第11章

类别:其他 作者:Biographiq字数:15827更新时间:18/12/14 12:58:46
AdamSmithalsodiffersfromHumenolessinhistheoryofthecauseofthebeautywhichresultsfromaperceptionofutilitythaninhistheoryoftheplaceassignabletoutilityintheprincipleofmoralapprobation。 AccordingtoHume,theutilityofanyobjectisasourceofpleasurefromitssuggestionoftheconveniencyitisintendedtopromote,fromitsfitnesstoproducetheendintendedbyit。AdamSmithmaintains,ratherbywayofsupplementthanofcontradiction,thatthefitnessofathingtoproduceitsend,orthehappyadjustmentofmeanstotheattainmentofanyconvenienceorpleasureisoftenmoreregardedthantheendorconvenienceitself,andhegivesseveralinstancestoillustratetheoperationofthisprinciple。 Forinstance,amancomingintohisroomandfindingallthechairsinthemiddle,willperhapsbeangrywithhisservantandtakethetroubletoplacethemallwiththeirbackstothewall,forthesakeofthegreaterconvenienceofhavingthefloorfreeanddisengaged。Butitismorethearrangementthantheconveniencewhichhereallycaresfor,sincetoattaintheconvenienceheputshimselftomoretroublethanhecouldhavesufferedfromthewantofit,seeingthatnothingwaseasierforhimthantohavesatdownatonceononeofthechairs,whichisprobablyallhedoeswhenhislabourisover。 Thesameprincipleappliestothepursuitofriches,undercircumstanceswhichimplymuchmoretroubleandvexationthanthepossessionofthemcaneverobviate。Thepoorman\'sson,cursedwithambition,whoadmirestheconvenienceofapalacetolivein,ofhorsestocarryhim,andofservantstowaitonhim,sacrificesarealtranquillityforacertainartificialandelegantreposehemayneverreach,tofindatlastthat\"wealthandgreatnessaremeretrinketsoffrivolousutility,nomoreadaptedforprocuringeaseofbodyortranquillityofmind,thanthetweezer-casesoftheloveroftoys。\"Indeed,thereisnootherrealdifferencebetweenthemthanthattheconveniencesof。theonearesomewhatmoreobservablethanthoseoftheother。Thepalaces,gardens,orequipageofthegreatareobjectsofwhichtheconveniencystrikeseveryone;theirutilityisobvious;andwereadilyenjoybysympathythesatisfactiontheyarefittedtoafford。 Buttheconveniencyofatoothpickorofanail-cutter,beinglessobvious,itislesseasytoenterintothesatisfactionoftheirpossessor。Theyarelessreasonableobjectsofvanitythanwealthandgreat-ness,andlesseffectuallygratifyman\'sloveofdistinction。Toamanwhohadtolivealoneonadesolateisland,itmightbeamatterofdoubt,\"whetherapalace,oracollectionofsuchsmallconveniencesasarecommonlycontainedinatweezer-case,wouldcontributemosttohishappinessandenjoyment。\" Thefactthattherichandthegreataresomuchtheobjectofadmirationisduenotsomuchtoanysuperioreaseorpleasuretheyaresupposedtoenjoy,astothenumberlessartificialandelegantcontrivancestheypossessforpromotingsucheaseandpleasure。Thespectatordoesnotimagine\"thattheyarereallyhappierthanotherpeople,butheimaginesthattheypossessmoremeansofhappiness。Anditistheingeniousandartfuladjustmentofthosemeanstotheendforwhichtheywereintended,thatistheprincipalsourceofhisadmiration。\" Again,thesoleuseandendofallconstitutionsofgovernmentistopromotethehappinessofthosewholiveunderthem。Butfromthisloveofartandcontrivance,weoftencometovaluethemeansmorethantheend,andtobeeagertopromotethehappinessofourfellows,lessfromanysympathywiththeirsufferingsorenjoymentthanfromawishtoperfectandimproveabeautifulsystem。Menofthegreatestpublicspirithaveoftenbeenmenofthesmallesthumanity,likePetertheGreat;andifapublic-spiritedmanencouragesthemendingofroads,itisnotcommonlyfromafellow-feelingwithcarriersandwaggonerssomuchasfromaregardtothegeneralbeautyoforder。 Thisadmitshoweverofapracticalapplication,forifyouwishtoimplantpublicvirtueinamandevoidofit,youwilltellhiminvainofthesuperioradvantagesofawell-governedstate,ofthebetterhomes,thebetterclothing,orthebetterfood。Butifyoudescribethegreatsystemofgovernmentwhichprocurestheseadvantages,explainingtheconnexionsandsubordinationsoftheirseveralparts,andtheirgeneralsubserviencytothehappinessoftheirsociety;ifyoushowthepossibilityofintroducingsuchasystemintohisowncountry,orofremovingtheobstructionstoit,andsettingthewheelsofthemachineofgovernmenttomovewithmoreharmonyandsmoothness,youwillscarcefailtoraiseinhimthedesiretohelptoremovetheobstructions,andtoputinmotionsobeautifulandorderlyamachine。