Theory of Morals: An Inquiry Concerning the Law of Moral Distinctions and the Variations and Contradictions of Ethical Codes

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C. C. Little & J. Brown, 1844 - Literary Criticism - 272 pages

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Contents

They appertain to what are called Duties to Ourselves
26
Government originates in
27
To the Case of Incontinence
32
Hopes and Fears their Influence upon Action
36
Mystic Theory of Morals
38
Pleasures and Pains of Activity Their Agency Wea
42
Paradox of Selfsacrifice thence resulting
44
63
47
Reason why many benevolent Men adopted that Theory
48
Conclusions which will follow the Establishment
55
Variations in the Force of the Sentiment of Malevolence
67
Effect of visible Beauty upon Benevolence
71
Coloring thence afforded to the Selfish Theory of Morals
77
It constitutes the chief Motive to the Pursuit of Wealth
83
what is attainable
87
Parental Love
89
Necessity of distinguishing between Admiration
95
ticism Folly Credulity
97
Activity Sloth Indolence Idleness Industry
98
00
99
Capacity or Ability bodily and mental Healthfulness
99
9
99
CHAPTER IV
100
Proper Moral Sense of the Term Virtue What Ac tions are called Disinterested
101
Stoic Definition of Virtue
102
Platonic Definition
104
CHAPTER V
105
All Actions of all Kinds originate in Mental Necessity
106
Extent of Moral Obligation in general
107
Duty Responsibility
108
ject
111
Second School Theological Opinions of those who
119
Benefits thence resulting to practical Morals
127
Bias with Respect to those who are special Causes
133
PART SECOND SOLUTION OF MORAL PROBLEMS AND CONCILIATION OF ETHICAL CODES CHAPTER I
137
Homicide
138
Light in which Homicide is regarded by some Mystic Codes
140
Forensic View of Homicide Selfdefence
141
Laws of War
142
Duelling
144
Tyrannicide
147
Retaliatory Homicides esteemed permissible and obliga tory
148
Retaliatory Homicides esteemed meritorious Knight errantry Lynch Law
149
CHAPTER III
166
Forensic View of Political Duty 173
173
Mystic View of Political Duty 174
174
Doctrine of the Divine Right of Governors 176
176
This Doctrine equally applicable to all Forms of Gov ernment 177
177
History of the Doctrine of the Divine Right of Princes
178
Doctrine of the Indefeasible Right of Princes Theory of Hobbes
180
Theory of Locke and the English Whigs
182
Paradoxes to which that Doctrine has led
183
Duties of good Citizenship Patriotism Public Spirit
185
CHAPTER V
186
Origin of Harems and Female Seclusion
187
Communities
216
Other Effects of an enlarged Sphere of the Sentiment of Benevolence
217
Breaches of the Duty of Friendship esteemed more criminal than Breaches of the Duty of Love and why
218
Duties to Superiors
220
Gallantry towards Women Its Origin and Extent
221
Remarkable Difference between Codes of Law and Codes of Morals as to the Extent of the Right of Property
222
Duty of Charity Pity
223
Distinction between Pity and Sympathy
224
Women peculiarly susceptible to Pity
225
Right of making War Practicability of its Extinguish ment
227
Duties to Strangers National Prejudices
228
Piracy and the Slave Trade
229
Reasons of the Abhorrence felt for criminal Homicide in civilized Countries 154
230
CHAPTER VIII
231
Virtuous Indignation so called
233
Slow Progress of Freedom of Inquiry
235
Effects of Mystic Sympathy
237
Duties of Selfrespect
239
CHAPTER IX
240
Current Theology modified and determined by current Morals
241
Different Images under which God is represented Cor responding Ideas of Religious Duty
242
Philosophical Idea of God Controversy between the Philosophers and the Mystics
244
Attempted Alliance between Philosophy and Mysticism SemiMystics
245
Religious Faith Different Ideas of it
246
Reasons why Religious Faith has been reckoned a Moral Duty
247
That Opinion on the Decline
249
Want of Faith complained of by recent Moralists Their probable Meaning
251
CHAPTER X
252
Upon what subjects Moral Opinions have been most uniform
253
Decisions of Common Sense on Questions of Morals
254

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Page 94 - If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not ; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest.
Page 34 - She, while her lover pants upon her breast, Can mark the figures on an Indian chest ; And when she sees her friend in...
Page 93 - To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, Those thoughts that wander through eternity, To perish rather, swallowed up and lost In the wide womb of uncreated Night, Devoid of sense and motion?
Page 93 - To sleep ! perchance to dream; ay, there 's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. There 's the respect, That makes calamity of so long life...
Page 156 - Love, free as air, at sight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies, Let wealth, let honour, wait the wedded dame, August her deed, and sacred be her fame; Before true passion all those views remove, Fame, wealth, and honour!
Page 141 - Hail wedded Love, mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety In Paradise of all things common else. By thee adulterous lust was driven from men Among the bestial herds to range; by thee, Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, Relations dear, and all the charities Of father, son, and brother first were known.
Page 67 - Others apart sat on a hill retired, In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate— Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute— And found no end, in wandering mazes lost.
Page 15 - As was her sister; whether dread did dwell Or anguish in her hart, is hard to tell : Upon her arme a silver anchor lay, Whereon she leaned ever, as befell: And ever up to heaven, as she did pray, Her stedfast eyes were bent, ne swarved other way.
Page 155 - Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Of purity, and place, and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increase ; who bids abstain But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?

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