JB/015/334/001

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9

But it may be said – 'Your principle of utility –
is useless – it will not excite to virtuous action – it will not restrain
from vicious'. If it will not, there is no help for it – no other
principle will stand in its stead – no other principle has so many
elements for encouragement to good & discouragement to evil.
Will clamoring about ought & ought not – that perpetual
petitio principii – will pronouncing the words – bonum – honestum
utile – decorum, do more? What motives can be furnished by any
other system – what motives which are not borrowed from this?
Men may wear out the air with sonorous & unmeaning words
– those words will not act upon the mind – nothing will act
upon it but the apprehensions of pleasure & pain.

If indeed there could be conceived such a thing as
virtue which would contribute nothing to the happiness of mankind, or
Vice which should contribute nothing to its misery, what possible motive
could there be for embracing the one & avoiding the other? From man there
could be none, as by the supposition he is uninterested in the matter
– from God there can be none, – a being all sufficient & all benevolent
who himself placed beyond the reach of the effects of human actions, – must
estimate them only by their efforts result, – & whose benevolence can have no
be conceivable object but that very happiness for which sound morality strives for.

Stand up untremblingly then, & avow that what is called
the Duty to oneself is but prudence – & what is called duty to others is
effective benevolence , & that all other Duties & virtues are resolvable
into these. For that God willeth the happiness of his creatures is
indisputable, & has made it impossible that they should not endeavour
to obtain it. To this end he has given them every faculty they possess
& to no other end.

Identifier: | JB/015/334/001 "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	334	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f9
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	1831
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1831
Notes public		ID Number	5550
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