Itislesstheresultsofapoliticalsystemthatcanmovehimthanthecontemplationofaningeniousadjustmentofmeanstoends。 CHAPTERXIII。THERELATIONOFADAMSMITH\'STHEORYTOOTHERSYSTEMS OFMORALITY。 ThelongestandperhapsthemostinterestingdivisionofAdamSmith\'streatiseisthatinwhichhereviewstherelationofhisowntheorytothatofothersystemsofmoralphilosophy。Forlikeallwritersonthesamedifficultsubject,hefindsbutaverypartialattainmentoftruthinanysystemoutsidehisown,andclaimsforthelatteracomprehensivesurveyofallthephenomena,whichhispredecessorshadonlygraspedsinglyandindetail。Everysystemofmorality,everytheoryoftheoriginofourmoralsentiments,hasbeenderived,hethinks,fromsomeoneorotheroftheprinciplesexpoundedbyhimself。And\"astheyarealloftheminthisrespectfoundeduponnaturalprinciples,theyarealloftheminsomemeasureintheright。Butasmanyofthemarederivedfromapartialandimperfectviewofnature,therearemanyofthemtooinsomerespectsinthewrong。\" I。Thuswithregard,first,tothenatureofVirtue,allthedifferenttheories,whetherinancientorinmoderntimes,may,AdamSmiththinks,bereducedtothree,accordingastheymakeittoconsistinPropriety,Prudence,orBenevolence:orinotherwords,accordingastheyplaceitinthepropergovernmentanddirectionofallouraffectionsequally,whetherselfishorsocial;inthejudiciouspursuitofourownprivateinterestandhappinessbytherightdirectionoftheselfishaffectionsalone;orinthedisinterestedpursuitofthehappinessofothersunderthesoledirectionofthebenevolentaffections。 AdamSmith\'sowntheorydifferedfromallthese,inthatittookaccountofallthesethreedifferentaspectsofvirtuetogether,andgavenoexclusivepreferencetoanyoneofthem。WithPlato,Aristotle,andtheStoics,whomadevirtuetoconsistinproprietyofconduct,orinthesuitablenessofthemotiveofactiontotheobjectwhichexcitesit,orwithsuchmodernsystemsasthoseofLordShaftesburyorClarke,whodefinedvirtueasmaintainingaproperbalanceoftheaffectionsandpassions,orasactingaccordingtotherelationsortothetruthofthings,hesofaragreedastoregardsuchproprietyasconstitutingoneelementinourapprobationofvirtue; buthemaintainedthatthispropriety,thoughanessentialingredientineveryvirtuousaction,wasnotalwaystheonlyone。Proprietycommandedapprobation,andimproprietydisapprobation,buttherewereotherqualitieswhichcommandedahigherdegreeofesteemorblame,andseemedtocallforrewardorpunishmentrespectively。Suchwerebeneficentorviciousactions,inwhichsomethingwasrecognizedbesidesmereproprietyorimpropriety,andraisedfeelingsstrongerthanthoseofmereapprovalordislike,andthatwastheirtendencytoproducegoodorbadresults。Moreover,noneofthesystemswhichplacedvirtueinaproprietyofaffectiongaveanymeasurebywhichthatproprietymightbeascer-tained,norcouldsuchameasurebefoundanywherebutinthesympatheticfeelingsoftheimpartialandwell-informedspectator。 Plato,Aristotle,andtheStoics,onlyregarded,intheiraccountofvirtue,thatpartofitwhichconsistsinproprietyofconduct。AccordingtoPlato,thesoulwascomposedofthreedifferentfacultiesreason,passion,andappetite;andthathigherformofjusticewhichconstitutesperfectvirtuewasnothingmorethanthatstateofmindinwhicheveryfacultyconfineditselftoitspropersphere,withoutencroachinguponthatofanyother,andperformeditsofficewithpreciselythatdegreeofstrengthwhichbelongedtoit。Inotherwords,thisjustice,thelastandgreatestofthecardinalvirtues,andthatwhichcomprehendedalltheothers,meantthatexactandperfectproprietyofconduct,thenatureofwhichhasbeenalreadydiscussed。NearlythesameaccountofvirtuewasgivenbyAristotle,whodefineditasthehabitofmoderationinaccordancewithrightreason; bywhichhemeantarightaffectionofmindtowardsparticularobjects,asinbeingneithertoomuchnortoolittleaffectedbyobjectsoffear。 AndtheStoicssofarcoincidedwithPlatoandAristotleastoplaceperfectvirtue,orrectitudeofconduct,inaproperchoiceorrejectionofdifferentobjectsandcircumstancesaccordingastheywerebynaturerenderedmoreorlesstheobjectsofourdesireoraversion。