E-text prepared by papeters, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distributed Proofreading Team
by
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
The present Dissertation falls under two divisions.
The first division, entitled The Theory of Ethics, gives an account ofthe questions or points brought into discussion, and handles at lengththe two of greatest prominence, the Ethical Standard, and the MoralFaculty.
The second division—on The Ethical Systems—is a full detail of allthe systems, ancient and modern, by conjoined Abstract and Summary.With few exceptions, an abstract is made of each author's expositionof his own theory, the fulness being measured by relative importance;while, for better comparing and remembering the several theories, theyare summarized at the end, on a uniform plan.
The connection of Ethics with Psychology is necessarily intimate; theleading ethical controversies involve a reference to mind, and can besettled only by a more thorough understanding of mental processes.
Although the present volume is properly a continuation of the Manualof Psychology and the History of Philosophy, recently published, andcontains occasional references to that treatise, it may still beperused as an independent work on the Ethical Doctrines and Systems.A.B.
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.
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. E