JB/015/247/001

Click Here To Edit

99

XII
Prudence as regard respects others, or Extra-regarding prudence

Though it belongs to Government to give increase & extension to the connection
which exists between prudence & beneficence effective benevolence wherever the political sanction
will apply – it is the duty of the public teacher of morality to point
out their accordance, – and to add give to that co-incidence accordance all the action
and effect of which it is susceptible through his influence.

It is, however in in to public opinion, or in other words to the
popular or moral sanction, that we must mainly look for the action
of the social on the selfish self-regarding feelings. Of the tribunal of public opinion every
individual of the community of the may be a member – every one who
gives to his estimate of the conduct of others any expression by words or
deeds is an acting member, – & every man who takes upon himself to write is
a leading member. His influence will be proportioned to the approbation
he receives from his readers & the strength of the impression he conveys to their
minds, – & again on the number & influence of such readers. In To their concurrence
& co-operation he must turn for the measures of his own success.

A man is prompted by ill will to aims a blow at another. His
ill-will may be restrained by the apprehension that the blow will be returned
by the person at whom it is aimed, or by a third party sympathizing with
him on the ground of pain produced or injury done – His or he may be restrained
by the apprehension of legal punishment. In one case the physical – in
the other the political sanction is operative – & there is in neither any
demand for the application of the deontological principle. But where
these fail – where they provide no adequate remedy, – come the popular
& the social sanctions – to fill up that portion of the field of action
which is unoccupied by other motives. These two sanctions are
intimately & closely allied – for the social relations stretch naturally &
necessarily into the whole frame of society. By some social link more or less
efficient almost every man is bound to the great body of the public. The circle
widens – the intimacy strengthens as society becomes more & more intelligent.
The interest in a family extends to a tribe, from a tribe to a province –
from a province to a nation – from a nation to mankind. And as
political & deontological science become better understood the dependence of
every man upon the good opinion of all besides is will be increased, &
the moral sanction grows stronger & stronger. Its strength too will be
greatly heightened by a more correct estimate appreciation of its own power, –so that
a period may be anticipated in which the public mind will not err in
its estimate of duty, – & when the moral will supersede a portion of the
political sanction.

Identifier: | JB/015/247/001 "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	247	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles	prudence as respects others, or other-regarding prudence
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f99
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5463
Box Contents