Inthisproprietyofthemindtowardsexternalthingsconsistedthelifeaccordingtonature,orinotherwords,thevirtuousconductoflife。 Nolessincompletethansystemswhichplacedvirtueinproprietyalonewerethosesystemswhichplaceditinprudence,orinaprudentialregardformerepersonalwelfare。SuchwerethesystemsoftheCyrenaicsandEpicureansinancienttimes,andofwriterslikeHobbesandMandevilleinmoderntimes。 AccordingtoEpicurus,thegoodnessorbadnessofanythingwasultimatelyreferabletoitstendencytoproducebodilypleasureorpain。Thuspowerandrichesweredesirableasgoodthings,fromtheirtendencytoprocurepleasure,whilsttheevilofthecontraryconditionslayintheircloseconnexionwithpain。Honourandreputationwereofvalue,becausetheesteemofotherswasofsomuchimportancetoprocureuspleasureandtodefendusfrompain。Andinthesamewaytheseveralvirtueswerenotdesirablesimplyforthemselves,butonlybyreasonoftheirintimateconnexionwithourgreatestwell-being,easeofbodyandtranquillityofmind。Thustemperancewasnothingbutprudencewithregardtopleasure,thesacrificeofapresentenjoymenttoobtainagreateroneortoavoidagreaterpain。Couragewasnothingbutprudencewithregardtodangerorlabour,notgoodinitself,butonlyasrepellentofsomegreaterevil。Andjusticetoowasnothingbutprudencewithregardtoourneighbours,ameanscalculatedtoprocuretheiresteem,andtoavoidthefearthatwouldflowfromtheirresentment。 AdamSmith\'sfirstreplytothistheoryis,thatwhatevermaybethetendencyoftheseveralvirtuesorvices,thesentimentswhichtheyexciteinothersaretheobjectsofamuchmorepassionatedesireoraversionthanalltheirothercon-sequences;thattobe-amiableandtheproperobjectofesteemisofmorevaluetousthanalltheeaseandsecuritywhichloveoresteemcanprocureus:andthattobeodious,ortheproperobjectofcontempt,orindignationismoredreadfulthanallwecansufferinourbodyfromhatred,contempt,orindignation;andthatthereforeourdesireoftheonecharacterandouraversiontotheothercannotarisefromregardtotheeffectswhicheitherofthemislikelytoproduceonthebody。 Secondly,thereisoneaspectofnaturefromwhichtheEpicureansystemderivesitsplausibility。\"BythewisecontrivanceoftheAuthorofnature,virtueisuponallordinaryoccasions,evenwithregardtothislife,realwisdom,andthesurestandreadiestmeansofobtainingbothsafetyandadvantage。\"Thesuccessorfailureofourundertakingsmustverymuchdependonthegoodorbadopinionentertainedofus,andonthegeneraldispositionofotherstoassistoropposeus。Hencethetendencyofvirtuetopromoteourinterestandofvicetoobstructit,undoubtedlystampsanadditionalbeautyandproprietyupontheone,andafreshdeformityandimproprietyupontheother。Andthustemperance,magnanimity,justiceandbeneficence,cometobeapprovedof,notonlyundertheirpropercharacters,butundertheadditionalcharacterofthemostrealprudenceandthehighestwisdom; whilstthecontraryvicescometobedisapprovedof;notonlyundertheirpropercharacters,butundertheadditionalcharacterofthemostshort-sightedfollyandweakness。Sothattheconducivenessofvirtuetohappinessisonlysecondary,andsotospeakaccidentaltoitscharacter;itisnotitsfirstrecommendationtoourpursuitofit。 Butifthetheorieswhichresolvedvirtueintoproprietyorprudencewerethusone-sided,theremainingtheorythatbestrepresentedbyHutchesonwasnolessso,whichmadevirtuetoconsistsolelyinbenevolence,orinadisinterestedregardtothegoodofothersorthepublicgenerally。SofarindeeddidHutchesoncarrythistheory,thatheevenrejectedasaselfishmotivetovirtuousactionthepleasureofself-approbation,\"thecomfortableapplauseofourownconsciences,\"holdingthatitdiminishedthemeritofanybenevolentaction。Theprincipleofself-lovecouldneverbevirtuousinanydegree,anditwasmerelyinnocent,notgood,whenitledamantoactfromareasonableregardtohisownhappiness。 Severalreasonsseem,indeed,atfirstsight,tojustifytheidentificationofvirtuewithbenevolence。Itisthemostagreeableofalltheaffections。 Itisrecommendedtousbyadoublesympathy,andwefeelittobetheproperobjectofgratitudeandreward。Evenitsweaknessoritsexcessisnotverydisagreeabletous,asistheexcessofeveryotherpassion。 