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49

Chapter VI
End of Action

If the the balance of pleasure be really the intense, constant & sole object of
pursuit – if it must always continue to be so from the very constitution of
our natures – if there is no occasion in which it ceases to be so – for what object
may it not be asked, for what end is this or any other discourse for
the subject of Ethics? Why is instruction wanted Why urge a man to pursue
that which he is always occupied in pursuing?

But the position is denied – for where, if the position be true, where
cries an objector, where is sympathy? where is benevolence? where is beneficence?
Answer exactly where they were.

To deny the existence of the social affections would be to deny
the evidence of all experience. Scarcely in the most brutal savage would
they be found altogether wanting.

But the pleasure I feel in bestowing pleasure on my friend,
whose pleasure is it but mine? The pain I feel at witnessing seeing my
friend when oppressed by pain, whose pain is it but mine? And if I
felt no pleasure, – or felt no pain, – where, where would be my sympathy?

Why, it is asked again waste time in enforcing conduct
which every man on every occasion adopts for himself namely the pursuit of good.

Because consideration will give a enable him more correctly to
estimate what conduct will leave the greatest results of good – for tho' under
immediate impressions he might be disposed to pursue a particular course
for the purpose of securing his well being, – a calmer, – a more comprehensive
view might show him that the course would not on the whole be the best &
wisest – because he would sometimes discover that the nearer good, – would
be outweighed by remoter but associated evil – or that a greater pleasure
might be obtained in time to come for a lesser pleasure abandoned now.

Because, it might happen that the act which promises
the present pleasure, might prove prejudicial to others in the society to which you belong – & they having
sustained injury at your hands would were it only under the one prompted by self-preservation alone
seek to avenge themselves by the infliction of pain equal or greater in
amount than the pleasure enjoyed.

And again, – the act under contemplation might
possibly be productive of displeasure in the breasts of the community at large
& the loss of their good opinion consequent thereon on the act outweigh in value the
pleasure it produced.

Yet it may be said – A man's well being ought not to be the of
his pursuit. This ought, like other oughts is a mere covering for despotic,
unsupported assertion – & only means that the objector thinks a man's well being
ought not to occupy his attention. The argument is just where it was – &
all the stronger if nothing can be brought upon it but dogmatical assumption.
It is at best only the declaration of an opinion, – & a declaration without
a reason, – leaves matters pretty much as it found them.

Identifier: | JB/015/187/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	187	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	chapter vi end of action
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f49
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5403
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