A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals: Particularly Those Respecting the Origin of Our Ideas of Virtue, Its Nature, Relation to the Deity, Obligation, Subject-matter, and Sanctions |
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A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals: Particularly Those Respecting ... Richard Price No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
abfolute abfurd actions againſt agent alfo alſo anſwer arife becauſe befides benevolence beſt cafe caufe cauſe character cife circumſtances conceive confequence confider confideration confiftent contrary defire degree Deity determine difcernment diftinct divine duty effects effential eternal evil exift exiſtence faculty faid fame feems felves fenfation fenfe fenfible fentiments fhall fhew fhould fignify firſt fome fomething fource ftate fubject fuch fufficient fuppofe fure goodneſs greateſt happineſs himſelf ideas implies impoffible impreffions infinite inftances intereft itſelf juft juſt lefs leſs means mifery mind moral moſt muft muſt nature neceffarily neceffary neceffity nefs obfervations objects obligation occafion oppofition ourſelves paffions particular perceive perception perfon pleaſure poffefs poffible prefent principles puniſhments purpoſe queſtion racter reaſon rectitude refpect right and wrong ſay ſeems ſenſe ſhall ſome ſpeak ſtate ſuch ſuppoſe thefe themſelves theſe thing thofe thoſe tion Treatife true truth underſtanding univerfal uſe vice virtue virtuous
Popular passages
Page 219 - Again, suppose one man should, by fraud or violence, take from another the fruit of his labour, with intent to give it to a third, who he thought would have as much pleasure from it as would balance the pleasure which the first possessor would have had in the enjoyment, and his vexation in the loss of it; suppose, also, that no bad consequences would follow; yet such an action would surely be vicious.
Page 74 - That morality is eternal and immutable. Right and wrong, it appears, denote what actions are. Now whatever any thing is, that it is, not by will, or decree, or power, but by nature and necessity. Whatever a triangle or circle is, that it is unchangeably and eternally. It depends upon no will or power, whether the three angles of a triangle and two right ones shall be equal; whether the periphery of a circle and its diameter shall be incommensurable; or whether matter shall be divisible, moveable,...
Page 42 - For my own part, when I read the detail about sensation and reflection, and am taught the process at large how my ideas are all generated, I seem to view the human soul in the light of a crucible, where truths are produced by a kind of logical chemistry'.
Page 121 - Reason alone, did we possess it in a higher degree, would answer all the ends of the passions. Thus there would be no need of parental affection, were all parents sufficiently acquainted with the reasons for taking upon them the guidance and support of those whom nature has placed under their care, and were they virtuous enough to be always determined by those reasons.
Page 127 - ... immediate approbation of making the virtuous happy, and discouraging the vicious, abstracted from all consequences. Were there but two beings in the universe, one of whom was virtuous, the other vicious; or, were we to conceive two such beings, in other respects alike, governed apart from the rest of the world, and removed for ever from the notice of all other creatures ; we should still approve of a different treatment of them. That the good being should be less happy, or a greater sufferer,...
Page 177 - That is properly a law to us, which we always and unavoidably feel and own ourselves obliged to obey; and which, as we obey or disobey it, is attended with the immediate sanctions of inward triumph and self-applause, or of inward shame and self-reproach, together with the secret apprehensions of the favour or displeasure of a superior righteous power, and the anticipations...
Page 19 - Sense presents particular forms to the mind; but cannot rise to any general ideas. It is the intellect that examines and compares the presented forms, that rises above individuals to universal and abstract ideas; and thus looks downward upon objects, takes in at one view an infinity of particulars, and is capable of discovering general truths. Sense sees only the outside of things; reason acquaints itself with their natures.
Page 323 - ... is no principle of virtue, nor are any actions flowing merely from it virtuous. As far as this influences, so far something else than reason and goodness influence, and so much I think is to be subtracted from the moral worth of any action or character" (Review of the Principle Questions in Morals, ed.
Page 460 - Virtue is the foundation of honour and esteem ; and the source of all beauty, order, and happiness in nature. It is what confers value on all the other endowments and qualities of a reasonable being, to which they ought to be...
Page 193 - ... obligation, — that which commands the approbation and choice and binds the conscience of every rational human being. Nothing can bring us under an obligation to do what appears to our moral judgment wrong. It may be supposed our interest to do this, but it cannot be supposed our duty. For, I ask, if some power, which we are unable to resist, should assume the command over us, and give us laws which are unrighteous and...