JB/058/115/001

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30 April 1805
Evidence

§. Subordinate ends – Compliance with arbitrary maxims
the propriety of which being imaginary undemonstrable is gratuitously assumed.

As the legitimate end has its subordinate ends – as the
general propositions expressive descriptive of the general end, have include in their
embrace the particular propositions expressive of the several correspondent particular
ends – so have has the sinister general end so is it with the sinister end.

The sinister end has for its immediate subordinates, the
several particular ends objects consisting in the observance of a countless
multitude of maxims, which after having been made by the hands
are the so many objects of the idolatry of the man of law.

Of Those maxims had they any real value, had they any
worth in them when weighed on the scale of utility, the value would
consist in this – viz: that the arrangements presented recommended by them were
in some assignable way or other, subservient to the ends of justice.
But when examined in that view, as such subserviency in
them can be found. What then is to be done? What is wanting
to them in the way of support in point of reason and utility must be made
up in prejudice. Accordingly their excellency is to be assumed:
and being assumed boldly is to be proclaimed trumpeted clamorously upon
all favourable occasions. All attempts – the very idea of
enquiring will then – of bringing them to the test
of reason and utility is by every imaginable contrivance to be discountenanced. They are good are current
exist: therefore they are good: they have existed been carried for the long a length of
time: therefore they are still better: they the age in which they began
to be current was in comparison of the present a dark and barbarous
age: – they are be it so: they are but so much the fitter for setting the law to present times.
By any standing age, falshood rejoins if not into truth, into something
better: maxims rejoins, if not into sense, into something more
useful and respectable.

The science of ipse dixits.

Identifier: | JB/058/115/001"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 58.
Date_1	1805-04-30	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	058	Main Headings	evidence
Folio number	115	Info in main headings field	evidence
Image	001	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	d1
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	18784
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