The Elements of Ethics |
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actions adjustment admit agent applied argument Aristotle assert assumed authority capacity categorical imperative causal cause character choice claim conception conduct conscience consequences dæmon defined denote Descartes desire determine distinction divine doctrine effect elements emotional empiricism empiricist Epicureans Ethics evolution existence expressed external fact fear of authority feeling freedom function happiness Hence human ical idea ideal imply important impulse individual influence instinct intellectual intuitionalism involved Kant liberty limitations man's matter means ment merely metaphysical mind moral consciousness moral law motive nature necessary necessitarianism Neo-Platonism object opposed origin perfection phenomena philosophy Plato pleasure and pain political principle problem produce punishment question rational realize reason reflex reflex actions regard relation religion religious religious ecstasy represents responsibility restraint right and wrong scholasticism social Socrates Spinoza spontaneity Stoics supposed tendency term theism theological theory tion ultimate utilitarian velleity virtue volition wholly
Popular passages
Page 379 - Of two pleasures, if there be one to which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure. If one of the two is, by those who are competently acquainted with both, placed so far above the other that they prefer it, even though knowing it to be attended with a greater amount of discontent, and would not resign it for any quantity of the other pleasure which their nature is capable...
Page 378 - It is quite compatible with the principle of utility to recognize the fact, that some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more valuable than \ others.
Page 330 - The truly moral deterrent from murder, is not constituted by a representation of hanging as a consequence, or by a representation of tortures in hell as a consequence, or by a representation of the horror and hatred excited in...
Page 413 - Will, while yet there is no overt recognition of such will ; ie, conscience may act as human before it is discovered to be divine. To the agent himself its whole history may seem to lie in his own personality and his visible social relations ; and it shall nevertheless serve as his oracle, though it may be hid from him who it is that utters it.
Page 378 - If I am asked, what I mean by difference of quality in pleasures, or what makes one pleasure more valuable than another, merely as a pleasure, except its being greater in amount, there is but one possible answer. Of two pleasures, if there be one to which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure.
Page 365 - On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think; every effort we can make to throw off our subjection will serve but to demonstrate and confirm it. In words a man may pretend to abjure their empire ; but in reality he will remain subject to it all the while.
Page 390 - NOTHING can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good without qualification, except a Good Will.
Page 87 - Thus self-interest is the original motive to the establishment of justice: but a sympathy with public interest is the source of the moral approbation, which attends that virtue.
Page 433 - ... all the needs of his nature. He must be free to do everything which is directly or indirectly requisite for the due satisfaction of every mental and bodily want. Without this he cannot fulfil his duty or God's will.
Page 413 - But it is undeniable that the authority may be felt where it is not seen, felt as if it were the mandate of a Perfect Will, while yet there is no overt recognition of such will ; ie, conscience may act as human before it is discovered to be divine. To the agent himself its whole history may seem to lie in his own personality...