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But to be a little more particular.
The influence of an act upon others whose happiness is affected by it may but
be fitly considered with reference to a the particular case. Supposed It is assumed that a man by a blow to
inflicts corporal injury upon another. He who gives the blow has in the first
place to apprehend retaliation in the shape of the same or similar personal
injury. This apprehension is the physical sanction. The political or legal sanction
the risk of the interference of the magistrate may & probably will apply here, tho' that cab interference can in fact be safely grounded on
no other principle than that on which Deontology itself rests – namely the greatest
happiness principle. But whether or not the political or the physical
sanction are called into operation exertion, the moral sanction will at all events
be called put into exertion operation. For as experience & observation have taught that
such deeds of violence are the sources of suffering, disapprobation will have place depending
for its amount on the degree of suffering inflicted. will have Nor can the
sympathetic or social sanction be without its effect – for though in the rude states of
society that sanction may be so weak as to produce no restraint – & tho' in
every state of society it is susceptible of great variation as between individual
& individual – in a period of civilization like that to which these thoughts are
addressed the social sanction becomes highly operative – & it will be operative
in cases where the more general moral sanction may sometimes fail of its
effect. He who would show indifference to the happiness of those with whom
he is wholly unconnected would might be less disposed to show indifference to
that of his friends or family on whom he more immediately depends for his own happiness. As far as it exists, tho' spread over a narrower
field the sympathetic sanction must be at stronger than the moral. For
as few persons can contemplate altogether without uneasiness the sufferings of a fellow creature especially if
presented in a particular manner to their perception or imagination as
the moralist proposes to present it still less can they witness with indifference
those of a friend. Insert ⊞ This sympathy then will operate as a restraint against
the giving pain – it will always operate except where some stronger
counter-motive acts in a contrary direction. And like the other all these sanctions
act with increasing accumulating power – for as the mind of individual of man if looked at from
generation to generation will be found increasing in strength & steadiness –
in the knowledge of, & the command over its several faculties – & in
the body amount of observation & experience which it accumulates
for its own use & guidance, so it may reasonably be expected that the
several sanctions which are associated with the universal mind will obtain more & more of their fit development.
And so with the species. There is a period in which the self-regarding
principle is the only one in very active operation – it occupies the whole sphere
of mind – & its scarcely going beyond the mere physical sanction – & conduct is
little more than a grasping at immediate pleasure enjoyment without any calculation
of remote happiness or unhappiness. This is the mere sensual state – & rest in in close association with
idea which come the irascible
or dissocial affections )as they are called by Aristotle) & which though so
distinct in character they operate towards the same end. The sensual affections
are checked by the operation of the irascible in the excited in those among whom
the sensual seek their gratification – the fear of retaliation & retribution, as
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Identifier: | JB/015/249/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
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sir john bowring |
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