. 5. Replies to these Arguments, and Counter arguments: First;
Immediateness of operation is no proof of an innate origin. 6. Secondly, The alleged similarity of men's moral judgments holds
only in a limited degree. Answers given by the advocates of an
Innate sentiment, to the discrepancies. 7. Thirdly, Moral right and wrong is not an indivisible property, but
an extensive Code of regulations... Continue reading book >>
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