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132

Though Hume has brought forward his virtues in a strangely disassociated &
disjointed state, it will be perhaps most convenient to take them in the disorder
in which he leaves them. No classification of them will make what is not virtue
virtue – & such virtue as is really in them will be found marshalled under the
appropriate heads to which the virtue belongs.

Sociability. It is a disposition to seek the society of others. It is good or
bad. – virtuous or vicious – according to the purpose & the conduct of
the social man. It has only so much of virtue in it, as it has of benevolence
– & if it be combined with benevolence, it becomes friendliness – friendliness
which stands in Hume's list as a distinct virtue. A disposition to avoid maleficence
is generally a concomitant part of the social character, – & thus far
it is in accordance with the laws of negative effective benevolence.
But the sociability may be accompanied & is so not unfrequently
particularly where exercised towards persons of different conditions with
tyranny – or maleficence – it has the wit for one of its instruments, – wit
of a pain-giving – or pleasure-destroying character. Sociability may be
used for the purposes of insolence – of which many examples may are to be
found in the writings of Cicero.† <note>† "I was not thirteen" said Mr Bentham on one occasion to the writer "when the abominations – the in of Cicero shocked me /note> It may ally itself with scorn as
it did in the case of Burke, – so that a man hunting over the field of sociability for morality, –
or happiness will may find neither. Sociability then – standing alone – says nothing
for good or evil. It may represent self regard in a very offensive shape –&
become an instrument of self-eulogium for evil producing qualities. It may
be the companion associate of fraud & rapine – & lend the fascinations of
its presence to every project of folly & vice & crime.

Identifier: | JB/015/283/001"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	283	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f132
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	5499
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