Andasitthrowsapeculiarcharmovereveryactionwhichproceedsfromit,sothewantofitaddsapeculiardeformitytoactionsindicativeofdisregardtothehappinessofothers。Oursensetooofthemeritofanyactionisjustsofarincreasedordiminishedaccordingaswefindthatbenevolencewasorwasnotthemotiveoftheaction。If,forinstance,anactsupposedtoproceedfromgratitudeisfoundtoproceedfromthehopeofsomefreshfavour,allitsmeritisgone;andsoifanactionattributedtoaselfishmotiveisfoundtohavebeenduetoabenevolentone,oursenseofitsmeritisallthemoreenhanced。Andlastly,inalldisputesconcerningtherectitudeofconduct,thepublicgood,orthetendencyofactionstopromotethegeneralwelfare,hasalwaysbeenthestandardofreference,thatbeingaccountedmorallygoodwhichtendstopromotehappiness,andthatbadorwrongwhichtendstothecontraryresult。 ThesereasonsledHutchesontotheconclusion,thatanactwasmeritoriousinproportiontothebenevolenceevidencedbyit;hencethatthevirtueofanactionwasproportionedtotheextentofhappinessittendedtopromote,sothattheleastvirtuousaffectionwasthatwhichaimednofurtherthanatthehappinessofanindividual,asason,abrother,orafriend,whilstthemostvirtuouswasonewhichembracedasitsobjectthehappinessofallintelligentbeings。Theperfectionofvirtueconsistedthereforeindirectingallouractionstopromotethegreatestpossiblegood,andinsubjectingallinferioraffectionstothedesireofthegeneralhappinessofmankind。 ThefirstdefectwhichAdamSmithfindsinthistheoryofhisformerteacheris,thatitfailstoexplainsufficientlyourapprobationoftheinferiorvirtuesofprudence,temperance,constancy,andfirmness。Justasothertheorieserredinregardingsolelytheproprietyorimproprietyofconduct,andindisregardingitsgoodorbadtendency,sothissystemerredbydisregardingaltogetherthesuitablenessofaffectionstotheirexcitingcause,andattendingonlytheirbeneficientorhurtfuleffects。 Inthesecondplace,aselfishmotiveisnotalwaysabadone。Self-lovemayoftenbeavirtuousmotivetoaction。Everymanisbynaturefirstandprincipallyrecommendedtohisowncare;andbecauseheisfittertotakecareofhimselfthanofanyotherperson,itisright。thatheshoulddoso。Regardtoourownprivatehappinessandinterestmayconstituteverylaudablemotivesofaction。Thehabitsofeconomy,industry,discretion,attention,andapplicationofthought,thoughcultivatedfromself-interestedmotives,areneverthelesspraiseworthyqualities,anddeservetheesteemandapprobationofeverybody。Ontheotherhand,carelessnessandwantofeconomyareuniversallydisapprovedof,notasproceedingfromawantofbenevolence,butfromawantofaproperattentiontotheobjectsofself-interest。 Andastothestandardofrightandwrongbeingfrequentlythetendencyofconducttothewelfareordisorderofsociety,itdoesnotfollowthataregardtosocietyshouldbethesolevirtuousmotiveofaction,butonlythatinanycompetitionitoughttocastthebalanceagainstallothermotives。 Itwas,again,ageneraldefectofeachofthethreetheorieswhichdefinedvirtueaspropriety,prudence,orbenevolence,thattheytendedtogiveabiastothemindtosomeprinciplesofactionbeyondtheproportionthatisduetothem。Thustheancientsystems,whichplacedvirtueinpropriety,insistedlittleonthesoftandgentlevirtues,ratherregardingthemasweaknessestobeexpungedfromthebreast,whiletheylaidchiefstressonthegravervirtuesofself-command,fortitude,andcourage。Andthebenevolentsystem,whileencouragingthemildervirtuesinthehighestdegree,wentsofarastodenythenameofvirtuetothemorerespectablequalitiesofthemind,callingthemmerely\"moralabilities,\"unworthyoftheapprobationbestowedonrealvirtue。Neverthelessthegeneraltendencyofeachofthesesystemswastoencouragethebestandmostlaudablehabitsofthemind,anditwerewellforsocietyifmankindregulatedtheirconductbythepreceptsofanyoneofthem。 Thisgeneralgoodtendencyofthesethreetheoriesleadsourauthortoclassifybyitself,andtotreatinadistinctchapter,asystemwhich,hesays,destroysaltogetherthedistinctionbetweenvirtueandvice,andofwhichthetendencyconsequentlyiswhollypernicious,andthatisthesystem,whichhedesignatesastheLicentiousSystem,expoundedbyMandevilleintheFableoftheBees。 