Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics by Alexander Bain
page 7 of 484 (01%)
page 7 of 484 (01%)
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the last predominating. The _Republic_ assimilates Society to an
Individual man, and defines Justice as the balance of the constituent parts of each. _Timoeus_ repeats the doctrine that wickedness is disease, and not voluntary. The _Laws_ place all conduct under the prescription of the civil magistrate. Summary of Plato's views. THE CYNICS AND THE CYRENAICS. Cynic succession. The proper description of the tenets of both schools comes under the Summum Bonum. The Cynic Ideal was the minimum of wants, and their self-denial was compensated by exemption from fear, and by pride of superiority. The Cyrenaic ARISTIPPUS:--Was the first to maintain that the summum bonum is Pleasure and the absence of Pain. Future Pleasures and Pains taken into the account. His Psychology of Pleasure and Pain. ARISTOTLE. Abstract of the Nicomachean Ethics. Book First. The Chief Good, or Highest End of human endeavours. Great differences of opinion as to the nature of Happiness. The Platonic Idea of the Good criticised. The Highest End an _end-in-itself_. Virtue referable to the special work of man; growing out of his mental capacity. External conditions necessary to virtue and happiness. The Soul subdivided into parts, each, having its characteristic virtue or excellence. Book Second. Definition and classification of the Moral virtues. Virtue the result of Habit. Doctrine of the MEAN. The test of virtue to feel no pain. Virtue defined (_genus_) an acquirement or a State, (_differentia_) a Mean between extremes. Rules for hitting the Mean. Book Third. The Voluntary and Involuntary. Deliberate Preference. Virtue and vice are voluntary. The virtues in detail:--Courage [Self-sacrifice implied in Courage]. Temperance. |
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