ADVERTISEMENT.

THIS is the first of six Treatises which collectively I propose to entitle "RUDIMENTS OF THE SCIENCE OF MAN." They will be published in the following order Theory of Morals, Theory of Politics, Theory of Wealth, Theory of Taste, Theory of Knowledge, Theory of Education.

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The peculiarity of these Treatises will consist in an attempt to apply rigorously and systematically to their several subjects the Inductive Method of Investigation, a method which in Physical Science has proved successful beyond expectation ; but which, hitherto, for powerful but temporary reasons, has been very partially employed, and, in consequence, with very small results, upon the yet nobler and more important Science of Man. The daily increasing interest with which that science is regarded, and the great social problems which depend upon it for solution, seem to demand for its several branches a more patient, thorough, comprehensive, experimental investigation, than they have yet received. Such will be the aim of these Treatises. However short of that aim I may fall, I shall at least claim the merit of an earnest, honest, thoughtful, laborious endeavour.

R. H.

BOSTON, April 5th, 1844.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.

OF MORAL DISTINCTIONS IN GENERAL.

CHAPTER I.

MORAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF ACTIONS.

SECTION

1. Importance of Moral Distinctions,

2. Search for their Nature or Law,

3. Platonic Theory of Morals,

4. First Objection to it,

5. Modified Form of that Theory. Second Objection to it,

6. Selfish Theory of Morals,

7. Paradoxes resulting from that Theory,

8. Modifications of it. The Stoics,

9. The Epicureans,

10. The Semi-Stoics,

11. The Semi-Epicureans,

12. Both these Sects compelled to adopt the Idea of a

Future Retribution,

13. True Characteristic of Actions morally right and mor-

ally wrong,

14. Distinctions to be noted,

15. Human Actions the original Subject-matter of Moral

Judgment,

16. Composite Nature of Actions. Event and Motive,

17. Use of the Terms Right and Wrong, Virtuous and

Vicious, Good and Bad,

18. Positive and Negative Actions,

19. Definition of Wrong Actions,

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2

2

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20. Positive and Negative Sense of the Terms Pleasure

and Pain,

21. Definition and Classification of Right Actions,

22. The Classification of Acts externally considered, de-

pendent on their Results,

23. Characteristics of Praiseworthy, Indifferent, and Wrong

Actions, restated, .

24. Proofs of those Characteristics drawn from Moral Codes,

25. They appertain to what are called Duties to Others.

Justice, Benevolence,

26. They appertain to what are called Duties to Ourselves,

27. How Duties to Ourselves affect Others,

28. Application of this Idea to the Case of Imprudence,

29. To the Case of Intemperance in general,

30. To the Case of Gluttony,

31. To the Case of Intoxication,

32. To the Case of Incontinence,

33. To the Case of Economy,

34. Duties to God. Mystic Hypothesis. Its Origin and

Foundation,

35. Origin of Religious Worship,

36. How Acts of Worship acquired the Character of Moral

Duties,

37. Progress of Spiritualism,

38. Mystic Theory of Morals,

39. Amalgamation of the Mystic and Selfish Theories,

40. Theory of Utility, or of Interest well understood,

41. Objections to that Theory,

42. Alleged Law of Human Action on which the Selfish

Theory is founded,

43. Mystic Application of the Doctrine of Selfishness to

the Deity, .

44. Paradox of Self-sacrifice thence resulting,

45. Divergent Schools of Semi-mystic Moralists to which

that Paradox gives rise,

46. Examination of the Selfish Theory,

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33

33

34

47. Corrected Statement of the Law of Human Action,

48. Scholastic Notion of Happiness inconsistent with Facts,

49. True Sense of the Word Happiness as descriptive of

what is attainable,

35

50. Necessary Connexion between Perception and Emotion, 36

51. List of simple, original Emotions,

52. Classification of Motives,

53. Law of their joint Operation,

54. Hopes and Fears, their Influence upon Action,

55. General Direction of human Action,

56. Pleasures and Pains of Activity. Their Agency. Wea-

riness, Ennui,

57. Difference in this Respect between the Child and the

Man, the Savage and the Civilized, the Educated and

the Uneducated,

58. Sentiment of Benevolence. Love, Humanity,

59. Classification of Actions as Disinterested and Selfish,

60. Ambiguous Use of the Term Self-interest,

61. Sentiment of Benevolence the Source of Moral Distinc-

tions,

62. Difference between Good and Evil in general, and Mor-

al Good and Evil,

.

68. Self-sacrificing Theory of Morals,

69. Paradoxes to which that Theory leads,

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63. Reasons of the superior Rank assigned to Emotions of

Benevolence, .

71. Moral Estimate of Actions (looking to the Event) which

produce complex Results,

72. Moral Classification of Actions (looking to the Motive),

as Meritorious, Obligatory, Indifferent, Permissible, and

Criminal,

73. Considerations which determine this Classification stat-

ed in five Propositions,

74. Conclusions which will follow the Establishment of

these Propositions,

47

64. Plausibility thence resulting to the Selfish Theory,

47

65. Reason why many benevolent Men adopted that Theory, 48
66. Service they have rendered to practical Morals,

48

67. Selfish Defenders of Disinterestedness,

49

50

51

70. Required Modifications of the Disinterested Theory of

Morals,

54