AdamSmithconsidersthatthissystem,\"whichoncemadesomuchnoiseintheworldcouldneverhaveimposeduponsogreatanumberofpersons,norhaveoccasionedsogeneralalarmamongthosewhoarethefriendsofbetterprinciples,haditnotinsomerespectsbordereduponthetruth。\" Mandevillesfamousdefinitionofthemoralvirtuesas\"thepoliticaloffspringwhichflatterybegotuponpride,\"wasbasedontheassumptionthatmoralitywasnotnaturaltoman,butwastheinventionofwisemen,who,bygivingthetitleofnobletopersonscapableofself-denialandofpreferringthepublicinteresttotheirown,wonmankindgenerally,throughthissubtleflattery,towhattheychosetodenominatevirtue。 Hencewhatevermendidfromasenseofpropriety,orfromaregardtowhatwaspraiseworthy,theyreallydidfromaloveofpraise,fromprideorvanity。Thisloveofpraisewasoneofthestrongestofmansselfishaffections,andthefoundationoftheloveofhonour。Inconductapparentlythemostdisinterested,thisselfishmotivewaspresent。Ifamansacrificedhisowninteresttothatofhisfellows,heknewthathisconductwouldbeagreeabletotheirself-love,andthattheywouldnotfailtoexpresstheirsatisfactionbybestowingonhimselfthemostextravagantpraises。Thepleasurehewouldderivefromthissourcecounterbalancedtheinterestheabandonedtoprocureit。Henceallpublicspirit,orpreferenceofpublictoprivateinterestwasamerecheatandimpositiononmankind。 Thefallacyofthissystemlies,accordingtoAdamSmith,inasophisticaluseofthewordvanityinitsapplicationtoaremoteaffinitythatprevailsbetweentworeallyverydifferentthings。Todesirepraiseforqualitieswhicharenotpraise-worthyinanydegree,orforqualitiespraiseworthyinthemselvesbutunpossessedbytheindividualconcerned,isvanityproper; butthisfrivolousdesireforpraiseatanypriceisverydifferentfromthedesireofrenderingour-selvestheproperobjectsofhonourandesteem,orofacquiringhonourandesteembyreallydeservingthem。Theaffinitybetweentheseverydifferentdesires,ofwhichMandevillemadesomuchuse,layinthefactthatvanityaswellastheloveoftruegloryaimsatacquiringesteemandapprobation;butthedifferenceconsistsinthis,thatthedesireoftheoneisunjustandridiculous,whilethatoftheotherisjustandreasonable。 Thereisalsoanaffinitybetweentheloveofvirtueandtheloveoftrueglory,whichgivesacertainspeciousnesstoMandeville\'stheory。 Forthereisacloseconnexionbetweenthedesireofbecomingwhatishonourableandestimable,whichistheloveofvirtue,andthedesireofactualhonourandesteem,whichistheloveoftrueglory。Theybothhaveandhereinliestheirsuperficialresemblancetovanitysomereferencetothesentimentsofothers。Evenintheloveofvirtuethereisstillsomereference,ifnottowhatis,yettowhatinreasonandproprietyoughttobe,theopinionofothers。Themanofthegreatestmagnanimity,whodesiresvirtueforitsownsake,andismostindifferentabouttheactualopinionsofmankind,isstilldelightedwiththethoughtsofwhatthoseopinionsoughttobe,andwiththeconsciousnessthatthoughhemayneitherbehonourednorapplauded,heisyettheproperobjectofhonourandapplause。 AnotherfeatureofMandeville\'ssystemwastodenytheexistenceofanyself-denialordisinterestednessinhumanvirtueofanykind。Thuswherevertemperancefellshortofthemostasceticabstinence,hetreateditasgrossluxury;andallourpretensionstoself-denialwerebased,notontheconquest,butontheconcealedindulgence,ofourpassions。 Herethefallacylayinrepresentingeverypassionaswhollyvicious,whichissoinanydegreeandinanydirection。Therearesomeofourpassionswhichhavenoothernamesthanthosewhichmarkthedisagreeableandoffensivedegree,theybeingmoreapttoattractnoticeinthisdegreethaninanyother。Itisnotthereforetodemolishtherealityofsuchavirtueastemperance,toshowthatthesameindulgenceofpleasurewhichwhenunrestrainedisregardedasblameable,isalsopresentwhenthepassionisrestrained。 Thevirtueinsuchcasesconsists,notinanentireinsensibilitytotheobjectsofpassion,butintherestraintofournaturaldesireofthem。 Thesamefallacyunderliesthefamousparadoxthat\"privatevicesarepublicbenefits,\"andthatitisnotthegood,buttheevilqualitiesofmen,whichleadtogreatness。Byusingthewordluxury,asitwasusedinthefashionableasceticismofhistime,asineveryrespectevil,itwaseasyforMandevilletoshowthatfromthisevilalltradeandwealthandprosperityflowed,andthatwithoutitnosocietycouldflourish。