The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings

SECTION I.. Nature and Importance of the Science of the

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE SCIENCE OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.

Division of the Mental Powers into Intellectual and Moral 1

Harmony which ought to exist between these classes 3

Causes by which this harmony is interrupted,--and means of counteracting them 3

Interest of the science of the Moral Feelings 5

Peculiar sources of Knowledge bearing upon it, from the light of Conscience, and of Divine Revelation 7

SECTION II.. First Truths in the Science of the Moral

FIRST TRUTHS IN THE SCIENCE OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.

Analogy between First Truths, or Intuitive Principles of Belief, in Intellectual, and in Moral Science 11

Classification of First Truths in Moral Science, as impressions arising out of each other, by an obvious chain of relations 16

1. Perception of the nature and quality of actions, as just or unjust,--right or wrong;--and a conviction of duties which a man owes to other men.

2. Conviction of the existence and attributes of a Great First Cause, and Moral Governor.

3. Conviction of Moral Responsibility.

4. Impression of Future Existence.

Importance of these convictions, as intuitive articles of belief 18

* * * * *

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.

Analysis of Man as a Moral Being 27

I. THE DESIRES--THE AFFECTIONS--and SELF-LOVE.

II. THE WILL.

III. THE MORAL PRINCIPLE, or CONSCIENCE.

IV. THE MORAL RELATION OF MAN TOWARDS THE DEITY.

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PART I.. The Desires--the Affections--and Self-Love.

THE DESIRES--THE AFFECTIONS--AND SELF-LOVE.

SECTION I.

THE DESIRES 36

1. Desire of the Animal Propensities 37

2. Desire of Wealth--Avarice 38

3. Desire of Power--Ambition 39

4. Desire of Superiority--Emulation 40

5. Desire of Society 41

6. Desire of Esteem or Approbation 42

7. Desire of Knowledge 46

8. Desire of Moral Improvement 47

-- Desire of Action 49

Importance of a Due Regulation of the Desires 50

SECTION II.

THE AFFECTIONS 53

I. JUSTICE 55

1. Justice to the Interests of others--Integrity 59

2. Justice to the Freedom of Action of others 59

3. Justice to the Reputation of others 60

4. Justice in estimating the Conduct and Character of others 61

5. Justice to the Opinions of others--Candour 62

6. Justice to the Feelings of others 63

7. Justice to the Moral Condition of others 64

II. COMPASSION AND BENEVOLENCE 66

1. Benevolence towards the Distresses of others 69

2. Benevolence towards the Reputation of others 70

3. Benevolence towards the Character and Conduct of others,--including Forgiveness of Injuries 71

4. Benevolence towards the Feelings of others 71

5. Benevolence towards improving the Moral Condition of others 73

III. VERACITY 74

1. The Love of Truth, in the Reception of it 76

2. Veracity in delivering statements,--including Sincerity 78

3. Truth of Purpose, or Correct fulfilment of Promises 82

IV. FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND GRATITUDE 83

V. PATRIOTISM 84

THE DOMESTIC AFFECTIONS 85

THE DEFENSIVE AFFECTIONS, ANGER, JEALOUSY, RESENTMENT 89

Important Influence produced upon the Exercise of the Affections,

By Attention 92

By Habit 97

Feeling of Moral Approbation attached to the Exercise of the Affections 100

Happiness arising from a due Exercise of the Affections;--Influence of Temper 106

SECTION III.

SELF-LOVE 110

Sense in which the term is employed 111

Tendency of a true and Rational Self-love 111

Morbid Exercise of it,--Selfishness 116

Disinterested Conduct and Self-denial 117

* * * * *

PART II.

OF THE WILL 119

Simple Volition, its Origin from one of the Desires or Affections 119

Operation of Moral Causes on the Will 120

Nature of these Causes, and Source of the Diversity of their operation in different individuals 123

Circumstances required for the Uniformity of their Operation:--

1. Knowledge 128

Truths of Natural and Revealed Religion.

2. Attention 132

Its influence on Moral Decisions.

3. Moral Habits 137

Origin and Progress of Derangement of Moral Harmony.

Influence of Habits upon Character 142

Means of Correcting Injurious Moral Habits 143

Practical Conclusions from these Principles. Important Influence of Moral Habits 145

Necessity and Probability of Divine Aid in correcting Moral Derangement 149

Influence of the Mental operation called Faith 152

* * * * *

PART III.

