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XVII XIX False Virtues

Contempt for riches. Socrates contempt for riches was more affectation and
pride, just as monsterous as it would have been to be him have remained standing for a long time on one
leg for It was only denying to himself the doing the good which virtue
would have enabled him to do. The desire of wealth is the desire in a a queer form to possess what wealth can obtain. To again his denying himself assistance
from others, was entry to a mess self regarding calculation, – it was only to
excite thru self esteem for other purposes, – it was a calculation to receive
more than he would otherwise obtain – it was a refusal of £100 in
order to get £200.

To Epictetus – he had more pleasure in pride than in benevolence – He
paid himself out of the testimonies of with which he was surrounded – He
calculated on getting more from self-denial than he would get without it
But he was less meritorious than the Oriental Fakers who suffer more
than he. His conduct was that of the Miser who stored his wealth that
on any future occasion he may command what he pleases by the
use of that instrument of power. He pays himself with the pleasures
of imagination, which are greater to him than those of actual fruition.
Misers as they grow older have less sense of present enjoyment, and
become therefore more & more disposed to avarice, – which is an
anticipation of a future reward.

Love of Action Jevens – Love of action without an object is nothing – it has
in it neither vice nor virtue. Such part of it as proceeds from the
will & is directed to the production of happiness is virtuous – such part as
is intellectual is neutral – & such part of it as when it is the act of the will & is directed to the production
of evil it is vicious.

Attention. It is the quality which distinguishes the botanist who carefully
gathers the flower from the clown who tramples it under its feet. Fixed
attention
Jevens ha been lately brought forward as a virtue & a pretty virtue it
so that if I purpose to murder a man & fix my attention upon it –
that is a virtue.

Enterprize has also been honoured with the title of virtue. Jevens Enterprize which may
be as as bad as bad as vic vice as any in the calendar – And dispatch has reached
the same laudatory elevation. Jevens – Dispatch is the employment of the least
quantity of time sufficient for the attainment of an deed object. It is quickness without
precipitation. It is a prudent means – which may be used for an end either
good or evil.

But having established a general rule – which every one may apply
for himself to the estimate of those qualities of which he desires to from a judgment – having shown that unless they can be brought classed under the
heads of prudence & effectual benevolence they are not virtues, – that only such
parts of them are virtues as can be so classed, – it is scarcely needful to
pursue the subject farther.



Identifier: | JB/015/309/001
"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

309

Info in main headings field

Image

001

Titles

xvii false virtues

Category

linking material

Number of Pages

1

Recto/Verso

recto

Page Numbering

f158

Penner

sir john bowring

Watermarks

j & m mills 1828

Marginals

Paper Producer

john fraunceis gwyn

Corrections

Paper Produced in Year

1828

Notes public

ID Number

5525

Box Contents

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