\"If;\" AdamSmithreplies,\"theloveofmagnificence,atastefortheelegantartsandimprovementsofhumanlife;forwhateverisagreeableindress,furniture,orequipage;forarchitecture,statuary,painting,andmusic,istoberegardedasluxury,sensuality,andostentation,eveninthosewhosesituationallows,withoutanyinconvenieney,theindulgenceofthosepassions,itiscertainthatluxury,sensuality,andostentationarepublicbenefits。\"Ifeverythingistobereprobatedasluxurywhichexceedswhatisabsolutelynecessaryforthesupportofhumannature,\"thereisviceevenintheuseofacleanshirt,orofaconvenienthabitation。\'Hencethewholepointoftheparadoxrestsonalooseantunscientificuseofthewordluxury。 II。Toturnnowtotheothergreatquestionofethics,tothenatureofmoralapprobation,anditssourceinthemind。 Asthedifferenttheoriesofthenatureofvirtuemayallbereducedtothree,soallthedifferenttheoriesconcerningtheoriginofmoralapprobationmaybereducedtoasimilarnumber。Self-love,reason,andsentiment,arethethreedifferentsourceswhichhavebeenassignedfortheprincipleofmoralapprobation。Accordingtosome,weapproveordisapproveofourownactionsandofthoseofothersfromself-loveonly,orfromsomeviewoftheirtendencytoourownhappinessordisadvantage;accordingtoothers,wedistinguishwhatisfitorunfit,bothinactionsandaffections,byreason,orthesamefacultybywhichwedistinguishtruthfromfalsehood; andaccordingtoyetathirdschool,thedistinctionisaltogethertheeffectofimmediatesentimentandfeeling,arisingfromthepleasureordisgustwithwhichcertainactionsoraffectionsinspireus。 AccordingtoAdamSmith,therewasagainsometruthineachofthesetheories,buttheyeachfellshortofthatcompletenessofexplanationwhichwasthemeritofhisownpeculiarsystem。 Theself-lovetheory,bestexpoundedbyHobbesandMandeville,reducedtheprincipleofapprobationtoaremoteperceptionofthetendencyofconductuponpersonalwell-being;andthemeritofvirtueordemeritofviceconsistedintheirrespectivelyservingtosupportordisturbsociety,thepreservationofwhichwassonecessarytothesecurityofindividualexistence。 Tothisourauthorobjects,thatthisperceptionofthegoodeffectsofvirtueenhancesindeedourappreciationofit,butthatitdoesnotcauseit。Whentheinnumerableadvantagesofacultivatedandsociallifeoverasavageandsolitaryonearedescribed,andthenecessityofvirtuepointedoutforthemaintenanceoftheone,andthetendencyofvicetoreproducetheother,thereaderischarmedwiththenoveltyoftheobservation; \"heseesplainlyanewbeautyinvirtueandanewdeformityinvice,whichhehadnevertakennoticeofbefore;andiscommonlysodelightedwiththediscovery,thatheseldomtakestimetoreflectthatthispoliticalview,havingneveroccurredtohiminhislifebefore,cannotpossiblybethegroundofthatapprobationanddisapprobationwithwhichhehasalwaysbeenaccustomedtoconsiderthosedifferentqualities。\" Intheapplicationoftheself-lovetheorytoourpraiseorblameofactionsorconductinpasttimeasofthevirtueofCatoorofthevillanyofCatilinetherewasonlyanimaginary,notanactual,referencetoself; andinpraisingorblaminginsuchcaseswethoughtofwhatmighthavehappenedtous,hadwelivedinthosetimes,orofwhatmightstillhappentousifinourowntimeswemetwithsuchcharacters。Theideawhichtheauthorsofthistheory\"weregropingabout,butwhichtheywereneverabletounfolddistinctly,wasthatindirectsympathywhichwefeelwiththegratitudeorresentmentofthosewhoreceivedthebenefitorsufferedthedamageresultingfromsuchoppositecharacters。\" Istheprincipleofsympathythenaselfishprinciple?Issympathywiththesorroworindignationofanotheranemotionfoundedonself-love,becauseitarisesfrombringingthecaseofanotherhometooneself;andthenconceivingofone\'sownfeelingsinthesamesituation? Theanswertothisquestionisimportant,andisbestgiverinAdamSmith\'sownwords,ashehimselfadmitsthatthewholeaccountofhumannaturewhichdeducesallsentimentsandaffectionsfromself-love,seemstohavearisen\"fromsomeconfusedmisapprehensionofthesystemofsympathy。