THEORY OF MORALS. PART FIRST. OF MORAL DISTINCTIONS IN GENERAL. CHAPTER I. MORAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF ACTIONS. 1. THE distinction between actions morally good and morally bad, morally Right and morally Wrong, and therefore worthy of approval or worthy of blame, perpetually exercises a powerful influence over the judgments and the conduct of men. 2. To discover the nature, in other words, the origin or cause of this distinction, or, more correctly, the Law according to which it takes place, has been, and still is, an object of anxious inquiry among philosophers; for no theory satisfactory in all respects has yet been proposed. 3. It is held by one class of moralists, that there is an original, eternal, absolute difference, independent of the peculiar constitution of man, between Right and Wrong; and men have been supposed to be endowed with an innate faculty of perceiving that difference, just as through the eye, the touch, and the palate, they discern the difference between black and white, straight and crooked, hard and soft, sweet 5. Cases in which Deception is esteemed permissible, 7. Decisions of some Mystic Moralists upon these Points, 166 167 167 167 168 168 10. Detestation of Falsehood not chiefly dependent on the Moral Sentiment, 169 11. Moral Character of simple Falsehood, 169 12. Pain of Inferiority the chief Security for Truth, 13. Slander, Judicial Falsehood, Fraud, 3. This View leads to Theocratic Despotism, 4. Doctrine of the Divine Right of Governors, 173 174 5. This Doctrine equally applicable to all Forms of Gov 6. History of the Doctrine of the Divine Right of Princes 178 7. Doctrine of the Indefeasible Right of Princes. Theory 8. Theory of Locke and the English Whigs, 9. Doctrine of Natural Rights, 10. Paradoxes to which that Doctrine has led, 180 182 182 183 11. Duties of good Citizenship. Patriotism, Public Spirit, 185 CHAPTER V. OF THE UNEQUAL BURDEN OF DUTY IMPOSED ON WOMEN, AND HEREIN OF CHASTITY. 1. Opinion of the Inferiority of Women, 186 2. Position of the Wife in Savage Communities. Polygamy, 186 3. Origin of Harems, and Female Seclusion, 187 5. Distinction between Wives and Concubines, 6. Substitution of Monogamy for Polygamy. Its Causes 7. Position of Women among the Romans, and in Modern 188 188 189 190 191 193 10. Grounds of this Distinction, as regards Women, 11. As regards Men, 12. Grounds of the Severity exercised towards Women for Breaches of Chastity, 198 13. Failure of this Severity to accomplish its Object. True Means of promoting Chastity, . 15. Grounds of the Liberty allowed to Married Women in such Communities, 202 16. That Liberty not extended to the Unmarried, and why, 204 17. Position of Women in the Northern States of America. Societies for Moral Reform, . 6. Disciples of this Doctrine in all Ages and Countries, 211 211 8. Mystic Doctrines on the Subject of Chastity, 9. War of the Poets against the Ascetics, 212 214 10. Superior Justice towards Women, of Ascetic-mystic Morals, 214 CHAPTER VII. MUTUAL DUTIES OF RELATIVES, FRIENDS, INFERIORS, SUPERIORS, ENEMIES, AND STRANGERS. 1. Parents and Children, 215 2. Why the Tie of Blood appears less strong in Civilized Communities, 216 3. Other Effects of an enlarged Sphere of the Sentiment of Benevolence, 217 4. Duties of Friendship. Their Origin, 217 5. Breaches of the Duty of Friendship, esteemed more criminal than Breaches of the Duty of Love, and why, 218 6. Duties to Superiors, 7. Respect due from the Young to the Old, 220 220 8. Grounds and Measure of the Respect due to those above 9. Gallantry towards Women. Its Origin and Extent, 10. Duties of Superiors to Inferiors, 11. Remarkable Difference between Codes of Law and Codes of Morals as to the Extent of the Right of Property, 12. Duty of Munificence, or Liberality, 221 221 222 222 17. Duty to Enemies. Forgiveness, Candor, or Charity in 18. Right of making War. Practicability of its Extinguish |