OF THE MORAL PRINCIPLE, OR CONSCIENCE 155

Proofs of the Existence of Conscience as a Distinct Principle of the mind 156

Nature of its Operation as the Regulating Principle 157

Analogy between it and Reason 158

Its Influence in conveying an Impression of the Moral Attributes of the Deity 163

Knowledge derived from this Source 164

Comparison of the Divine Attributes with the Actual State of Man 167

Difficulties arising from this Comparison removed only by the Christian Revelation 169

Mental Process by which the Regulating Power of Conscience is Impaired or Lost 172

Influence of this Condition upon the Judgment in regard to Moral Truth 176

Influence of Attention in Moral Decisions 179

Man's responsibility for his belief 182 Important relation between Moral Emotions and voluntary Intellectual Processes 183

APPENDIX TO PART III.

Sec. 1.--OF THE ORIGIN AND IMMUTABILITY OF MORAL DISTINCTIONS AND THEORIES OF MORALS 190

Origin of Our Idea of Virtue and Vice 193

System of Mandeville 195

System of Clarke and Wollaston 197

System of Utility 198

Selfish System 199

System of Paley 201

Defect of these Systems in not acknowledging the Supreme Authority of Conscience 206

Objections to the belief of a uniformity of Moral Feeling which have been founded on the practices of barbarous nations 216

System of Dr. Smith, or Theory of Sympathy 219

Province of Reason in Moral Decisions 222

Remarks on the Observations of some late Writers respecting the Corruption of Conscience 227

Sec. 2.--OF THE HARMONY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS 231

Consistency of Character arising from this Harmony,--and Defects of Character to which it is opposed 237

* * * * *

PART IV.. Of the Moral Relation of Man

OF THE MORAL RELATION OF MAN TOWARDS THE DEITY 243

View of the Divine Character in reference to this Regulation 244

Regulation of the Moral Feelings which ought to arise out of it 245

1. Habitual effort to cultivate a Sense of the Divine Presence, and to regulate the Moral Feelings and Character by it 245

2. Submission to the appointments of Providence 252

3. Sense of Moral Imperfection and Guilt, and Supplication for Mercy, with Reliance on Divine Aid 254

4. Sense of Gratitude, Affection, and Love 255

Conduct and Character arising out of this Condition of the Moral Feelings 256

Means of Cultivating it 262

Nature and Operation of Faith 264

Province of Faith in the Philosophy of the Moral Feelings 269

Truths which are its more Immediate Object 273

Its Influence on the Moral Condition 276

Province of Faith in the Scheme of Christianity 282

Certain Errors regarding Faith 287

Harmony of Christian Truth with the Philosophy of the Moral Feelings 290

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

SECT. I.

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE SCIENCE OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.

Man is to be contemplated as an intellectual, and as a moral being. By his intellectual powers, he acquires the knowledge of facts, observes their connexions, and traces the conclusions which arise out of them. These mental operations, however, even in a high state of cultivation, may be directed entirely to truths of an extrinsic kind,--that is, to such as do not exert any influence either on the moral condition of the individual, or on his relations to other sentient beings. They may exist in an eminent degree in the man who lives only for himself, and feels little beyond the personal wants, or the selfish enjoyments of the hour that is passing over him.

But, when we contemplate man as a moral being, new relations open on our view, and these are of mightier import. We find him occupying a place in a great system of moral government, in which he has an important station to fill and high duties to perform. We find him placed in certain relations to a great moral Governor, who presides over this system of things, and to a future state of being for which the present scene is intended to prepare him. We find him possessed of powers which qualify him to feel these relations, and of principles calculated to guide him through the solemn responsibilities which attend his state of moral discipline.

These two parts of his mental constitution we perceive to be remarkably distinct from each other. The former may be in vigorous exercise in him who has little feeling of his moral condition,--and the latter may be in a high state of culture in the man, who, in point of intellectual acquirement, knows little beyond the truths which it most concerns him to know,--those great but simple principles which guide his conduct as a responsible being.

In a well-regulated mind, there is an intimate harmony and co-operation between these two departments of the mental economy. Knowledge, received through the powers of sensation and simple intellect, whether relating to external things, or to mental phenomena,--and conclusions derived from these through the powers of reasoning, ought all to contribute to that which is the highest state of man,--his purity as a moral being. They ought all to lend their aid towards the cultivation of those principles of his nature which bind him to his fellow-men;--and those higher principles still, which raise his feeble powers to the Eternal Incomprehensible One, the first great cause of all things, and the moral Governor of the universe.

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