\" Hisanswer,whichisasfollows,willperhapsnotbethoughtcompletelysatisfactory:\"Thoughsympathyisveryproperlysaidtoarisefromanimaginarychangeofsituationswiththepersonprincipallyconcerned,yetthisimaginarychangeisnotsupposedtohappentomeinmyownpersonandcharacter,butinthatofthepersonwithwhomIsympathize。WhenI condolewithyouforthelossofyouronlyson,inordertoenterintoyourgriefIdonotconsiderwhatI,apersonofsuchacharacterandprofession,shouldsufferifIhadason,andifthatsonwasunfortunatelytodie; butIconsiderwhatIshouldsufferifIwasreallyyou;andInotonlychangecircumstanceswithyou,butIchangepersonsandcharacters。Mygrief;therefore,isentirelyuponyouraccount,andnotintheleastuponmyown。Itisnot,therefore,intheleastselfish。Howcanthatberegardedasaselfishpassion,whichdoesnotariseevenfromtheimaginationofanythingthathasbefallen,orthatrelatestomyself;inmyownproperpersonorcharacter,butisentirelyoccupiedaboutwhatrelatestoyou?\" Yetifareferencetoselfbethefundamentalfactofsympathy,itwouldseemthatthisisequivalenttomakingareferencetoselfthefoundationofallmoralsentiment;asinHobbes\'explanationofpity,thatitisgriefforthecalamityofanother,arisingfromtheimaginationofthelikecalamitybefallingoneself。AnditisremarkablethatthesamepassageofPolybiuswhichhasbeenthoughttobeananticipationofthetheoryofsympathy,shouldhavealsobeenquotedbyflume,asshowingthatPolybiusreferredalloursentimentsofvirtuetoaselfishorigin。 Nexttothetheorywhichfoundedmoralapprobationinself-love,comesthatwhichfoundeditinreason。ThistheoryoriginatedintheoppositiontothedoctrineofHobbes,whomadethelawsofthecivilmagistratethesoleultimatestandardsofjustandunjust,ofrightandwrongimplyingtheconsequence,thattherewasnonaturaldistinctionbetweenrightandwrong,butthattheywerethearbitrarycreationsoflaw。Cudworthtaught,that,antecedenttoalllaworpositiveinstitution,therewasafacultyofthemindwhichdistinguishedmoralqualitiesinactionsandaffections,andthatthisfacultywasreason;thesamefacultythatdistinguishedtruthfromfalsehood,thusalsodistinguishingrightfromwrong。Itbecamethereforethepopulardoctrine,whenthecontroversywithHobbeswasatitsheight,thattheessenceofvirtueandvicedidnotconsistintheconformityornonconformityofactionswiththelawofasuperior,butintheirconformityornonconformitywithreason;andreasonthuscametobeconsideredastheoriginalsourceofallmoralapprobation。 InthistheoryalsoAdamSmithrecognizessomeelementsoftruth。\"Thatvirtueconsistsinconformitytoreasonistrueinsomerespects;andthisfacultymayveryjustlybeconsideredas,insomesense,thesourceandprincipleofmoralapprobationanddisapprobation,andofallsolidjudgmentsconcerningrightandwrong。\"Inductiontooisoneoftheoperationsofreason,anditisbyinductionandexperiencethatthegeneralrulesofmoralityareformed。Theyareestablishedinductively,fromtheobservationinanumberofparticularcasesofwhatispleasingordispleasingtoourmoralfaculties。Soitisbyreasonthatwediscoverthosegeneralrulesofjusticebywhichweoughttoregulateouractions;andbythesamefacultyweformthosemoreindeterminateideasofwhatisprudent,decent,generous,ornoble,accordingtowhichweendeavourtomodelourconduct。Andasitisbythesegeneralrules,soformedbyaninductionofreason,thatwemostregulateourmoraljudgments,whichwouldbeveryvariableiftheydependedmerelyuponfeelingandsentiment,virtuemaysofarbesaidtoconsistinconformitytoreason,andsofarmayreasonbeconsideredasthesourceofmoralapprobation。 Thisadmission,however,isaverydifferentthingfromthesuppositionthatourfirstperceptionsofrightandwrongcanbederivedfromreason。 Thesefirstperceptions,uponwhichfromanumberofparticularcasesthegeneralrulesofmoralityarefounded,mustbetheobjectofanimmediatesouseandfeeling,notofreason。\"Itisbyfindinginavastvarietyofinstancesthatonetenorofconductconstantlypleasesinacertainmanner,andthatanotherasconstantlydispleasesthemind,thatweformthegeneralrulesofmorality。Butreasoncannotrenderanyparticularobjecteitheragreeableordisagreeabletothemindforitsownsake。Reasonmayshowthatthisobjectisthemeansofobtainingsomeotherwhichisnaturallyeitherpleasingordispleasing,andinthismannermayrenderiteitheragreeableordisagreeableforthesakeofsomethingelse;butnothingcanbeagreeableordisagreeableforitsownsake,whichisnotrenderedsuchbyimmediatesenseandfeeling。