JB/015/338/001

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Be it understood that in endeavouring to apply the
Deontological Code of morals to the business of life – in seeking
to displace all those Theories which have not happiness for
their end & reason for their instrument – the only wish to be
preceptive is in so far as utility can be called into operation.
To drive out the ipse-dixitism of another, by an ipse-dixitism
of his own is no part of the business of the Deontologist, & with
no ipse-dixitism has he so irreconcilable a quarrel as with
that of asceticism. Other principles may or may not be wrong –
sentimentalism which sometimes leads astray may also
sometimes lead conduct into the paths of benevolence without so wandering
so far from those of prudence as to make that benevolence
pernicious – but the ascetic principle must be wrong –
wrong whenever it is in action. It exclaims as Satan did
"Evil be thou my good" – & turns upside down all the
virtues in endeavouring to shift them from their true
foundation – happiness. In fact asceticism is the
natural growth of a barbarous & superstitious age – it is the
representation of a principle which would despotize over other
men – by making Duty something different from that
to which interest points. The standard of happiness being
in every man's bosom – his pains & pleasures being his own – &
their value best estimated by himself, –it is clear that in
order to obtain authority over him – in order to legislate
not for his interest, but for the interests of the legislator –
some other influence than that of his own tendencies emotions must be
called appealed to. Hence the pretension to set up authority against
reason & experience. Hence the disposition & the determination
to exalt the past at the expense of the present – to laud
up a Golden Age when knowledge was in its cradle as still be signed for – &
to talk of put forward the golden mean as to the true test of virtue.
"Mediocrity" – said the ancients. "Between extremes" re-echo

Identifier: | JB/015/338/001 "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	338	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f13
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[britannia with shield motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5554
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