JB/015/370/001

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45

7 Magnanimity, a word which for popular use might be
conveniently translated into great-mindedness. It conveys an undefined
idea of intellectual superiority prompting beneficent action conduct
of forbearance or of action, – such as on ordinary occasions could
not be expected of ordinary men. But magnanimous acts &
virtuous acts are by no means synonymous, – neither are
pusillanimous & vicious acts. Suppose a man by sacrifice to
have done that which adds to his ultimate stock of happiness
while it interferes not, or also increases the happiness of no other men. Will
the calling vituperating his conduct with the charges of pusillanimity make it other than wise
& virtuous. Let a man have performed a deed by which he
has made inflicted misery on himself or others miserable or both. Will any pompous
ejaculations to the honor & glory of his magnanimity have made make
the deed any other than one of wickedness or folly? The Such two
edged instruments, which as at one moment do good service to the
cause of morals, – & the next inflict on that cause the deadliest
wounds – are not as should be hung up in the armoury of
Deontology to be employed very rarely, – always cautiously employed – & never without the
recollection that they cut both ways.

To estimate the quantity of virtue in an action
claiming to be magnanimous all in the peculiar physical
organization of the actor must be taken into the account in
order to estimate the amount of sacrifice & of consequent effort
made by the actor. Then comes the question has the action
been more injurious to himself than useful to others? Has it been
more injurious to others than useful to himself? In the first place
the magnanimous action was imprudent – in the second it was
maleficent. In neither was it virtuous. The result of the
magnanimous action, has it been the diminution of human
happiness? If so there is nothing fr to save it from being
dragged forth by the Deontologist from the territory of virtue into which it has intruded – exposed
as an impostor – & flung into the realms of immorality.

Identifier: | JB/015/370/001 "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	370	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f45
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[britannia with shield emblem]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5586
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