Ifvirtue,therefore,ineveryparticularinstance,necessarilypleasesforitsownsake,andifviceascertainlydispleasesthemind,itcannotbereason,butimmediatesenseandfeelingwhichinthismannerreconcilesustotheoneandalienatesusfromtheother。\" Thereremainedthereforethetheorieswhichmadesentimentorfeelingtheoriginalsourceofmoralapprobation;andthebestexpositionofthistheorywasthatgivenbyHutchesoninhisdoctrineoftheMoralSense。 Iftheprincipleofapprobationwasfoundedneitheronself-lovenoronreason,theremustbesomefacultyofapeculiarkind,withwhichthehumanmindwasendowedtoproducetheeffectinquestion。Suchafacultywasthemoralsenseaparticularpowerofperceptionexertedbythemindattheviewofcertainactionsandaffections,bywhichthosethataffectedthemindagreeablywereimmediatelystampedwiththecharactersofright,laudable,andvirtuous,whilethosethataffecteditotherwisewereimmediatelystampedwiththecharactersofwrong,blameable,andvicious。 Thismoralsensewassomewhatanalagoustoourexternalsenses;forasexternalbodies,byaffectingoursensesinacertainway,seemedtopossessthedifferentqualitiesofsound,taste,smell,orcolour,sothevariousaffectionsofthemind,bytouchingthemoralsenseinacertainway,appearedtopossessthedifferentqualitiesofrightorwrong,ofvirtueorofvice。Themoralsensetoowasareflexinternalsense,asdistinctfromadirectinternalsense;thatistosay,astheperceptionofbeautywasareflexsensepresupposingthedirectsensewhichperceivedobjectsandcolours,sotheperceptionofthebeautyordeformityofpassionsandaffectionswasareflexsensepresupposingtheperceptionbyadirectinternalsenseoftheseveralpassionsandaffectionsthemselves。Otherreflexsensesofthesamekindwere,apublicsense,bywhichwesympathizewiththehappinessormiseryofourfellows;asenseofshameandhonour; andasenseofridicule。 Oneconsequenceofthisanalogybetweenthemoralsenseandtheexternalsenses,andaconsequencedrawnbyHutchesonhimself,wasthatourmoralfacultiesthemselvescouldnotbecalledvirtuousorvicious,morallygoodormorallyevil;forthequalitiesofanyobjectofsensecannotbeappliedtothesenseitself。Anobjectmayhavethequalityofblackorwhite,butthesenseofseeingisnotblacknorwhite;andinthesameway,thoughanactionorsentimentmayappeargoodorbad,thequalitiesofgoodnessorbadnesscannotattachtothemoralfacultywhichperceivessuchqualitiesinnature。 AdamSmithobjectstothis,thatwedorecognizesome-thingmorallygoodincorrectmoralsentiments,andthatwedoconsideramanworthyofmoralapprobationwhosepraiseandblamearealwaysaccuratelysuitedtothevalueorworthlessnessofconduct。Ifwesawaman\"shoutingwithadmirationandapplauseatabarbarousandunmeritedexecution,whichsomeinsolenttyranthadordered,\"weshouldbesurelyjustifiedincallingsuchbehaviourvicious,andmorallyevilinthehighestdegree,thoughitexpressednothingbutadepravedstateofthemoralfaculties。Thereisnoperversionofsentimentoraffectionweshouldbemoreaversetoenterinto,orrejectwithgreaterdisapprobation,thanoneofthiskind; andsofarfromregardingsuchastateofmindasmerelystrange,andnotatallviciousorevil,weshouldratherregardit\"astheverylastandmostdreadfulstageofmoraldepravity。\" Norarethedifficultieslessifwefoundtheprincipleofmoralapprobation,notuponanysenseanalogoustotheexternalsenses,butuponsomepeculiarsentiment,intendedforsuchapurpose;ifwesay,forinstance,thatasresentmentmaybecalledasenseofinjuries,orgratitudeasenseofbenefits,soapprobationanddisapprobation,asfeelingsoremotionswhichariseinthemindontheviewofdifferentactionsandcharacters,maybecalledasenseofrightandwrong,oramoralsense。 Forifapprobationanddisapprobationwere,likegratitudeorresentment,anemotionofaparticularkind,distinctfromeveryother,whatevervariationseitherofthemmightundergoweshouldexpectthemtoretainclearlymarkedanddistinguishablegeneralfeatures;justasinallthevariationsoftheemotionofanger,itiseasytodistinguishthesamegeneralfeatures。 Withregardtoapprobationitisotherwise,fortherearenocommonfeaturesrunningthroughallmanifestationsofmoralapproval,orthecontrary。