JB/015/380/001

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55

But In order for Utility to be the ground of approbation for a species
of action, it is not necessary that every one who approves it should
have perceived discovered or be able to explain its utility, or every one who disapproves an act have
perceived its mischievousness, – or be competent to point it out to others. One man perceives its mischievousness
he disapproves of it – he expresses his disapprobation – he is
⊞ ..... looked to as an authority; he says it is bad – it is wrong – it is
wrong it is mischievous – nobody has any motive to approve it+ + that is in others
Men take him at his word. A general opinion prevails that the
action is bad – fit to be disapproved. It is generally disapproved.
The disapprobation against the act thus established, a person has
occasion to consider whether he shall do it or not – he concludes not –
Why? It occurs to him that it is disapproved – to do an action
that is disapproved draws on him the ill will of the persons who disapprove
of it – tis therefore that he abstains from doing it. Is it
because he perceives it is mischievous? – No – He never thinks whether
it is mischievous or no – he has no occasion to look so far – he does not
look so far – if he did look so far as to see whether there were mischief
or no in it perhaps he might not find it of himself. It was general
disapprobation of the act and not a sense of its mischievousness that
was the ground of his disapprobation. But what was the ground
of that general disapprobation of it? Particular experience of its mischievousness.

The mischievousness of the act, even if recognised, would not be the
immediate cause of his conduct – the immediate cause, i.e. his motive
would be the idea of pleasure and pain+ + danger as about to arise from it: i.e.
the pain he might incur in consequence of the ill will of men which
would arise upon his committing an act marked with their disapprobation.

Every thing concurs to make this train of reasoning habitual; so habitual
and so rapid as to assume the guise of instinct it is a lesson we are
learning almost every moment of our lives. Need we wonder at its being our being
ready at it familiar with it – when we see what practice will do in the operation of the
most difficult arts? p.48.

Identifier: | JB/015/380/001 "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	380	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f55
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	i m & co 1831
Marginals		Paper Producer	john flowerdew colls; richard doane
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1831
Notes public		ID Number	5596
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