JB/015/223/001

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78

IX
Principle

Principle is a term in frequent use to express moral qualities. A man of
principle – a man of no principle – a man of bad principle. What is the
meaning of the phrase? What is the ground of the estimation in which
the man is held who obtains the benefit of a reputation for acting on principle?
It is that he is supposed to have laid down for himself a certain rule
of conduct, and acts constantly & steadily in conformity to it. This were
indeed well if the his rule of conduct were a good rule – if its end and object be
the general well being – but supposing his rule of conduct to be a bad rule –
that it has not for its object the general well-being. Surely he is entitled to
no approbation. A man is said to act habitually on principle who it unswervingly pursues his own
course notwithstanding all solicitations to the contrary. These solicitations are
temptations administered – in the shape of pleasures to be immediately enjoyed
& pains to be immediately avoided – & undoubtedly he will have learnt to master these solicitations in proportion as he
has proved himself able to forego these pleasures and to suffer these pains. But
if his virtue was virtue will depend resistance be such that the sum of happiness should be is diminished
by his conduct – if his rules are not in conformity with the principl demands of utility
his principle – or in other words his pertinacity will be useful useless or pernicious to the extent in which
he gives effect fails to give adherence to the deontological law.
Accordingly it is by contrast with what him who is called a man of no principle
that a man of principle obtains approbation. A man of no principle is
a man who without regard to consequences allows the solicitations of
present pleasure or the apprehension of present pain, to direct his conduct;
while a man of bad principle is one who has laid down for himself
a rule that the welfare of others shall on no occasion form a part of his
consideration – as for instance when he determines to do mischief to every
man whose opinion on any particular subject differs from his own. In such
a case, those who do not join him in the observance of his rule will
concur in the propriety of affixing to on him the title of a bad principled man.
It is possible however for the man of bad principle to be less pernicious than the
man of no principle – the one will on all occasions make his line
of conduct subservient to his immediate ends – he has no principle to
impede prevent his doing so – the other may have other some good
principle operating at times to correct or counteract the bad principle.
Independently of which the bad principle may frequently be inert from
want of excitement, – or opportunity of exercise, – while the mind
of the man of no principle being open to every impression.

Identifier: | JB/015/223/001 "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	223	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	principle
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f78
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	m 1826
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1826
Notes public		ID Number	5439
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